Breakdown of گاوصندوق دستکاری شده بود، اما هیچچیز دزدیده نشده بود.
اماammâ
but
دزدیدنdozdidan
to steal
هیچچیزhich chiz
nothing
گاوصندوقgâvsandoogh
safe (strongbox)
دستکاری کردنdastkâri kardan
to tamper with
Questions & Answers about گاوصندوق دستکاری شده بود، اما هیچچیز دزدیده نشده بود.
How do we form the past perfect passive used here in دستکاری شده بود and دزدیده نشده بود?
You make it by combining three parts: the past participle of the main verb (like دزدیده from dozdidan, to steal), plus شده (past participle of shodan, to become), plus the past tense of budan (to be) conjugated for the subject (بود for it). It translates directly to had been [verb]ed.
Where exactly does the negative prefix نـ (na-) go in a past perfect passive verb?
It attaches to the auxiliary verb شدن (to become), not the main verb or the final بود. So, had not been stolen becomes دزدیده نشده بود (dozdide nashode bud), rather than attaching the negative prefix to the word for stolen or the word for had.
Why is the first verb دستکاری شده but the second is دزدیده شده? Why does one have an extra ـه at the end of the first word?
It depends on the type of verb! دزدیدن (to steal) is a simple verb, so its past participle is its past stem (دزدید) plus ـه (دزدیده). دستکاری کردن (to tamper) is a compound verb. In the passive voice, the کردن turns into شدن. The noun part (دستکاری) stays exactly as it is, without adding an extra ـه.
Why is the verb negative (نشده بود) when the subject is already هیچچیز (nothing)?
Unlike English, which avoids double negatives (nothing was stolen), Farsi uses negative concord. This means if you use a negative word like هیچچیز (nothing) or هیچکس (nobody), the verb must also be in the negative form.
What is the literal translation of گاوصندوق (gāvsandugh)?
It literally translates to cow box or bull chest (گاو + صندوق). It is the standard Farsi word for a safe or strongbox, likely named for being as heavy and sturdy as a bull!
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