Breakdown of ما نمیتوانیم ریشههای این گیاه را بخوریم زیرا خوردنی نیستند.
ما
we
این
this
بودنbudan
to be
خوردنkhordan
to eat / to drink
راrâ
definite direct object marker
توانستنtavânestan
to be able to
گیاهgiyâh
plant
زیراzirâ
because (formal)
خوردنیkhordani
edible
ریشهrishe
root
Questions & Answers about ما نمیتوانیم ریشههای این گیاه را بخوریم زیرا خوردنی نیستند.
How does the word خوردنی translate to "edible"?
خوردنی is made by taking the full infinitive خوردن (to eat) and adding the suffix -ی (-i). This creates an adjective meaning "capable of being eaten" or "worth eating" (edible). You can use this pattern with many verbs, like دیدنی (worth seeing) from دیدن (to see).
Why do we use the verb form بخوریم instead of میخوریم?
The verb بخوریم is in the subjunctive mood, which is why it starts with the بـ prefix. We must use the subjunctive here because it follows a modal verb of capability, نمیتوانیم (we cannot). In Farsi, when you express ability or inability to do something, the action verb must be in the subjunctive.
Why is the direct object marker را placed after این گیاه and not right after ریشههای?
The marker را always follows the entire specific direct object phrase. The complete thing we cannot eat is ریشههای این گیاه (the roots of this plant). Because the Ezafe links these words into a single connected noun phrase, را must wait until the very end of that entire phrase.
I thought inanimate plural nouns like roots usually take a singular verb. Why is نیستند plural?
You are right that inanimate plural subjects typically take a singular verb in everyday Farsi. However, using a plural verb like نیستند (instead of the singular نیست) is also completely correct. It is sometimes used to emphasize the individual items within the group, stressing here that absolutely none of the roots are edible.
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