C2 Verb System 14 min read Easy

Persian Ongoing Actions: The 'Having' Auxiliary (dāštan)

Use dāštan + mi- verb to signal immediacy, turning static descriptions into vivid, ongoing stories.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use the auxiliary verb 'dāštan' (to have) conjugated in the present tense followed by the main verb in the present continuous form.

  • Conjugate 'dāštan' for the subject: 'man dāram' (I have).
  • Add the main verb in the present stem form: 'dāram mi-ravam' (I am going).
  • For negatives, add 'na-' to the main verb: 'dāram nemi-ravam' (I am not going).
Subject + dāštan (conj.) + mi- + verb_stem + -am/i/ad/im/id/and

Overview

The Persian verb system distinguishes between habitual actions and actions in progress. While the ubiquitous preverb mi- (می-) often marks both general present actions and habitual ones, the durative aspect, particularly at the C2 level, necessitates a more precise construction. This is achieved through the auxiliary verb dāštan (داشتن), meaning "to have." Its primary function in this context is to delexicalize, losing its literal meaning of possession to explicitly signal an action's ongoing nature at a specific point in time.

This auxiliary clarifies whether an action is a routine occurrence or is actively unfolding at the moment of speech or a specified past moment. Without dāštan, the mi- forms can remain ambiguous, potentially implying habit or general truth when an immediate, dynamic action is intended. Mastering this nuance allows you to convey actions with vivid immediacy, enriching your communication beyond a merely descriptive, habitual register.

Linguistically, dāštan functions similarly to the English "to be" in progressive constructions ("I am doing"). However, its origin as a verb of possession lends a unique flavor to its grammaticalization in Persian. This grammatical shift is crucial for advanced learners to differentiate between, for instance, a general statement like man ketāb mi-xānam (من کتاب می‌خوانم - I read books/I will read a book) and the precise man dāram ketāb mi-xānam (من دارم کتاب می‌خوانم - I am reading a book [right now]).

How This Grammar Works

The progressive construction in Persian employs a conjugated form of dāštan immediately preceding the main verb, which itself retains its mi- prefix and personal endings. This structure explicitly marks the action as ongoing or in progress. The auxiliary dāštan is the primary carrier of tense (present or past) and person/number agreement, while the main verb contributes the lexical meaning of the action.
Consider dāštan in this context as an aspectual auxiliary, not a modal or causative one. It specifies how an action unfolds in time—its duration and simultaneity with a reference point. The mi- prefix on the main verb is critical; it retains its function of marking imperfective aspect, but dāštan elevates this to a clear progressive meaning.
This contrasts with English, where "to be" carries both tense and progressive aspect, and the main verb is a present participle. In Persian, dāštan adds the explicit "having" of the action in progress.
The two verbs, dāštan and the main verb, operate in tandem, both agreeing in person and number with the subject. For example, if the subject is "you" (singular, informal), both the auxiliary and the main verb will reflect this: to dāri mi-ravi (تو داری می‌روی - You are going). This strict agreement is a cornerstone of Persian verbal morphology and must be maintained for accurate communication.
The auxiliary dāštan effectively sets the temporal frame and confirms the ongoing nature of the action described by the mi- prefixed verb.

