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
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?