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Intermediate

The Object Marker rā

Marking a definite object

را marks a definite direct object

Placed after a specific or known object.

💬 Examples
کتاب را خواندم.
ketāb rā xāndam.
I read the book.
📝 را after a definite object
علی را دیدم.
Ali rā didam.
I saw Ali.
📝 Proper names take را
No را for indefinite objects

Omit را when the object is non-specific.

📊 Using را
Object type را? Example
definite / specific YES کتاب را خواندم
proper name YES علی را دیدم
indefinite / generic NO کتاب خواندم
💬 Examples
کتاب خواندم.
ketāb xāndam.
I read a book / I read.
📝 No را (indefinite)
غذا خوردم.
qazā xordam.
I ate food.
📝 No را for a generic object
را comes right after the whole object phrase

Including its modifiers.

💬 Examples
این کتاب را بخوان.
in ketāb rā bexān.
Read this book.
📝 را after 'this book'
ماشینِ قرمز را دیدم.
māshin-e qermez rā didam.
I saw the red car.
📝 را after the full object phrase