Formation Pattern

1
Forming the progressive tenses with dāštan involves conjugating the auxiliary and then appending the mi- prefixed main verb. The structure remains consistent for both present and past progressive forms, with the tense determined by the auxiliary dāštan.
2
1. Present Progressive: Used for actions currently in progress.
3
Formula: Conjugated dāštan (present stem dār-) + Main Verb (present stem + mi- + personal ending)
4
Example: man dāram kār mi-konam (من دارم کار می‌کنم - I am working).
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Conjugation of dāštan (present stem dār-)
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| Person | Present Stem dār- | Pronoun (coll.) | Example (raftan - to go) (رفتن) |
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| :-------- | :-------------------- | :-------------- | :---------------------------------- |
8
| 1st Sg. | dāram (دارم) | man (من) | man dāram mi-ravam (من دارم می‌روم) |
9
| 2nd Sg. | dāri (داری) | to (تو) | to dāri mi-ravi (تو داری می‌روی) |
10
| 3rd Sg. | dārad (دارد) | u (او) | u dārad mi-ravad (او دارد می‌رود) |\
11
| 1st Pl. | dārim (داریم) | mā (ما) | mā dārim mi-ravim (ما داریم می‌رویم) |\
12
| 2nd Pl. | dārid (دارید) | šomā (شما) | šomā dārid mi-ravid (شما دارید می‌روید) |\
13
| 3rd Pl. | dārand (دارند) | ānhā (آن‌ها) | ānhā dārand mi-ravand (آن‌ها دارند می‌روند) |
14
2. Past Progressive: Used for actions that were in progress at a specific moment in the past.
15
Formula: Conjugated dāštan (past stem dāšt-) + Main Verb (present stem + mi- + personal ending)
16
Example: man dāštam kār mi-kardam (من داشتم کار می‌کردم - I was working).
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Conjugation of dāštan (past stem dāšt-)
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| Person | Past Stem dāšt- | Pronoun (coll.) | Example (raftan - to go) (رفتن) |\
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| :-------- | :------------------ | :-------------- | :---------------------------------- |\
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| 1st Sg. | dāštam (داشتم) | man (من) | man dāštam mi-raftam (من داشتم می‌رفتم) |\
21
| 2nd Sg. | dāšti (داشتی) | to (تو) | to dāšti mi-rafti (تو داشتی می‌رفتی) |\
22
| 3rd Sg. | dāšt (داشت) | u (او) | u dāšt mi-raft (او داشت می‌رفت) |\
23
| 1st Pl. | dāštim (داشتیم) | mā (ما) | mā dāštim mi-raftim (ما داشتیم می‌رفتیم) |\
24
| 2nd Pl. | dāštid (داشتید) | šomā (شما) | šomā dāštid mi-raftid (شما داشتید می‌رفتید) |\
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| 3rd Pl. | dāštand (داشتند) | ānhā (آن‌ها) | ānhā dāštand mi-raftand (آن‌ها داشتند می‌رفتند) |
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Important Notes:
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The mi- prefix on the main verb is never omitted in these progressive constructions. Its presence is essential for marking the imperfective aspect. Forgetting it (e.g., dāram miravam instead of dāram mi-ravam) is a common error that makes the construction sound incomplete or ungrammatical.
28
Negation: Crucially, the progressive forms with dāštan are not typically negated. To express a negative ongoing action, Persian generally reverts to the simple imperfective form with the negative prefix na- (ن-). For instance, "I am not going" is man nemi-ravam (من نمی‌روم), not man nadāram mi-ravam. Negating dāštan (e.g., nadāram) re-activates its possessive meaning, leading to a sentence like "I don't have (something) and I am going," which is nonsensical in this context.
29
Both the auxiliary dāštan and the main verb must agree in person and number with the subject. Mismatched endings (dāram mi-ravi) result in ungrammatical sentences.

