8.7 Grammar: Subjunctive

Subjunctive verb forms are generally used to convey desirability, possibility, probability, uncertainty, or a wish about some future action or event.

Structure

In order to create subjunctive form in Persian language, add to the present stem of the verb. There are several words that will be used in present subjunctive which you will see in the table below:

Present Subjunctive vs. Future Tense

In the following examples you can see the differences between subjunctive and future.

• (.He/she will go to Detroit tomorrow) او فردا به دیترویت خواهد رفت :Future
• (.He/She may go to Detroit tomorrow) او فردا شاید به دیترویت برود :Subjunctive
• (.I will study Persian next year, too) سال آینده, من فارسی خواهم خواند :Future
• (.I must study Persian next year) سال آینده , من باید فارسی بخوانم :Subjunctive

Negation of Subjunctive

The negative particle used with the subjunctive is always ن.

• او شاید به دیترویت نرود (S/he may not go to tomorrow.)
• فردا شاید باران نبارد (It may not rain today.)

Subjunctive Case in Imperfective and Perfective Aspects

In order to use subjunctive case in imperfective and perfective aspect, a subjunctive form of ہونا is added as an auxiliary to the habitual, progressive, or perfective forms of the main verb.

Uses of Subjunctive Case:

To Express Desirability

• بیا امروز بریم جایی (Let’s go out somewhere today.)

To Express Advice/Permission (May, Should)

• میتونم بیام داخل؟ (May I come in?)
• میتونم برم خونه؟ (May I go home?)

Let’s Constructions

• بیا بریم قدم بزنیم (Let’s go for a walk.)
• بیا غذا بخوریم (Let’s eat food.)

Most Polite Form of Request

• .لطفا با من بیا (Please come with me.)
• بیا الان غذا بخوریم (Let’s eat now.)

To Express Probability/Uncertainty

• ممکن است امروز باران ببارد (Perhaps it may rain today.)
• ممکن است او فردا بیاید اینجا (Perhaps s/he may come here tomorrow.)

To Express Wishes/Blessings/Curses

• !تولدت مبارک باشد (Wish you a happy birthday!)
• !سال نو مبارک باشد (Wish you a happy new year!)

Complex Sentences: Uses of Subjunctive in Subordinate Clauses

The subjunctive case can be used in a subordinate clause to express desire and possibility.

For example:

• من می خوامتو فارسی بخوانی (I want you to study Persian.)
• مادر می خوادمن دکتر بشم (Mother wants me to become a doctor.)

More Expressions

Other Constructions Requires Subjunctive with Conjunctions

• (so that) ……تا اینکه
  • “Learn Persian so that you can speak Farsi in Iran. فارسی بخوانید تا بتوانید در ایران فارسی صحبت کنید
• The subjunctive of possibility is common in conditional (if…..then construction).
  • “If you ask, then I will also come with you. اگه بخواهی من هم باهات میام
• In the sentence with (…مگر اینکه), the subjunctive form is generally used (if the reference is to a future action).
  • “Don’t come in until I call you. نیا مگر اینکه من بهت تلفن کنم
• The subjunctive is used in “as if/as though” clauses that indicate supposition or imagined actions or situations, particularly after expressions such as “it seems as if/as though….” or “it appears as if/as though.
  • “It seemed to us/we felt as if we were strangers there. آنجا احساس می‌کردیم ما غریبه‌ایم
  • “She is as pretty (that you would think of her) as though she were a rose. او مثل گل رز بسیار زیباست

Activity 1

Please write two subjunctive sentences in Persian language that express:

Activity 2

1. Food Recipe: Please write a recipe of your favorite Persian food. You have done this before using imperative sentences. Here, you have to write the recipe using subjunctive sentences.
2. Giving Direction: Imagine that you have invited a friend to your house for a party. Your friend does not know the direction from her/his house to your house. Please write directions in Persian. (Hint: Please use subjunctive sentences).
3. Good wishes: Imagine you are in Iran for the norouz celebration and record yourself making good wishes for family and friends.

!سپاس