Word
ممکن بود او در آن رودخانه غرق بشود.
Meaning
He could have drowned in that river.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Questions & Answers about ممکن بود او در آن رودخانه غرق بشود.
Why do we use the present subjunctive بشود for something in the past ("could have drowned")?
When expressing a past possibility with ممکن بود (literally "it was possible"), Farsi often follows it with a present subjunctive verb. You are essentially saying "It was possible that he drown." The past time frame is already established by the verb بود.
Can I use احتمال داشت in this sentence instead?
Yes, احتمال داشت means exactly the same thing. You could say احتمال داشت او در آن رودخانه غرق بشود and it would still mean "He could have drowned in that river." Both phrases are completely interchangeable for past possibility.
Is it also possible to use the past subjunctive for the main verb?
Yes! While the present subjunctive (غرق بشود) is perfectly normal here, you will also frequently hear the past subjunctive (غرق شده باشد). Both constructions correctly translate to "could have drowned" after ممکن بود.
How does the verb for "drown" work in this sentence?
The verb is غرق شدن (to drown), which is a compound verb made of غرق (submerged or drowned) and شدن (to become). In the subjunctive, شدن becomes بشود, giving us غرق بشود.