Breakdown of لازم است که تا جایی که میتوانیم کار کنیم.
است
is
توانستنtavânestan
to be able to
کهke
that (conjunction)
کار کردنkâr kardan
to work
تاtâ
until
لازمlâzem
necessary
جاjâ
place
تا جایی کهtâ jâyi ke
as far as, to the extent that
Questions & Answers about لازم است که تا جایی که میتوانیم کار کنیم.
Why is کار کنیم in the subjunctive but میتوانیم in the indicative?
The verb کار کنیم (we work) is in the subjunctive because it is the action required by the impersonal phrase لازم است که (it is necessary that). However, میتوانیم (we can) follows تا جایی که (as far as). This phrase expresses the factual limit of our ability, so it takes the indicative mood.
What is the literal breakdown of تا جایی که?
It literally means "until a place that". تا means "until" or "up to", جای is "place", the ی is the indefinite suffix meaning "a", and که means "that". Together, they create the set phrase for "as far as" or "to the extent that".
Why are the verbs میتوانیم and کار کنیم placed right next to each other?
Verbs usually go at the end of their respective clauses in Farsi. The phrase تا جایی که میتوانیم is a complete inner clause (as far as we can) nestled inside the larger clause که... کار کنیم (that we work). Because the inner clause finishes right before the main action, the two verbs end up side-by-side.
Can we drop either of the که words in this sentence?
You can easily drop the first که after لازم است in everyday speech, as it just links "it is necessary" to the action. However, you cannot drop the second که because it is a fixed, mandatory piece of the phrase تا جایی که.
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