Question 1

I see two words ending in -ات here (مذاکرات and تصمیمات). How do I find their singular forms?

Accepted Answer

The suffix -ات (-ât) is used to make certain Arabic loanwords plural. For تصمیمات (tasmimât - decisions), you just drop the suffix to get the singular تصمیم (tasmim). But for مذاکرات (mozâkerât - negotiations), the singular is مذاکره (mozâkere). When a word ends in that short 'e' sound (written with a silent 'heh'), it drops that letter before adding -ات.

Question 2

Can I use the regular plural suffix -ها (hâ) instead of -ات for these words?

Accepted Answer

Yes, especially in spoken or everyday Farsi. You will commonly hear تصمیم‌ها (tasmim-hâ) instead of تصمیمات (tasmimât). However, مذاکرات (negotiations) is a formal administrative term, so it almost always keeps the formal -ات ending. Recognizing the -ات plural is essential for understanding news, business, or formal texts.

Question 3

Where does the ezâfe (the linking 'e' sound) go in تصمیمات مهم?

Accepted Answer

It attaches directly to the end of the plural suffix. You pronounce the phrase as tasmimât-e mohem. Once the plural suffix is added, it simply becomes the new end of the noun, so the rules for linking adjectives with an ezâfe remain exactly the same as with singular nouns.

Question 4

Why does the sentence use the verb گرفتند (gereftand - they took) to mean 'they made'?

Accepted Answer

In Farsi, you do not 'make' a decision, you 'take' it! The standard compound verb for 'to decide' or 'to make a decision' is تصمیم گرفتن (tasmim gereftan). Because the subject here is 'they' (آنها), the verb takes the third-person plural ending to become گرفتند.

آنها در مذاکرات تصمیمات مهم گرفتند.

Breakdown of آنها در مذاکرات تصمیمات مهم گرفتند.

Questions & Answers about آنها در مذاکرات تصمیمات مهم گرفتند.

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