Learn Farsi: در این سناریو، به فرض اینکه تو گذشته را مختل کنی، یک پارادوکس اتفاق می‌افتد. - In this scenario, assuming that you disrupt the past, a paradox happens.

به فرض اینکه (assuming that) sets up a hypothetical situation, which requires the verb following it to be in the present subjunctive mood. That is why the sentence uses the subjunctive مختل کنی (you disrupt) instead of the present indicative مختل می‌کنی.

What is the infinitive of the verb مختل کنی and how is it formed?

The infinitive is مختل کردن (to disrupt, interfere with, or paralyze). It is a compound verb consisting of مختل (disrupted or impaired) and کردن (to do or make). Because it is conjugated in the subjunctive mood here, it takes the personal ending for the second person singular, becoming مختل کنی.

Why is the final verb اتفاق می‌افتد in the present indicative, rather than a conditional or future tense?

In Farsi, when a hypothetical condition is introduced, the result clause often uses the present indicative if the outcome is seen as a definite logical consequence. Just like in the English translation 'a paradox happens' rather than 'would happen', the present indicative اتفاق می‌افتد highlights the certainty of the result based on the assumption.

Could we drop the pronoun تو from this sentence?

Yes, Farsi is a pro-drop language, meaning the subject pronoun is optional because the verb ending already indicates the subject. You could easily just say به فرض اینکه گذشته را مختل کنی. Including تو here simply adds a bit of rhythmic flow or mild emphasis on the fact that are the one doing the disrupting.