Breakdown of او باید خودش کبوتر را پیش بکشد، قبل از اینکه در برود!
او
he/she
راrâ
definite direct object marker
بایدbâyad
must
خودkhod
self
قبل ازqabl az
before
اینکهin-ke
that (conjunction)
کبوترkabutar
dove / pigeon
پیش کشیدنpish keshidan
to bring forward
دررفتنdar raftan
to escape (informal, to slip away)
قبل از اینکهghabl az inke
before (+ subjunctive)
Questions & Answers about او باید خودش کبوتر را پیش بکشد، قبل از اینکه در برود!
Why is the subjunctive prefix be- placed in the middle of پیش بکشد and در برود?
These are separable prefix verbs (or preverbs). When you need to add an inflectional prefix like the subjunctive be-, the imperfective mi-, or the negative na-, it slips between the directional prefix (پیش 'forward' or در 'out/away') and the verb stem (کشد or رود). Therefore, you get پیش بکشد (pish be-keshad) rather than putting the be- at the very beginning.
How do the prefixes پیش and در change the meaning of the base verbs کشیدن (to pull) and رفتن (to go)?
The prefix پیش means 'forward' or 'ahead', so پیش کشیدن literally means 'to pull forward' (translated here as 'bring forward'). The prefix در often denotes 'out', and combined with رفتن (to go), در رفتن forms a very common verb meaning 'to escape', 'to slip away', or 'to flee'.
What triggers the subjunctive mood for بکشد and برود in this sentence?
The first verb, بکشد, is in the subjunctive because it follows the modal verb باید (must), which always requires the subjunctive for the main action. The second verb, برود, is triggered by the conjunction phrase قبل از اینکه (before), which also demands the subjunctive because the action ('escaping') is anticipated and hasn't actually happened yet.
Is خودش acting as a reflexive direct object here?
No, the direct object is the pigeon, which is clearly marked by the object marker را (کبوتر را). Here, خودش is acting as an emphatic pronoun modifying the subject او (he). It means 'he himself must bring the pigeon forward,' emphasizing that he must do it personally.
Learn او باید خودش کبوتر را پیش بکشد، قبل از اینکه در برود 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