Breakdown of به جز آن مرمتکار، هیچکس به یک کتاب خطی نیز دست نمیزند.
آن
that
کتابketâb
book
یکyek
one / a, an
دست زدنdast zadan
to touch
هیچکسhichkas
nobody
به جزbe joz
except
نیزniz
also / as well
خطیkhatti
handwritten / manuscript (relating to script, linear)
مرمتکارmarammat-kâr
restorer
Questions & Answers about به جز آن مرمتکار، هیچکس به یک کتاب خطی نیز دست نمیزند.
How does the 'not even one' structure work in this sentence?
This sentence uses the pattern taught in this lesson: یک (one) + noun (کتاب خطی) + نیز (even/also) + a negative verb (دست نمیزند). Together, this forms an emphatic 'not even one.' While you might be used to seeing هم in everyday Farsi for 'also/even,' using نیز here elevates the tone, making it sound more formal and literary.
Why is there a به (to) right before یک کتاب خطی?
The preposition به is required by the compound verb دست زدن (to touch). In Farsi, you do not just touch an object directly; you literally 'hit a hand to' it. Therefore, the به is necessary to connect the verb to the manuscript being touched.
How is the word مرمتکار (restorer) formed?
It combines the noun مرمت (repair or restoration) with the occupational suffix کار- (doer or worker). You have likely seen this suffix in other common words like ورزشکار (athlete) or همکار (colleague).
What exactly does the adjective خطی refer to here?
The noun خط usually means 'line,' 'handwriting,' or 'script.' By adding the relational suffix ی-, it becomes the adjective خطی (handwritten). In a literary or historical context, a کتاب خطی specifically refers to a manuscript rather than a printed book.
The sentence uses both هیچکس (nobody) and نمیزند (does not touch). Is this a double negative?
Yes, and it is a strict grammatical requirement in Farsi. When you use a negative pronoun or adverb like هیچکس (nobody) or هیچچیز (nothing), the main verb of the clause must also be negative. Unlike in English, they do not cancel each other out.
Learn به جز آن مرمتکار، هیچکس به یک کتاب خطی نیز دست نمیزند and more in Farsi
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free