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6.6 Grammar: Verbs in Persian Language

Simple and Conjunct Verbs

 

Verbs are action words which means they express an action or refer to a state of being. Persian verbs are classified into two main groups: simple verbs and conjunct verbs. We also know there are three major tenses in Persian (like English) which are present, past and future.

We are going to look at each categories in more depth in next chapters. Here, we will talk about simple and conjunct verbs as well as verb stems in Persian language.

Simple Verbs

Verbs that have only one part. For example: دویدن (to run), خوردن (to eat), رفتن (to go), خندیدن (to laugh).

As you can see in here, we use ن at the end of the verb to show the infinitive form, ُایستادن ,خواندن,….

Look at this example:

English Explanation Persian Sentence
I study Persian. verb “to study” shows an action من فارسی می خوانم
Elham laughs. verb “to laugh “shows an action الهام می خندد
Elham is my sister. verb “is” refer to state of being, الهام خواهر من است

List of Commonly Used Simple Verbs

English Persian
To do کردن
To go رفتن
To come آمدن
To turn چرخیدن
To run دویدن
To give دادَن
To cook پُختَن
To eat خوردن
To write نوشتن
To drink نوشیدن
To die مُردن
To stand up ایستادن
To sit down نشستن
To sleep خوابیدن
To say گُفتَن
To laugh خندیدن
To buy خریدن
To sell فروختن
To see دیدن
To wash شستن
To want خواستن
To read خواندن
To bring آوردن
To write نوشتن
To give دادن
To drink نوشیدن
To stand up ایستادن
To sit down نشستن

Conjunct Verbs

In Persian language, the verbs that has more than one part is conjunct verb. Conjunct verbs are made of the infinitive form of the verb and one or more word before the verb. Remember, in conjunct verbs, the meaning of the infinitive verb will change. For example: verb داشتن means “to have” which is a single verb. But the conjunct verb دوست داشتن is made of the noun دوست and verb داشتن which makes the meaning of ” to love”. Here are more examples:

Translation Verb in English Sentence in English Sentence in Persian Explanation
to have داشتن I have a book. من کتاب دارم “To have” is used as a single verb in this sentence.
to pick up برداشتن I picked up my book. من کتاب را برداشتم In here, the compound verb is made of infinitive verb and a word. As you see the meaning of the “to have” changed to “to pick up”.
to love دوست داشتن I love fall season. من فصل پاییز را دوست دارم In here, the compound verb is made of infinitive verb and a word. As you see the meaning of the ” to have ” changed to “to love”.

Conjunct Verb Structure

When we conjugate a conjunct verb, the preverb won’t changed and only the infinitive verb will change.

Look at the table for additional details:

Explanation Translation Sentence in Simple Past Tense Translation Sentence in Simple Present Tense Verb
As you see in the examples in here, the preverb will not change. We add any verb ending or addition to the verb itself. You picked up the trash. تو آشغال ها را بر داشتی I am picking up the trash. من آشغال ها را بر می دارم برداشتن (to pick up)
As you see in the examples in here, the preverb will not change. We add any verb ending or addition to the verb itself. They played football. آنها فوتبال بازی کردند You are playing football. شما فوتبال بازی می کنید بازی کردن (to play)

Commonly Used Conjunct Verbs

English Persian English Persian
To answer جواب دادن To listen گوش دادن
To forgive فراموش کردن To do انجام دادن
To ask سوال کردن/ پُرسیدن To answer پاسخ دادن/ جواب دادن
To speak صحبت کردن To listen گوش دادن
To plan برنامه ریزی کردن To teach یاد دادن
To study درس خواندن To explain توضیح دادن
To rest استراحت کردن To ride سوار شدن
To exercise ورزش کردن To wait مُنتَظر شدن
To practice تمرین کردن To explain توضیح دادن
To converse گپ زدن / مُحاوِره کردن To keep نِگه داشـَن
To cry گریه کردن To wake up بیدار شدن
To feel احساس کردن/ حِس کردن To remember بخاطر داشتن /بخاطر آوردن
To use استفاده کردن To cook food غذا پختن
To end پایان دادن / تمام کردن To shut down تعطیل کردن
To clean تمیز گردن/ پاک کردن To wake up بیدار شدن
To open باز کردن To return برگشتن
To receive دریافت کردن To learn یاد گرفتن

Test Yourself

Practice

6.6 Change the verbs to simple present tense (DOCX)

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