Breakdown of چقدر طول میکشد تا ما مجبور شویم که ماشین را بفروشیم؟
ما
we
ماشینmâshin
car
راrâ
definite direct object marker
کهke
that (conjunction)
فروختنforukhtan
to sell
طول کشیدنtul keshidan
to take (time) / to last
چقدرcheqadr
how much
تاtâ
until
مجبور شدنmajbur shodan
to become forced/obliged
مجبورmajbur
forced, obliged
Questions & Answers about چقدر طول میکشد تا ما مجبور شویم که ماشین را بفروشیم؟
Why are there two verbs in the present subjunctive form (شویم and بفروشیم) in this sentence?
The first subjunctive, شویم (we become), is triggered by تا (until) because it refers to an anticipated future event. The second subjunctive, بفروشیم (we sell), is triggered by مجبور شویم که (we are forced to). In Farsi, verbs following expressions of obligation always take the present subjunctive.
What is the literal translation of طول میکشد?
It literally translates to 'it pulls length.' The noun طول means 'length' or 'duration,' and میکشد is the present stem of کشیدن (to pull or to draw). When combined as طول کشیدن, it forms the standard Farsi idiom for 'to take time' or 'to last.'
Why does this sentence use مجبور شویم (from مجبور شدن) instead of مجبور باشیم (from مجبور بودن)?
While مجبور بودن means 'to be forced' as an ongoing state, مجبور شدن means 'to become forced.' The speaker is asking how much time will pass until the specific moment they become forced to sell the car, making the change-of-state verb شدن the natural choice.
Do I always have to include که after expressions of obligation like مجبور شدن?
No, it is completely optional. Farsi speakers frequently omit که between the main obligation verb and the subjunctive verb. The phrase مجبور شویم ماشین را بفروشیم is just as correct and very common in everyday Farsi.
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