Breakdown of به فرض اینکه آینده از بین برود، کاش ماشین زمان را خراب نکرده بودیم!
ماشینmâshin
car
راrâ
definite direct object marker
آیندهâyande
future / next
خراب کردنkharâb kardan
to ruin/break
Questions & Answers about به فرض اینکه آینده از بین برود، کاش ماشین زمان را خراب نکرده بودیم!
Why is برود in the subjunctive mood in this sentence?
It follows the suppositional conjunction به فرض اینکه (assuming that). When setting up a hypothetical or assumed condition for the present or future, Farsi requires the present subjunctive, just like in standard conditional sentences.
Could I use the other conjunction from this lesson, فرضا که, instead of به فرض اینکه here?
Yes, you can seamlessly swap them. فرضا که آینده از بین برود means exactly the same thing. Both phrases set up an assumption and trigger the present subjunctive.
How does از بین برود translate to gets destroyed? What is the literal meaning?
The infinitive here is از بین رفتن which literally translates as to go from between. It is a very common compound verb in Farsi used to describe things being destroyed, perishing, or ceasing to exist.
Why does the second half of the sentence use the past perfect tense خراب نکرده بودیم?
The word کاش (if only / I wish) introduces a strong wish. When you express regret about a past action that cannot be changed, such as breaking the time machine before the future was destroyed, Farsi requires the past perfect tense to show an unfulfilled wish in the past.