Question 1

This sentence has three words that look like they fit the Efte'âl (Form VIII) pattern. What are their roots?

Accepted Answer

You spotted them! emtenâ' (abstaining), entekhâb (choosing), and ekhtiyâr (authority) all follow the 'e-C1-t-e-C2-â-C3' pattern. For emtenâ', the root is m-n-' (prevent); adding the 't' makes it reflexive (preventing oneself). For entekhâb, the root is n-kh-b (extract). For ekhtiyâr, the root is kh-y-r (good), with a slight shift for the 'y' sound, meaning 'selecting what is good' or 'free will'.

Question 2

Why is the preposition az used twice in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

Each az serves a different grammatical master here. The first one is linked to the noun emtenâ' (abstaining az / from something). The second one is paired with the verb mi-girad, because the verb gereftan (to take) uses az to show who something is being taken from.

Question 3

Why does an abstract noun like ekhtiyâr get the specific object marker râ?

Accepted Answer

Even abstract nouns take râ when they are the specific direct object of an action. Here, ekhtiyâr represents a definite, whole concept (the authority to act) that is being actively taken away by the subject. Without râ, it would sound like it is taking 'some unspecified authority', which weakens the meaning.

Question 4

What exactly is the subject of the verb mi-girad?

Accepted Answer

The entire noun phrase emtenâ' az entekhâb (abstaining from choosing) acts as the subject. Because it represents a single abstract idea, the verb takes the third-person singular ending -ad.

امتناع از انتخاب، اختیار را از ما می‌گیرد.

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