Breakdown of ایشان فرمودند که فردا کار را شروع میکنند.
ایشان
they (formal)
فرداfardâ
tomorrow
کارkâr
work
شروع کردنshoru' kardan
to start
راrâ
definite direct object marker
کهke
that (conjunction)
فرمودنfarmudan
to say / to command (deferential)
Questions & Answers about ایشان فرمودند که فردا کار را شروع میکنند.
Why are the verbs فرمودند and میکنند in the plural when the translation says 'He said' and 'he will start'?
This is the Farsi respect system at work! To show deep respect for a third person (like a boss, elder, or teacher), Farsi uses the plural pronoun ایشان instead of او, and pairs it with 3rd-person plural verbs. So even though we are talking about one person, the grammar is entirely plural.
The verb فرمودند usually means 'they commanded'. Why is it translated as 'he said' here?
In polite Farsi (Ta'arof), everyday verbs are swapped out for elevated ones when talking about a respected person. فرمودن (to command) frequently replaces گفتن (to say). It simply means 'he/she said' in a highly respectful way, implying their words carry the weight of a command.
The translation says 'he will start', but شروع میکنند is in the present tense. Why isn't the future tense used here?
In everyday Farsi, the present tense is frequently used to express planned future actions, much like saying 'he is starting the work tomorrow' in English. The word فردا (tomorrow) already makes the future timeframe perfectly clear, making the actual future tense (شروع خواهند کرد) sound overly formal or literary here.
Is ایشان only used for a formal singular 'he/she', or can it also just mean 'they'?
ایشان can mean both! Historically and in formal writing it means 'they' (the plural of او). However, in modern everyday Farsi, it is overwhelmingly used as a respectful singular 'he/she', while آنها is used for the standard plural 'they'. When you see ایشان in everyday speech, it almost always points to a single esteemed person.
Learn ایشان فرمودند که فردا کار را شروع میکنند and more in Farsi
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free