Breakdown of ممکن است حسابدار چند رقم را قبل از مهلت تغییر داده باشد؟
است
is
چندchand
how many / several / a few
راrâ
definite direct object marker
تغییر دادنtaghyir dâdan
to change
Questions & Answers about ممکن است حسابدار چند رقم را قبل از مهلت تغییر داده باشد؟
Why is the verb تغییر داده باشد (taghyir dâdeh bâshad) in the present perfect subjunctive?
Because the sentence starts with ممکن است (momken ast), which expresses possibility ('it is possible that' or 'might'). For actions that might have happened in the past, we use the present perfect subjunctive. It is formed using the past participle تغییر داده (taghyir dâdeh - changed) plus the subjunctive 'to be' verb for the third-person singular, باشد (bâshad).
Why isn't the question word چند (chand - how many) at the beginning of the sentence?
In Farsi, question words like چند usually stay in the exact same spot in the sentence as the answer would be. Since 'how many figures' is the object, چند رقم (chand ragham) sits right where the object belongs: after the subject حسابدار (hesâbdâr - accountant).
Why do we need the word را (râ) after چند رقم (chand ragham)?
The word را (râ) marks the specific direct object of a sentence. Even though 'how many figures' is a question, it acts as the direct object that the accountant changed, so we attach را to clearly show what received the action of the verb.
Does ممکن است (momken ast) always require the subjunctive?
Yes! Whenever you use ممکن است to say 'it is possible that' or 'might', the verb that follows must be in a subjunctive form. Here, because we are talking about a completed action in the past (have changed), we use the present perfect subjunctive. If it were a present action (might change), we would use the simple present subjunctive.