Breakdown of او دیروز باید دادخواست نفقه میداد.
او
he/she
دادنdâdan
to give
بایدbâyad
must
دیروزdirooz
yesterday
Questions & Answers about او دیروز باید دادخواست نفقه میداد.
Why is the verb میداد (past continuous) here instead of the subjunctive بدهد, which we usually see after باید?
While باید (must) is followed by the subjunctive for present or future obligations (like باید بدهد for "she must file"), it takes the past continuous (the می prefix + past stem) to express a past obligation. Because this happened دیروز (yesterday), we use باید ... میداد to mean "she had to file".
The English translation says "file a petition", but the verb is میداد (from دادن, to give). Is this the standard verb for filing legal documents?
Yes! In Farsi, you often "give" (دادن) a petition, lawsuit, or complaint. The compound verb دادخواست دادن literally means "to give a petition", which is the standard way to say "to file a petition" in a legal context.
How does the word دادخواست (petition) break down?
It is a compound made of داد (justice) and خواست (request or wish, from the past stem of خواستن). Literally, it translates to a "request for justice," making it the perfect word for a legal petition or lawsuit.
Is there an Ezafe between دادخواست and نفقه?
Yes, it is pronounced دادخواستِ نفقه (dâdkhâst-e nafaqeh). The Ezafe links the noun "petition" to its specific type or topic, "alimony." Think of it as "petition of alimony."