Language/Iranian-persian/Grammar/Lesson-22:-Complex-sentences-and-conjunctions
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| ◀️ Lesson 21: Using infinitives — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Lesson 23: Persian civilization and ancient history ▶️ |
As we progress with our Farsi learning journey, we become more aware of the richness of the language. Persian is a language that can express ideas in such an eloquent way that even long sentences seem like a beautiful piece of art. In this lesson, we will learn how to form complex sentences in Persian using subordinating conjunctions and punctuation.
Don't miss the chance to check out these pages as you wrap up this lesson: Nouns & Lesson 15: Word order in past tense sentences.
Complex Sentences
A complex sentence is made up of one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses. An independent clause has a subject and a predicate and can stand alone as a sentence, while a dependent clause gives more information, but cannot stand alone.
A dependent clause in Persian has its own subject and its own predicate, but it cannot express a complete thought on its own, and it depends on an independent clause to form a complete sentence.
Complex sentences are formed by using subordinating conjunctions such as "ke" (that), "agar" (if), "ta" (until), "chon" (because), or "mesle" (like/as). The combination of the independent and dependent clauses is unified using appropriate punctuation.
Let's look at some examples:
Example 1: "ke" (that)
- Independent clause: او می‌خواهد برای خود یک خانه بخرد. (u mixāhad barāye ḫod yak xāne bexarad.)
- Dependent clause: خانه‌ای که دارای حیاط بزرگی باشد. (xāne-i ke dārā-ye ḥiyāt-e bozorg-i bāšad.)
- Complex sentence: او می‌خواهد برای خود خانه‌ای بخرد که دارای حیاط بزرگی باشد. (u mixāhad barāye ḫod xāne-i bexarad ke dārā-ye ḥiyāt-e bozorg-i bāšad.)
- English translation: He wants to buy a house for himself that has a large yard.
Example 2: "agar" (if)
- Independent clause: من به خانه برم. (man be xāne beram.)
- Dependent clause: اگر باز با کارم به تعویض کردن قطعه برسونند. (agar bāz bā kāram be tavoiz kardan-e qateʿe beresvānand.)
- Complex sentence: من به خانه می‌روم اگر باز به من قطعه کار بدهند. (man be xāne miravam agar bāz be man qâteʿe kār bedahand.)
- English translation: I will go home if they give me a piece to work on.
Example 3: "ta" (until)
- Independent clause: او برای بچه‌هایش گرفتاری را با خود می‌کشد. (u barāye bačehā-ye-š gerftār-i rā bā ḫod mikošad.)
- Dependent clause: تا آموزش‌های لازم را به آن‌ها بدهد. (tā āmuzš-hâ-ye lāzem-rā be ānhâ bedahad.)
- Complex sentence: او برای بچه‌هایش گرفتاری را با خود می‌کشد، تا آموزش‌های لازم را به آن‌ها بدهد. (u barāye bačehā-ye-š gerftār-i rā bā ḫod mikosad, tā āmuzš-hâ-ye lāzem-rā be ānhâ bedahad.)
- English translation: He takes the hardship for his children until he gives them the necessary education.
Example 4: "chon" (because)
- Independent clause: امروز خیلی خسته ام. (emruz ḫeyli ḫaste-am.)
- Dependent clause: چون کم خوابی داشتم. (čon kam ḫābi dāšt-am.)
- Complex sentence: من امروز خیلی خسته ام چون کم خوابی داشتم. (man emruz ḫeyli ḫaste-am čon kam ḫābi dāšt-am.)
- English translation: I'm very tired today because I had little sleep.
Example 5: "mesle" (like/as)
- Independent clause: فلانی سال‌هاست به دنبال کار خوب دنبال می‌کند. (felāni sāl-hāst be donbāl-e kār-e ḫub donbāl mikonad.)
- Dependent clause: مثل بقیه هموطنانش. (mesle baqi-ye ham-vatān-ān-e-š.)
- Complex sentence: فلانی سال‌هاست به دنبال کار خوب دنبال می‌کند مثل بقیه هموطنانش. (felāni sāl-hāst be donbāl-e kār-e ḫub donbāl mikonad mesle baqi-ye ham-vatān-ān-e-š.)
- English translation: For years, Falani has been searching for a good job like the rest of his fellow countrymen.
Subordinating Conjunctions
Subordinating conjunctions make complex sentences by connecting the independent and dependent clauses. Here are some of the most commonly used ones:
- که (ke)- that
- با این که (bā in ke)- although, despite
- تا (tā) - until
- زمانی که (zamāni ke) - when
- اگر (agar) - if
- به شرطی که (be šarte ke) - on condition that
- مگر این که (mègar-in ke) - unless
- چون (čon) - because
It is important to note that the dependent clause always comes after the independent clause.
Punctuation Marks
Since a dependent clause adds information to an independent clause, it is usually separated by punctuation marks to make it clear that it does not form a complete sentence.
Two punctuation marks are used in Farsi to connect dependent and independent clauses:
- فاصله (fāselah): a comma is used to separate two clauses if the dependent clause comes before the independent clause in a complex sentence.
Example: امروز به مدرسه نرفتم، چون خیلی سرما بود. (Emruz be madrese naraftam, čon ḫeyli sarma bud.) Today I didn't go to school because it was very cold.
- نقطه ویرگول (noghteh virgul): a semicolon is used instead of a period to unite two independent clauses into one sentence, separated by a semicolon.
Example: او به همه کمک می‌کرد؛ او را کسی نشناخت. (U be hame komak mikard; u rā kas-i našnāxt.) He helped everyone; nobody recognized him.
Practice
Now let's practice what we learned. Complete the following compound sentence (using "ke") based on the information given.
1. درست است که فیلیپ تلفنی با من صحبت کرد.
- Answer: درست است که فیلیپ تلفنی با من صحبت کرد که به من تبریک گفت.
2. اگر به آمریکا سفر کنم، ... .
- Answer: اگر به آمریکا سفر کنم، همه دوستام رو ملاقات می‌کنم.
3. اینقدر زود به خانه می‌روی که ... .
- Answer: اینقدر زود به خانه می‌روی که هیچ وقت ماشین‌ها ترافیک را رقم نمی‌زنند.
Sources
Other Lessons
- Conditional Mood
- Prepositions
- Comaratives and Superlatives
- Pronouns
- Gender
- Adjectives
- How to Use be
- Lesson 5: Present tense conjugation of regular verbs
- Common Mistakes
- Feasible
| ◀️ Lesson 21: Using infinitives — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Lesson 23: Persian civilization and ancient history ▶️ |