Q: How does the construction گفته میشود work here, and why isn't there a subject?

گفته میشود is an impersonal passive phrase meaning "it is said." In Farsi, the passive is formed using the past participle of the main verb (here, گفته from گفتن) followed by the appropriate conjugation of شدن. Because it is a general statement ("people say"), we use the third-person singular میشود without a specific subject, followed by که (that) to introduce the clause.

Question 1

How does the construction گفته می‌شود work here, and why isn't there a subject?

Accepted Answer

گفته می‌شود is an impersonal passive phrase meaning "it is said." In Farsi, the passive is formed using the past participle of the main verb (here, گفته from گفتن) followed by the appropriate conjugation of شدن. Because it is a general statement ("people say"), we use the third-person singular می‌شود without a specific subject, followed by که (that) to introduce the clause.

Question 2

What is the literal meaning of به شمار می‌رود, and how do I use it?

Accepted Answer

Literally, it means "goes to count," but it translates as "is considered" or "is counted as." The infinitive is به شمار رفتن. It is a formal and very common way to express that something is regarded in a certain way. You use it at the end of the sentence, pairing it with what the subject is considered to be—in this case, یک معضل بزرگ (a big dilemma).

Question 3

Why doesn't به شمار می‌رود use the passive helper verb شدن if the English translation "is considered" is passive?

Accepted Answer

Even though "is considered" is passive in English, به شمار رفتن is an active compound verb in Farsi that naturally carries a passive meaning ("to count as" or "to be regarded as"). You do not need to add شدن because the concept of being considered is already built into this specific idiom. You will also frequently see به شمار آمدن used with the exact same meaning.

Question 4

Could I use a simpler word like مشکل instead of معضل here?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but معضل (dilemma or complex problem) fits the formal, argumentative tone of this sentence much better than the everyday word مشکل (problem). In B2-level argumentative writing, using words like معضل elevates your language and shows you are talking about a difficult, multi-faceted issue, which pairs perfectly with the concept of a تضاد (conflict).

گفته می‌شود که این تضاد یک معضل بزرگ به شمار می‌رود.

Breakdown of گفته می‌شود که این تضاد یک معضل بزرگ به شمار می‌رود.

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