When To Use It

The auxiliary dāštan is employed to convey that an action is dynamically unfolding, emphasizing its ongoing nature rather than its completion or habitual occurrence. Its use adds precision and vividness to your communication, particularly at the C2 level where ambiguity should be minimized.
  1. 1Actions in Progress at the Moment of Speaking (Present Progressive): This is the most straightforward application. You use dāštan when describing something happening right now.
  • āl'ān dāram gozāreš mi-nevisam (الان دارم گزارش می‌نویسم. - I am writing a report right now.) This clearly states the current activity, distinguishing it from āl'ān gozāreš mi-nevisam (I write reports/I will write a report now), which lacks the explicit progressive meaning.
  • čikār dāri mi-koni? dāram qahve mi-nušam. (چیکار داری می‌کنی؟ دارم قهوه می‌نوشم. - What are you doing? I am drinking coffee.) The question specifically asks about current activity.
  1. 1Actions in Progress at a Specific Past Moment (Past Progressive): When narrating past events, dāštan allows you to set a scene or describe an action that was unfolding when another event occurred.
  • dāštam ketāb mi-xāndam ke telefonam zang zad. (داشتم کتاب می‌خواندم که تلفنم زنگ زد. - I was reading a book when my phone rang.) This establishes the background action against which a new event took place.
  • vaghti šomā āmadid, u dāšt šām mi-xord. (وقتی شما آمدید، او داشت شام می‌خورد. - When you arrived, he was eating dinner.) Here, dāšt clarifies that the dinner was in progress, not that he had already finished or was about to start.
  1. 1Emphasizing Durability or Persistence: Sometimes, dāštan can underscore the continuous nature of an action over an extended period, even if not precisely at a single moment.
  • īn ruzhā dāram barāye azmūn tamerin mi-konam. (این روزها دارم برای آزمون تمرین می‌کنم. - These days I am studying for the exam.) While not literally "right this second," it implies an ongoing effort spanning recent days.
  1. 1Colloquial Usage and Immediacy: In everyday conversations, texts, and social media, dāštan is frequently used to convey a sense of immediacy and engagement. Omitting it can make speech sound less natural or more formal in many contemporary contexts.
  • dārim mi-rim bīrūn! (داریم می‌ریم بیرون! - We're going out! [right now/soon]) This is a common way to announce immediate plans or actions in progress among friends.
  • A common social media caption might be: dāram az manzare lezzat mi-baram (دارم از منظره لذت می‌برم - I am enjoying the view). This creates a sense of shared present experience with the audience.
  1. 1Setting the Stage for Interruption: The past progressive with dāštan is particularly effective for narrating a situation that was underway before it was interrupted or before another event took precedence.
  • dāštand film mi-dīdand ke barq raft. (داشتند فیلم می‌دیدند که برق رفت. - They were watching a movie when the power went out.) This structure paints a clear picture of the ongoing activity prior to the interruption.

Common Mistakes

Advanced learners often grapple with specific pitfalls when employing dāštan in progressive constructions. Understanding these common errors and their underlying reasons is crucial for achieving C2 fluency.
  1. 1Using dāštan with Stative Verbs: Stative verbs describe states of being, possession, emotion, or mental processes, rather than dynamic actions. Like in English ("I am knowing" is incorrect), dāštan is generally incompatible with these verbs in Persian.
  • Incorrect: man dāram tō-rā mi-dānam (من دارم تو را می‌دانم). (Literally: I am knowing you.)
  • Correct: man tō-rā mi-dānam (من تو را می‌دانم. - I know you.)
  • Other stative verbs to avoid with dāštan include dūst dāštan (دوست داشتن - to like/love), šenaxtan (شناختن - to recognize), dāštan (داشتن - to have in the possessive sense), and verbs describing inherent qualities.
  1. 1Omitting the mi- Prefix on the Main Verb: This is a frequent oversight. The mi- prefix is integral to the imperfective aspect of the main verb in this construction. Removing it alters the meaning or renders the sentence ungrammatical.
  • Incorrect: u dārad xord (او دارد خورد). (Literally: He has eaten / He is eaten).
  • Correct: u dārad mi-xorad (او دارد می‌خورد. - He is eating).
  1. 1Incorrect Negation: Attempting to negate the dāštan auxiliary itself results in ambiguity or an entirely different meaning, as na-dāštan (na-dāram, na-dārad, etc.) reverts to the possessive "not having."
  • Incorrect: man nadāram mi-ravam (من ندارم می‌روم). (Literally: I don't have and I am going.)
  • Correct: man nemi-ravam (من نمی‌روم. - I am not going/I don't go.) For negative progressive, the simple imperfective is used.
  1. 1Mismatched Personal Endings: Both dāštan and the main verb must agree in person and number with the subject. Inconsistency breaks the grammatical agreement.
  • Incorrect: mā dārid mi-xorim (ما دارید می‌خوریم). (Literally: We (you pl.) are eating.)
  • Correct: mā dārim mi-xorim (ما داریم می‌خوریم. - We are eating.)
  1. 1Using dāštan for Future Actions: The dāštan progressive specifically denotes actions ongoing in the present or past. It cannot be used to express future progressive actions in Persian.
  • Incorrect: fardā man dāram kār mi-konam (فردا من دارم کار می‌کنم). (Intended: Tomorrow I will be working.)
  • Correct: fardā man kār mi-konam (فردا من کار می‌کنم. - Tomorrow I will work.) or fardā man kār xāham kard (فردا من کار خواهم کرد. - Tomorrow I will work. - more formal future).
  1. 1Overuse in Formal Contexts: While dāštan progressive is increasingly common, it can still be perceived as slightly more colloquial or less formal than the simple imperfective (mi- forms) in highly academic or traditional written contexts. For a PhD thesis, for instance, a judicious balance is often preferred.

