Breakdown of من میخواهم به سالمندها کمک کنم.
من
I
بهbe
to
کمک کردنkomak kardan
to help
خواستنkhâstan
to want / to ask (request from someone)
سالمندsâlmand
elderly
Questions & Answers about من میخواهم به سالمندها کمک کنم.
How does sâlmand-hâ mean 'the elderly' here, instead of just being an adjective?
Sâlmand means 'elderly' or 'aged'. By adding the plural marker -hâ directly to the adjective, we turn it into a noun meaning 'the elderly ones' or just 'the elderly'. This is a common way in Farsi to talk about a whole group of people who share a trait.
Why do we need the preposition be before sâlmand-hâ?
In English, you 'help someone' directly. In Farsi, the compound verb komak kardan (to help) literally works like 'to do help'. You have to do help to someone, which is why the preposition be (to) is required before the person receiving the help.
Why is the second verb komak konam instead of komak mikonam?
Because it follows mi-khâham (I want). In Farsi, verbs following 'want' must be in the subjunctive form, because they describe an intention or potential action rather than something happening right now. Komak konam is the subjunctive form for 'I'.
How is the adjective sâlmand formed?
It is made of the noun sâl (year) and the suffix -mand, which means 'possessing' or 'having'. So a sâlmand is literally someone 'possessing years', which is a polite and common way to say 'elderly'.
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