Question 1

How does the suffix -âmiz change the meaning of the word tahdid?

Accepted Answer

The suffix -âmiz attaches to a noun to create an adjective that means 'mixed with' or 'full of' that noun. Since tahdid means 'threat', adding -âmiz creates tahdidâmiz, which translates to 'threatening' or literally 'full of threat'.

Question 2

Break down the word farâzamini-hâ (extraterrestrials). How is it formed?

Accepted Answer

It starts with the prefix farâ-, which means 'beyond' or 'above'. This is attached to zamin (earth) and the relational suffix -i to create the adjective or noun farâzamini (extraterrestrial). Finally, the standard plural suffix -hâ is added to mean 'the extraterrestrials'.

Question 3

Even though it isn't written, do I need to pronounce an Ezafe between payâm and tahdidâmiz?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you must pronounce the Ezafe (an 'e' sound) to link the noun payâm (message) to its modifying adjective tahdidâmiz, making it payâm-e tahdidâmiz. As a reminder, the Ezafe is almost never written in Farsi script unless the first word ends in a vowel, but it is always required grammatically between a noun and its adjective.

Question 4

Why is the simple past tense ferestâdand used here instead of a past perfect tense like we might use in English reported speech?

Accepted Answer

In Farsi, reported speech introduced by ke (that) usually retains the exact tense that the original speaker used. If the original speaker said 'They sent a message' in the simple past, Farsi keeps it as ferestâdand (they sent) rather than shifting it further back in time as English often does.

او گفت که فرازمینی‌ها یک پیام تهدیدآمیز فرستادند.

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