Real Conversations

Observing the dāštan auxiliary in real-world Persian discourse reveals its vital role in conveying dynamic, immediate actions, particularly in modern, less formal communication. It's the linguistic tool that adds a "live-action" feel to dialogue, much like adding an active verb to a sentence in English.

S

Scenario 1

A phone call

- A: salām, čikār dāri mi-koni? (سلام، چیکار داری می‌کنی؟ - Hello, what are you doing [right now]?)

- B: salām, hīčī, dāram film mi-bīnam. (سلام، هیچی، دارم فیلم می‌بینم. - Hello, nothing, I am watching a movie.)

- Here, dāram mi-bīnam explicitly states that the movie-watching is an ongoing activity. Simply film mi-bīnam could imply a general habit of watching movies.

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Scenario 2

Explaining a delay to a colleague

- A: gozāreš āmade? (گزارش آمده؟ - Has the report come?)

- B: na, dāram rūš kār mi-konam, kamī tāxīr dāre. (نه، دارم روش کار می‌کنم، کمی تأخیر داره. - No, I am working on it, it has a little delay.)

- dāram rūš kār mi-konam (rūš = on it) conveys that the work is actively in progress, justifying the delay.

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Scenario 3

Narrating a past event

- dāštam az danšgāh bar-mi-gaštam ke bar-xordam be dūstam. (داشتم از دانشگاه برمی‌گشتم که برخوردم به دوستم. - I was returning from university when I ran into my friend.)

- The dāštam bar-mi-gaštam sets the scene, indicating the ongoing journey that was interrupted by meeting the friend. This is a common narrative device.

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Scenario 4

Casual observation on social media/messaging

- Friend posts a picture of coffee with a book.

- Caption: dāram az sobhāne-ye bā-hāl lezzat mi-baram. (دارم از صبحانه باحال لذت می‌برم. - I am enjoying a cool breakfast.)

- The use of dāram mi-baram makes the caption immediate and engaging, conveying that the pleasure is occurring as the picture is taken or shared.

S

Scenario 5

Collaborative work

- A: to dāri čī mi-nevisi? (تو داری چی می‌نویسی؟ - What are you writing?)

- B: dāram matn-e jadīd ro edīt mi-konam. (دارم متن جدید رو ادیت می‌کنم. - I am editing the new text.)

- This clearly indicates the current task, allowing A to understand B's immediate focus.

In all these examples, dāštan adds a crucial layer of aspectual information that the simple mi- form alone cannot provide. It anchors the action firmly in the present or a specific past moment, making communication more precise and natural.

