Breakdown of امروز صبح ترافیک خیلی سنگین بود و نزدیک بود که از پرواز جا بمانم.
و
and
خیلی
very / many (of)
بودنbudan
to be
امروزemruz
today
Questions & Answers about امروز صبح ترافیک خیلی سنگین بود و نزدیک بود که از پرواز جا بمانم.
Why is the present subjunctive verb بمانم used here for a past event ('I almost missed')?
The phrase نزدیک بود که (it was close that) establishes the past time frame. In Farsi, to say you 'almost' did something, you use this past tense trigger followed by the present subjunctive. This happens because at that moment in the past, the action was still just an impending possibility, not a completed fact.
Why is the preposition از (from) used before the word for flight?
It connects to the compound verb جا ماندن (to miss / be left behind). In Farsi, you do not use a direct object for missing transportation like you do in English. Instead, you say you were left behind from it, which requires the preposition از.
Does the verb جا ماندن always mean to miss a flight or bus?
It applies to missing any scheduled transportation or event, but its literal meaning is 'to stay behind'. You can also use it when you accidentally leave an object somewhere, like forgetting your keys at home!
Is using سنگین (heavy) for traffic a direct translation from English, or is it the natural Farsi expression?
It is the completely natural and standard way to describe bad traffic in Farsi. Just like in English, you use سنگین (heavy) for bad traffic and سبک (light) for clear, open roads.