Advanced Subordination Patterns in Persian

Overview

At the C1 level, you encounter complex multi-clause constructions that go beyond basic relative and complement clauses. Advanced subordination includes nested clauses, correlative structures (هر...که, whoever), concessive generalizations, and formal connectors like چنانچه (should/if). These patterns are essential for reading academic texts, legal documents, and sophisticated literary prose.

Persian handles complex subordination elegantly, primarily through the versatile conjunction که and correlative pairs. The ability to parse and produce these structures marks the transition from intermediate to advanced proficiency.

How It Works

Correlative structures:

Pattern	Meaning	Example
هر کسی که	whoever	هر کسی که بیاید، خوش‌آمد می‌گویم
هر جا (که)	wherever	هر جا بروی، یادت نرود
هر چه	whatever	هر چه بخواهی، بگو
هر وقت (که)	whenever	هر وقت آمدی، خبرم کن
هر قدر	however much	هر قدر تلاش کنی، بهتر است

Formal subordinators:

Connector	Meaning
چنانچه chanānche	should/if (formal)
بدان جهت که	for the reason that
از آنجایی که	given that/since
صرف‌نظر از اینکه	regardless of whether
علی‌رغم آنکه	despite the fact that

Examples in Context

Persian	English	Note
هر کسی که بیاید، خوش‌آمد می‌گویم.	Whoever comes, I will welcome.	Correlative
چنانچه مایل باشید، تماس بگیرید.	Should you wish, please contact us.	Formal if
کسی که می‌داند چه باید بکند، موفق می‌شود.	One who knows what to do succeeds.	Nested clauses
هر جا بروی، یادت نرود.	Wherever you go, don't forget.	Universal
صرف‌نظر از اینکه چه فکر می‌کنید...	Regardless of what you think...	Concessive
از آنجایی که وقت محدود است...	Given that time is limited...	Reason
هر چه بیشتر بخوانی، بهتر می‌فهمی.	The more you read, the better you understand.	Proportional
علی‌رغم آنکه مخالف بودند...	Despite the fact that they opposed...	Concessive

Common Mistakes

Using colloquial connectors in formal writing

• Wrong: اگه بخوای in formal text
• Right: چنانچه مایل باشید
• Why: Formal subordination requires formal connectors.

Not maintaining subjunctive after certain connectors

• Wrong: هر کسی که می‌آید (indicative in universal clause)
• Right: هر کسی که بیاید (subjunctive for hypothetical universal)
• Why: Correlative universals with هر typically use the subjunctive.

Practice Tips

1. Read Persian academic abstracts and identify all subordination patterns. Note which connectors appear most frequently.
2. Practice correlative structures: write five sentences with هر + question word: هر کسی که (whoever), هر جا که (wherever), هر وقت که (whenever).
3. Rewrite informal sentences using formal subordinators: اگر بخواهید → چنانچه مایل باشید, چون وقت نداشتیم → از آنجایی که وقت محدود بود.

Related Concepts

• Complex Subordinating Conjunctions — the B2-level subordination patterns this builds upon