Question 1

How do we get 'behind which' in the second half of the sentence?

Accepted Answer

In English, we use a preposition plus 'which' (behind which). Farsi separates these. It uses the generic connector ke (that) and puts a regular pronoun later in the clause. Literally, it translates to 'a monument that the tower is behind it' (ke borj posht-e ân ast). The word ân (it) is a required pronoun pointing back to the monument.

Question 2

Why does banâyi take the direct object marker râ if the -i ending means it is indefinite ('a monument')?

Accepted Answer

Normally, râ is strictly for definite direct objects. However, because this monument is immediately described by a relative clause, it becomes a 'specific indefinite' object (a certain monument that we saw). In these cases, Farsi often pairs the indefinite -i with râ.

Question 3

Why is the first verb ghadam mi-zadim in the past continuous tense?

Accepted Answer

The phrase dar hâli ke means 'while' or 'in the state that'. It sets up an ongoing background action. You use the past continuous for the walking because it was happening when the main action—seeing the monument, which uses the simple past didim—took place.

Question 4

Is there a hidden Ezafe connecting posht (behind) and ân (it)?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Positional words like posht act as nouns in Farsi and require an Ezafe to link them to the following noun or pronoun. Even though it is not written in the Farsi script, you must pronounce it as posht-e ân.

در حالی که قدم می‌زدیم، بنایی را دیدیم که برج پشت آن است.

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