Breakdown of به هر حال، ما از موضوع منحرف نمیشویم، مگر اینکه شما بپرسید.
ما
we
شما
you (plural)
ازaz
from
پرسیدنporsidan
to ask
موضوعmowzu'
subject / topic
اینکهin-ke
that (conjunction)
مگرmagar
unless / perhaps (used in tags)
به هر حالbe har hâl
anyway / in any case
منحرف شدنmonharef shodan
to digress / to deviate
Questions & Answers about به هر حال، ما از موضوع منحرف نمیشویم، مگر اینکه شما بپرسید.
How does the phrase be har hâl work at the beginning of this sentence?
It acts as a discourse marker meaning "anyway" or "in any case." In this context, it signals that the speaker is dismissing a previous point or tangent and steering the conversation back to the main track. It is much stronger for this purpose than a simple "but" (ammâ).
What is the literal construction of monharef ne-mi-šavim?
The compound verb monharef šodan means "to deviate," "to stray," or "to digress." So, ne-mi-šavim (we do not become) combined with monharef translates literally to "we do not become deviated." Notice that it pairs perfectly with the preposition az (from) to indicate what is being deviated from.
The English translation uses the future tense for "we will not digress", but ne-mi-šavim is present tense. Why?
While Farsi has a dedicated future tense, native speakers frequently use the present indicative (the mi- form) to express the near future or a firm intention. Here, using the present tense conveys a strong, active commitment to not digressing.
Why does the final verb beporsid take the subjunctive mood?
The subjunctive mood is triggered by the conjunction magar in-ke (unless). Because "unless you ask" sets up a hypothetical condition rather than a guaranteed fact, the verb must take the subjunctive form, which is why we see the be- prefix on beporsid.
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