Question 1

Why do we use ke right before the rest of the sentence, and does it change the verb tense?

Accepted Answer

Ke acts as a bridge connecting the main verb porsidim (we asked) to the reported question. When reporting a Wh- question (like when, where, who), you just add ke, keep the question word (here, key for when), and use the normal indicative verb tense, not the subjunctive.

Question 2

Why is the word for "when" (key) placed so late in the sentence?

Accepted Answer

In Farsi, question words usually sit right before the verb. In English, we put "when" at the start of the clause, but in Farsi, the subject (mo'āmele-ye xāne-ye nurgir) comes first, followed by the question word key, and finally the verb (anjām mishavad).

Question 3

Since we "asked" in the past, why is the second verb anjām mishavad in the present tense?

Accepted Answer

Unlike English, Farsi doesn't strictly shift tenses backwards in reported speech. It often keeps the tense of the original statement. The original question was likely "When does the deal take place?" (Present), so the reported version keeps the present tense anjām mishavad, even after the past tense porsidim.

Question 4

How is the phrase mo'āmele-ye xāne-ye nurgir constructed?

Accepted Answer

This uses an Ezafe chain to link nouns and adjectives. Because both mo'āmele (deal) and xāne (house) end in a silent 'e', the Ezafe takes a 'ye' sound. Additionally, the adjective nurgir (well-lit) is a compound of nur (light) and gir (the present stem of gereftan, to catch or take) — literally a light-catching house!

ما پرسیدیم که معامله‌ی خانه‌ی نورگیر کی انجام می‌شود.

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