Breakdown of من مرد را دیدم که در خیابان داشت کمانچه میزد.
من
I
مردmard
man
خیابانkhiâbân
street
درdar
in
داشتنdâshtan
to have
دیدنdidan
to see / to watch
راrâ
definite direct object marker
کهke
that (conjunction)
زدنzadan
to hit / to play (an instrument) / to apply (a coating) / to put on (a tie/accessory)
کمانچهkamânche
kamancheh
Questions & Answers about من مرد را دیدم که در خیابان داشت کمانچه میزد.
Why does this sentence use the Past Continuous (داشت میزد) when the English translation just says 'playing'?
This is the standard way Farsi handles complements for verbs of perception like دیدن (to see). Instead of an '-ing' participle, Farsi uses a full clause introduced by که. You are literally saying 'I saw the man that he was playing.' The Past Continuous (داشت میزد) is used to emphasize that the action was ongoing at the exact moment you witnessed it.
Why is the main verb دیدم in the middle of the sentence instead of at the very end?
Although Farsi is typically a Subject-Object-Verb language, descriptive clauses starting with که almost always follow the main verb. If you placed دیدم at the very end of the entire sentence, it would be separated too far from its direct object (مرد را) and sound unnatural. The standard order for this structure is Object + را + Main Verb + که + Ongoing Action.
Why is the verb زدن used for playing the کمانچه?
The verb زدن literally means to hit or strike, but it is the standard light verb used for playing most musical instruments in Farsi. You use it for stringed instruments like the کمانچه, as well as keyboards and percussion.
Since که often triggers the subjunctive mood, why don't we use the subjunctive here?
You only use the subjunctive after که when expressing uncertainty, wishes, necessity, or purpose. In this sentence, که acts as a pseudo-relative pronoun to describe a factual, observed event. Because you actually saw the action happening in reality, you must use the indicative mood, which is the Past Continuous here.
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