Treating words of other parts of speech as a noun is called nominalization. For example, in Persian, an adjective can be nominalized and function exactly like a noun. Nominalized adjectives can even take plural suffix and have plural form. Both “-hâ” and “-ân” can be added to other parts of speech to pluralize them. The suffix “-ân” can indicate the animacy of the plural form. Nominalization is very common and productive in Persian.
Adjectives
In English, adjectives are nominalized with the definite article: “the poor”. However, they are not completely treated as a noun and do not take plural suffix: “the poors” is incorrect in English. In the following examples, nominalized adjectives are in singular form:
| خوب، بد، زشت ⟨xub, bad, zešt⟩ the good, the bad, and the ugly |
| دارا و ندار ⟨dârâ vo nadâr⟩ the rich and the poor |
However, English does not have an exact equivalent for plural adjectives such as ⟨خوبها⟩ and ⟨داراها و ندارها⟩. The following table demonstrates more examples from singular and plural nominalized adjectives.
| Singular Nominalized Adjective |
Plural Nominalized Adjective |
|---|---|
| زخمی ⟨zaxmi⟩ the wounded |
زخمیها ⟨zaxmihâ⟩ زخمیان ⟨zaxmiyân⟩ the wounded |
| بیکار ⟨bikâr⟩ the unemployed |
بیکارها ⟨bikârhâ⟩ بیکاران ⟨bikârân⟩ the unemployed |
| سوئدی ⟨Suedi⟩ the Swedish, Swede |
سوئدیها ⟨Suedihâ⟩ سوئدیان ⟨Suediyân⟩ the Swedish, Swedes |
Participles
Participles of a verb can function as a noun as well. The following examples are from past active participle.
| Singular Nominalized Participle |
Plural Nominalized Participle |
|---|---|
| گفته ⟨gofte⟩ statement (literally: the said) |
گفته‌ها ⟨goftehâ⟩ statements |
| شنیده ⟨šenide⟩ rumor (literally: the heard) |
شنیده‌ها ⟨šenidehâ⟩ rumors |
| خواسته ⟨xwâste⟩ desire, wish (literally: the wanted) |
خواسته‌ها ⟨xwâstehâ⟩ desires, wishes |
Infinitives
The infinitive of a verb can function as a noun and even have a plural form. Since English verbs do not have an exact infinitive form, it is not possible to give a close literal translation for the following examples (to-go-es = going-s).
| همه‌ی رفتنها بد نیست ⟨hame-ye raftanhâ bad nist⟩ Not all goings (i.e. departures) are bad |
Part of a poem from Saadi in which, infinitives accept possessive adjectives, just like a noun.
| تا رفتنش ببینم و گفتنش بشنوم ⟨tâ raftan-aš bebinam o goftan-aš bešnavam⟩ To see his/her going and hear his/her talking (to see him/her go and hear him/her talk) |
| از پای تا به سر همه سمع و بصر شدم ⟨az pây tâ be sar, hame samø o basar šodam⟩ I became all ears and eyes |
Practice Examples
The following examples are mainly useful for advanced learners.
- طرز کتاب خواندن کودکتان را تشویق کنید و بگویید که از شنیدن صدایش و لحن کتاب خواندنش لذت می‌برید.
- این رفتنها و آمدنها کمکی به ما نمی‌کند.
- چگونه از درس خواندنمان نتیجه بگیریم؟
- با هم بودنهایمان را قدر بدانیم. نبودنها همین نزدیکیهاست.
- شستنیها را شستیم، رُفتنیها را روبیدیم و دور ریختنیها را دور ریختیم.