Breakdown of ما تصمیم گرفتیم که به جای چرم، مخمل را انتخاب کنیم.
ما
we
راrâ
definite direct object marker
کهke
that (conjunction)
تصمیم گرفتنtasmim-e gereftan
to decide
Questions & Answers about ما تصمیم گرفتیم که به جای چرم، مخمل را انتخاب کنیم.
Why does be jâ-ye have an -ye sound at the end?
The phrase for "instead of" is be jâ. When you connect it to the noun that follows it (in this case, čarm or leather), you must use the connecting -e sound, known as the Ezâfe. Because jâ ends in a vowel, the Ezâfe takes the form of -ye, making it be jâ-ye čarm.
Why is the direct object marker râ only used after maxmal (velvet) and not čarm (leather)?
The word râ marks the specific direct object of the verb entexâb konim (we choose). What are we choosing? Velvet (maxmal). Leather (čarm) is not the direct object of the verb; it is attached to the preposition be jâ-ye (instead of) and therefore doesn't take râ.
Why is the second verb entexâb konim (choose) in the present subjunctive form when the first verb is in the past tense?
In Farsi, when you use a verb like "to decide" followed by ke (that), the second verb is usually in the subjunctive mood. The sentence literally translates to "We decided that we choose velvet." The action of choosing is a potential outcome of the decision, which triggers the subjunctive.
What is the literal translation of the first verb, tasmim gereftim?
It literally means "we took a decision." Tasmim means "decision" and is the "we" past tense form of (to take). Farsi uses this compound verb exactly where English uses "to decide" or "to make a decision."