Questions & Answers about حکم او سختتر از حبس است.
The word حکم (hokm) is translated as 'sentence' here. Is this the same word used for a grammatical sentence?
No. حکم (hokm) specifically means a legal sentence, verdict, or ruling. If you want to talk about a grammatical sentence, you would use جمله (jomle).
Since we are learning about attaching enclitics to verbs as direct objects, could I attach ـَش (-ash) to the verb است (ast) here?
No, you cannot attach an enclitic to است (ast) here. Enclitics act as direct objects on action verbs (like 'I saw him'). Because است (ast) simply links a subject to a description, it doesn't take a direct object. If you wanted to use an enclitic in this sentence, you would attach it to the noun for possession instead: حکمش (hokmash) rather than حکم او (hokm-e u).
How does the comparative structure work in سختتر از (sakht-tar az)?
To say something is 'more [adjective]' or '[adjective]-er', you attach the suffix ـتر (-tar) to the adjective. Here, سخت (sakht, meaning hard or harsh) becomes سختتر (sakht-tar, meaning harsher). To say 'than', you follow it immediately with the preposition از (az).
What is the difference between حبس (habs) and زندان (zendan)?
زندان (zendan) refers to the physical place, meaning a prison or jail building. حبس (habs), which is used in this sentence, refers to the abstract concept or legal state of imprisonment and confinement.