Longer Ezafe Chains

Level 2

A noun can have an adjective and an owner. Link each part that continues the phrase, as in کتابِ خوبِ سارا.

How It Works

Build the phrase one link at a time. کتابِ خوب means “the good book.” Add Sara as the owner: کتابِ خوبِ سارا means “Sara’s good book.” The adjective خوب now carries a connector because another part follows it.

In خانهٔ بزرگِ سارا, the first link is pronounced -ye after the final /e/ of خانه, and the next is -e after بزرگ. In ordinary text some connectors are not marked, so recognize the phrase from its structure and learned readings.

The owner can be a pronoun: کتابِ خوبِ من. An owner can also have its own linked phrase: کتابِ دوستِ من means “my friend’s book.” Follow the links before deciding who owns what.

Do not insert ezafe between every adjacent word in a sentence. It connects parts of this noun phrase. A complete statement such as کتاب خوب است uses خوب as the predicate, followed by the copula, rather than as a linked adjective.

Examples (4)

  1. کتابِ خوبِ سارا

    Sara’s good book

    The noun connects to its adjective, then the adjective connects to the owner.

  2. خانهٔ بزرگِ سارا

    Sara’s big house

    After the final /e/ of خانه, the first connector is pronounced -ye.

  3. کتابِ دوستِ من

    my friend’s book

    دوستِ من names my friend; that whole phrase identifies the book’s owner.

  4. کتابِ خوبِ من

    my good book

    The pronoun identifies the owner at the end of the chain.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Longer Ezafe ChainsLevel 2

Learn This First

Follow the noun phrase link by link, using -e or -ye where the next description or owner attaches.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.