Q: Why does the second verb, داشته باشم, look like a perfect tense instead of a normal present subjunctive?

The main verb میخواهم (I want) requires the following verb to be in the subjunctive mood. The verb داشتن (to have) is a well-known exception. Instead of taking the standard بـ prefix for the subjunctive, it uses its past participle داشته combined with the present subjunctive of the verb to be (باشم). So داشته باشم is simply the standard way to say that I have.

Question 1

I see انتخابات ends in the plural suffix -ât. What is its singular form, and how does it fit the current lesson's Arabic pattern?

Accepted Answer

The singular is انتخاب (entekhâb, meaning choice or election). It perfectly follows the Form VIII efte'âl (e-C1-t-e-C2-â-C3) pattern taught in this lesson. The three root consonants are n-kh-b (ن-خ-ب). Plugging those into the pattern gives us e-n-t-e-kh-â-b. The -ât suffix is an Arabic plural marker commonly used in Farsi for formal or abstract nouns, turning it into elections.

Question 2

How does the noun اعتماد (e'temâd) follow the Form VIII pattern?

Accepted Answer

اعتماد (trust) is also a Form VIII verbal noun, built from the Arabic root consonants '-m-d (ع-م-د). When we insert them into the e-C1-t-e-C2-â-C3 mold, we get e-'-t-e-m-â-d. The Form VIII pattern often carries a reflexive meaning; here, it evolved from the concept of leaning on something to relying on or trusting it.

Question 3

Why is the preposition به (be) used here instead of a word for in?

Accepted Answer

Prepositions rarely translate word-for-word between English and Farsi. While in English you have trust in something, in Farsi you have trust to something. Therefore, the compound verb اعتماد داشتن (to trust / to have trust) always takes the preposition به.

Question 4

Why does the second verb, داشته باشم, look like a perfect tense instead of a normal present subjunctive?

Accepted Answer

The main verb می‌خواهم (I want) requires the following verb to be in the subjunctive mood. The verb داشتن (to have) is a well-known exception. Instead of taking the standard بـ prefix for the subjunctive, it uses its past participle داشته combined with the present subjunctive of the verb to be (باشم). So داشته باشم is simply the standard way to say that I have.

می‌خواهم به این انتخابات اعتماد داشته باشم.

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