Sentence Structure

For the word order in statements, it is worth noting that the subject normally introduces the sentence and the finite verb is always placed at the end. However, almost any other part of the sentence can be put at the beginning to emphasise it.

As the word order is the same both in statements and in questions, the interrogative sentence can only be indicated with a question mark, and through intonation when speaking.

The word order in most sentences goes as follows: All question words must come right before the verb, apart from چرا, which goes at the start of the sentence.

The Object Indicator
The postposition را is used to mark a direct object, a definite, specific direct object (and so is not used for general objects). It always follows the object. In اضافه constructions (and other nominal phrases) it is placed at the end.

In written language, the را appears in connection with من as مرا. However, تو + را) ترا) is not proper Persian.

Punctuation
In Persian, the European punctuation marks are used but the other way around. Only the use of the full stop and the question mark is regular. A comma, for instance, can be inserted anywhere in a sentence to indicate a short pause.

And
The conjunction و ('and') is pronounced o and is connected to the preceding word when it is used in numerals :


 * بیست و یک : Twenty-one

The pronunciation o is also used in enumerations. It occurs in a large number of set phrases as and often affects the meaning of the phrase. For instance:


 * پدر و مادر (pedar va mâdar) : Father and mother


 * BUT


 * پدر و مادر (pedar-o mâdar) : Parents

The pronunciation o is not used at the beginning of a sentence or after a pause.

Note that و must be used to connect two equal statements, i.e. poistive and positive, or negative and negative. To link positive and negative phrases together, use ولی.