Question 1

Why does this sentence use the present tense هستیم (we are) instead of a past tense for "have been"?

Accepted Answer

In English, we use "have been" to show that a state started in the past and is still true today. Farsi handles this differently. It uses a time expression (چهار سال) followed by است که (it is that) and then the present tense. Literally, this sentence says "It is four years that we are inseparable." Whenever an action or state is still ongoing, Farsi sticks to the present tense!

Question 2

Can you break down the word جدایی‌ناپذیر? How does it mean "inseparable"?

Accepted Answer

This is a great compound word to know! جدایی means "separation." نا is a negative prefix meaning "un-" or "not." Finally, پذیر comes from a verb meaning "to accept" or "to be susceptible to." Put it all together, and it literally means "separation-not-accepting" — which translates perfectly to "inseparable."

Question 3

In everyday speech, how would native speakers pronounce سال است که?

Accepted Answer

In casual spoken Farsi, the word است often attaches to the previous word as an ـه (e) sound. Therefore, سال است که usually turns into ساله که (sâle ke). You are very likely to hear چهار ساله که ما جدایی‌ناپذیر هستیم in conversation.

Question 4

Is the pronoun ما (we) strictly necessary in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

No, you can easily drop it. Because the verb هستیم already has the "we" ending, the sentence چهار سال است که جدایی‌ناپذیر هستیم is grammatically complete and sounds very natural. Keeping ما in the sentence just adds a little bit of emphasis, like saying "we have been inseparable."

چهار سال است که ما جدایی‌ناپذیر هستیم.

Breakdown of چهار سال است که ما جدایی‌ناپذیر هستیم.

Questions & Answers about چهار سال است که ما جدایی‌ناپذیر هستیم.

Learn چهار سال است که ما جدایی‌ناپذیر هستیم and more in Farsi