Breakdown of آنها هیچکس را به جز یک فرد مهم به اتاق راه ندادند.
آنها
they
اتاق
room
یکyek
one / a, an
بهbe
to
راrâ
definite direct object marker
مهمmohemm
important
هیچکسhichkas
nobody
جزjoz
except / only
راه دادنrâh dâdan
to let in
فردfard
individual
Questions & Answers about آنها هیچکس را به جز یک فرد مهم به اتاق راه ندادند.
Why is the verb negative (راه ندادند) when the English translation implies "they let nobody in"?
In Farsi, "negative pronouns" like هیچکس (nobody) or هیچچیز (nothing) must always be paired with a negative verb. You are literally saying "They didn't let nobody..." When you add به جز (except) to this double-negative structure, it creates the exclusive restriction: "They didn't let anyone in except..."
Could I use just جز instead of به جز in this sentence?
Yes, جز and به جز are completely interchangeable here. Both mean "except" or "other than," and both pair perfectly with the negative verb to restrict the action to just that one important individual.
How does راه ندادند mean "let into"?
The infinitive is راه دادن (to admit / to let in). It is a compound verb made of راه (way/path) and دادن (to give). Literally, they "did not give way" to anyone else to enter the room.
Why does the direct object marker را come directly after هیچکس instead of after the whole "except" phrase?
The direct object marker را attaches strictly to the definite object receiving the action, which is هیچکس (nobody) here. The exception phrase به جز یک فرد مهم (except an important individual) is an additional modifier, so it sits outside the را marker.
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