Question 1

How do we get the verb دواندند from the regular verb for "to run"?

Accepted Answer

The base verb is دویدن (to run). To make it causative ("to make run"), we take its present stem, which is دو, and add the causative suffix ـاندن (-ândan). This gives us the new causative infinitive دواندن (to make run). Because this sentence is in the simple past tense ("they made run"), we drop the final ن to get the past stem دواند and add the "they" ending ـند, resulting in دواندند.

Question 2

The present stem of "to run" is often pronounced "dow". Why does it sound like "dav" in دواندند (davândand)?

Accepted Answer

When the present stem دو stands alone or takes typical prefixes (like می‌دوم - I run), the و is usually pronounced as a diphthong like "ow". However, when you attach a suffix that starts with a vowel, like the causative ـاندن (-ândan), the letter و acts as the consonant "v" to bridge the sounds. So, it is pronounced "davândan" instead of "dowândan".

Question 3

Why do we need the object marker را after اسب‌ها (horses) here?

Accepted Answer

The original verb دویدن (to run) is intransitive, meaning it doesn't take a direct object. But when you make a verb causative (دواندن - to make run), it becomes transitive—you are now doing the action to someone or something. Since "the horses" are now the specific direct object receiving the action, they require the marker را.

Question 4

The lesson mentions the suffix -ânidan. Could we use that here instead?

Accepted Answer

Yes! You can absolutely use ـانیدن (-ânidan) instead of ـاندن (-ândan) to form the causative verb. If you used that suffix, the verb would become دوانیدند (davânidand). Both forms mean exactly the same thing, though the shorter ـاندن form is a bit more common in spoken Farsi.

آنها اسب‌ها را در سیرک دواندند.

Breakdown of آنها اسب‌ها را در سیرک دواندند.

Questions & Answers about آنها اسب‌ها را در سیرک دواندند.

Learn آنها اسب‌ها را در سیرک دواندند and more in Farsi