Quick FAQ

  • Can I use dāštan with compound verbs like telefon kardan (تلفن کردن - to call)?
  • Absolutely. For compound verbs, mi- is affixed to the non-verbal element (often kardan - کردن, šodan - شدن, etc.), and the dāštan auxiliary precedes the entire compound structure. For example, dāram telefon mi-konam (دارم تلفن می‌کنم - I am making a call).
  • Is there any situation where dāštan retains its possessive meaning within a progressive construction?
  • No. When dāštan functions as an auxiliary for progressive aspect, its possessive meaning is completely grammaticalized away. The context and the mi- prefixed main verb unequivocally signal its role as an aspectual marker. If you intend to express "having" and an ongoing action, you would need two separate clauses, e.g., man ketāb dāram va dāram mi-xānam (من کتاب دارم و دارم می‌خوانم - I have a book and I am reading it).
  • Does dāštan imply obligation, like "I have to" in English?
  • No, not in this progressive construction. The sense of obligation or necessity in Persian is conveyed by bāyad (باید - must/should) or other modal constructions. The dāštan auxiliary is purely an aspectual marker, indicating an ongoing action, not a requirement.
  • Why is dāštan so prevalent in modern colloquial Persian, even sometimes in contexts where the simple mi- form might suffice in formal language?
  • This is a common linguistic phenomenon. As languages evolve, speakers often seek to reduce ambiguity and add expressive emphasis. The explicit progressive marker dāštan provides a clear temporal distinction that the bare mi- form might lack, especially in fast-paced conversation. It's a natural drive towards greater specificity in aspectual marking.
  • Are there any regional variations in the use of dāštan progressive?
  • While the core structure is standard across most Persian dialects, the frequency and specific nuances of its use can vary. In some very colloquial registers, the dāštan auxiliary might be shortened or blended with the main verb, but its presence as an aspectual marker remains. For advanced learners, recognizing and adapting to these subtle contextual shifts is part of C2 mastery.
  • How does dāštan progressive relate to other ways of expressing ongoing actions, such as repeated actions with adverbs?
  • dāštan explicitly marks an action as ongoing at a specific point in time. Adverbs like hamīše (همیشه - always) or ma'mūlan (معمولاً - usually) are used with simple mi- forms to denote habitual or repeated actions. For example, man hamīše ketāb mi-xānam (من همیشه کتاب می‌خوانم - I always read books) is habitual, whereas man dāram ketāb mi-xānam (من دارم کتاب می‌خوانم - I am reading a book [now]) is progressive. They address different aspects of temporality.

Conjugation of dāštan

Person Auxiliary (dāštan) Main Verb (example: khāndan)
1st Sing
dāram
mi-khānam
2nd Sing
dāri
mi-khāni
3rd Sing
dārad
mi-khānad
1st Plur
dārim
mi-khānim
2nd Plur
dārid
mi-khānid
3rd Plur
dārand
mi-khānand

Meanings

This construction marks an action as currently in progress, emphasizing the ongoing nature of the event at the moment of speaking.

1

Immediate Progressive

Actions happening right now.

“dāram bā to sohbat mikonam”

“dārand ghazā mikhorand”

Reference Table

Reference table for Persian Ongoing Actions: The 'Having' Auxiliary (dāštan)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
dāram + mi-verb
dāram mi-ravam
Negative
dāram + nemi-verb
dāram nemi-ravam
Question
dāri + mi-verb?
dāri mi-ravi?
Short Ans
dāram
dāram

Formality Spectrum

Formal
man mashghūl-e kār hastam.

man mashghūl-e kār hastam. (General)

Neutral
dāram kār mikonam.

dāram kār mikonam. (General)

Informal
dāram kār mikonam.

dāram kār mikonam. (General)

Slang
dāram kār mikonam.

dāram kār mikonam. (General)

The Progressive Map

dāštan

Usage

  • Now Current moment
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Examples by Level

1

dāram āb mi-khōram

I am drinking water

1

dāri bā ki sohbat mikoni?

Who are you talking to?

