Breakdown of کردار آنها مثل گفتار آنها نبود.
آنها
they
بودنbudan
to be
مثلmesl
like, such as
گفتارgoftâr
speech / discourse
Questions & Answers about کردار آنها مثل گفتار آنها نبود.
How do the words kerdâr and goftâr demonstrate the rule of adding -âr to a past stem?
The word kerdâr (action) is built from the past stem kard (did) plus the suffix -âr. Similarly, goftâr (speech) is built from the past stem goft (said) plus -âr. This suffix turns the verb's past stem into a noun that represents the manifestation or physical result of that action.
Why is kerdâr used here instead of a simpler word for action like kâr?
While kâr means work or action in a general sense, kerdâr specifically refers to one's conduct, deeds, or behavior. It has a slightly more elevated or literary tone. Pairing kerdâr (deeds) with goftâr (words) is a classic rhetorical device in Farsi, famously associated with the Zoroastrian maxim of good thoughts, good words, good deeds.
How does the word mesl connect to the rest of the sentence?
The word mesl (meaning like or similar to) requires an ezâfe (the unseen connecting vowel -e) to link it to the noun it modifies. So it is pronounced mesl-e goftâr-e ânhâ (like their speech).
Could I use possessive suffixes here, like kerdâreshân, instead of kerdâr-e ânhâ?
Yes, you can. kerdâreshân and goftâreshân mean exactly the same thing and are very common, especially in spoken Farsi. Using the independent pronoun ânhâ linked with an ezâfe (as in this sentence) adds a bit of emphasis to the word 'their' and matches the slightly more formal, proverbial tone of the vocabulary.