Learn Farsi: من ترجیح می‌دهم که سالاد بخورم، چون کربوهیدرات مضر است. - I prefer to eat salad because carbohydrates are harmful.

من ترجیح می‌دهم که سالاد بخورم، چون کربوهیدرات مضر است.man tarjih midaham ke sâlâd bokhoram, chon karbohidrât mozerr ast.

I prefer to eat salad because carbohydrates are harmful.

Breakdown of من ترجیح می‌دهم که سالاد بخورم، چون کربوهیدرات مضر است.

Questions & Answers about من ترجیح می‌دهم که سالاد بخورم، چون کربوهیدرات مضر است.

Why do we use the subjunctive بخورم (bokhoram) here instead of the regular present tense?

The verb ترجیح دادن (tarjih dâdan), meaning to prefer, expresses a desire or choice rather than a definite fact. When you link it to a second action using که (ke), that second verb must be in the present subjunctive form. Here, the regular present tense می‌خورم (I eat) changes to the subjunctive بخورم (that I eat).

Is the word که (ke) strictly necessary in this sentence?

In spoken and informal Farsi, you can easily drop که (ke) and just say من ترجیح می‌دهم سالاد بخورم. However, keeping که is grammatically complete and common in written or careful speech. Just remember that the second verb must stay in the subjunctive whether که is there or not.

How would I change this sentence to say I prefer salad TO carbohydrates?

This uses the other structure for expressing preference. To prefer one noun to another, you use the preposition به (be) meaning to. You would say من سالاد را به کربوهیدرات ترجیح می‌دهم (I prefer salad to carbohydrates). Notice that you do not need که or a subjunctive verb for this noun-to-noun structure.

Why is کربوهیدرات (karbohidrât) paired with the singular verb است (ast) when carbohydrates is plural in English?

In Farsi, inanimate objects or abstract categories are often treated grammatically as singular mass nouns. When talking about carbohydrates as a general dietary concept, it takes the singular verb (ast). If you were talking about distinct, countable types of carbohydrates, you might use a plural verb.