Breakdown of آنها هر روز در کارگاه صبر میکردند تا شمشیرها شکل داده میشدند.
آنها
they
درdar
in
هرhar
every
روزruz
day
شدنshodan
to become
صبر کردنsabr kardan
to wait
کارگاهkârgâh
workshop
تاtâ
until
شمشیرshamshir
sword
شکل دادنshekl dâdan
to shape
Questions & Answers about آنها هر روز در کارگاه صبر میکردند تا شمشیرها شکل داده میشدند.
How do we get the passive meaning 'were shaped' in shekl dadeh mi-shodand?
This is the Past Continuous Passive. To build it, you take the past participle of the main verb—here, shekl dadeh from the compound verb shekl dadan (to shape / to give shape)—and add the past continuous form of the auxiliary verb shodan (to become). Because the subject is plural (shamshir-ha), we use mi-shodand. This shows the shaping was an ongoing or repeated action in the past, translating closely to 'were being shaped' or 'used to be shaped'.
Shamshir-ha (swords) is an inanimate plural. Why does the verb mi-shodand have a plural ending instead of a singular one?
In Farsi, inanimate plural subjects typically take a singular verb. However, speakers will sometimes use a plural verb to emphasize that the action happened to the objects individually, or just to make the storytelling more vivid. Using mi-shodand instead of mi-shod paints a picture of multiple, individual swords being shaped one by one in the workshop.
Why doesn't the verb after ta (until) use the subjunctive form here?
We usually use the subjunctive after ta when we are talking about a future or hypothetical goal (e.g., 'wait here until they are shaped'). But in this sentence, we are describing a factual, habitual routine in the past. They actually used to wait, and the swords actually used to be shaped. Therefore, the past continuous (shekl dadeh mi-shodand) is used to match the reality and the ongoing nature of the past action.
What exactly does shekl dadeh mean on its own before we add the passive ending?
It is the past participle of the compound verb shekl dadan. Shekl means 'shape' or 'form', and dadan means 'to give'. So, shekl dadeh literally translates to 'given shape'. In a passive sentence like this, it acts as the frozen base that shodan then turns into 'was given shape' or 'was shaped'.
Learn آنها هر روز در کارگاه صبر میکردند تا شمشیرها شکل داده میشدند and more in Farsi
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free