The object marker را

What را does

را stands after a direct object to say that the object is a particular, known one. English does the same job with "the", "this" or a name, so را often translates as nothing at all.

• کتاب را خواندم. — I read the book. (a specific book we both know)
• کتاب خواندم. — I read a book. / I did some reading.
• کتابی خواندم. — I read a book. (one, unspecified)

Only the direct object can take را. A subject never does, and a noun with a preposition never does.

When it is obligatory

من را and the older contraction مرا are both correct; مرا is more formal.

Where it goes

را closes the whole object phrase, including any ezafe chain or adjective:

• کتابِ بزرگِ من را خواند. — He read my big book.
• آن فیلمِ ایرانی را دیدی؟ — Did you see that Iranian film?

The marked object usually comes early, before the place or the person receiving something:

• من نامه را به مریم دادم. — I gave the letter to Maryam.

With a relative clause, را comes before که: کتابی را که خریدم خواندم. — I read the book I bought.

In speech

را becomes رو after a vowel and ـو after a consonant: خونه رو ببین (khune ro bebin), کتابو خوندم (ketābo khundam). In writing, use را.

Time phrases

را can also mark a stretch of time that the action fills: تمام روز را کار کردم. — I worked all day.

Watch out as an English speaker

• English has no marker, so learners leave it out: ✗ در ببند. / ✓ در را ببند.
• And then overuse it on indefinite objects: ✗ یک کتاب را خریدم. / ✓ یک کتاب خریدم.
• It attaches to the end of the phrase, not to the first noun: ✗ کتاب را بزرگ خریدم. / ✓ کتابِ بزرگ را خریدم.
• Never after a preposition: ✗ به علی را گفتم. / ✓ به علی گفتم.

Example dialogue

کلید را دیدی؟ — Have you seen the key?
نه، کلید ندیدم. کجا گذاشتی؟ — No, I didn't see a key. Where did you put it?
روی میز گذاشتم. آن کتاب را هم برمی‌داری؟ — I put it on the table. Will you take that book too?
بله، هر دو را می‌آورم. — Yes, I will bring both.