Breakdown of این دوربین دستدوم را کجا پیدا کردی؟
این
this
پیدا کردنpeydâ kardan
to find / to get / to develop (a condition)
کجاkojâ
where
راrâ
definite direct object marker
Questions & Answers about این دوربین دستدوم را کجا پیدا کردی؟
How would I apply this lesson's grammar to ask 'Where did you find a second-hand camera?' instead of 'this second-hand camera'?
You would replace این (this) with یک (one/a) and add the indefinite suffix -ی (-i) to the end of the noun phrase, making it: یک دوربین دستدومی را کجا پیدا کردی؟. The indefinite -ی attaches to the adjective, right before را. Using را here makes it a specific indefinite object, implying you are talking about a certain kind of camera, not just any camera in the world.
Why does the object marker را come after دستدوم rather than right after دوربین?
The marker را always flags the entire direct object phrase. Because دستدوم (second-hand) is an adjective modifying دوربین (camera), they form a single unit. Therefore, را must go at the very end of that complete package.
Is the word for 'second-hand' (دستدوم) a direct literal translation from English?
It translates exactly the same way! It is made of دست (hand) and دوم (second). Farsi uses this compound to talk about used or previously owned items just like English does.
Could I put کجا (where) at the beginning of the sentence like in English?
It is much more natural to keep کجا right before the verb. In Farsi, question words like where, when, or who usually sit immediately before the verb, whereas putting them at the very beginning of the sentence often sounds awkward to a native speaker.