1

dārand barāye emtehān dars mikhānand

They are studying for the exam

1

dāram nemi-shenavam, sedā-ye khiyābān ziyād ast

I am not hearing, the street noise is loud

1

dāram be in mas'ale fekr mikonam ke āyā in kār dorost ast

I am thinking about this issue of whether this action is correct

1

dāram bā tamām-e vojūd barāye in hadaf talāsh mikonam

I am striving for this goal with all my being

Easily Confused

Persian Ongoing Actions: The 'Having' Auxiliary (dāštan) vs Simple Present

Learners use simple present for 'right now'.

Persian Ongoing Actions: The 'Having' Auxiliary (dāštan) vs Future Tense

Learners confuse progressive with future.

Persian Ongoing Actions: The 'Having' Auxiliary (dāštan) vs Stative Verbs

Using progressive with states.

Common Mistakes

✗

dāram ravam

✓

dāram mi-ravam

Missing the mi- prefix.
✗

man dāram

✓

man dāram mi-konam

Incomplete sentence.
✗

nemi-dāram mi-ravam

✓

dāram nemi-ravam

Wrong negative placement.
✗

dāram dānam

✓

midānam

Stative verb error.
✗

dāram raftan

✓

dāram mi-ravam

Wrong verb form.
✗

dāram mi-raftam

✓

dāram mi-ravam

Tense mismatch.
✗

dāram mi-ravad

✓

dāram mi-ravam

Subject agreement error.
✗

dāram mi-khāham

✓

mi-khāham

Stative verb error.
✗

dāram mi-bāsham

✓

hastam

Stative verb error.
✗

dāram mi-tavānam

✓

mi-tavānam

Stative verb error.
✗

dāram mi-dūstam

✓

dūst dāram

Stative verb error.
✗

dāram mi-shāyadam

✓

shāyad

Modal verb error.
✗

dāram mi-bāyadam

✓

bāyad

Modal verb error.
✗

dāram mi-bāvaram

✓

bāvar dāram

Stative verb error.

Sentence Patterns

dāram ___ mikonam.

dāri ___ mikoni?

dāram ___ nemikonam.

dārand ___ mikonand.

Real World Usage

Texting constant

dāram miyām!

Phone call very common

dāram bā to sohbat mikonam.

Social media common

dāram ghazā mikhoram.

Job interview occasional

dāram barāye in shoghl talāsh mikonam.

Travel common

dāram be tehrān mi-ravam.

Food app common

dāram ghazā sefāresh midaham.

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💡

Check the Verb

Only use this for active verbs.
⚠️

Stative Verbs

Do not use with 'to be' or 'to know'.
🎯

Negative Placement

Always put 'na-' on the main verb.
💬

Spoken vs Written

Use it mostly in speech.

Smart Tips

Use dāram + mi-verb.

man mi-ravam. → man dāram mi-ravam.

Put na- on the main verb.

nemi-dāram mi-ravam. → dāram nemi-ravam.

Don't use dāram.

dāram midānam. → midānam.

Use simple present.

dāram mi-ravam. → mi-ravam.

Pronunciation

DA-ram

Stress

The stress in 'dāram' is on the first syllable.

Question

dāri mi-ravi? ↑

Rising intonation for yes/no questions.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'dāram' as 'I have' the action in my hands right now.

Visual Association

Imagine holding a ball (the action) in your hands. You are 'having' it.

Rhyme

dāram mi-ravam, I am going now, don't ask me how.

Story

Ali is holding a phone. He says 'dāram sohbat mikonam' (I am talking). He is 'having' the conversation.

Word Web

dārammi-ravammi-khānammi-khorammi-nevisammi-binam

Challenge

Write 5 sentences about what you are doing right now.

Cultural Notes

Very common in daily speech.

Derived from the verb 'dāštan' (to have).

Conversation Starters

“

dāri chikar mikoni?

“

dāri be chi fekr mikoni?

“

dāri barāye akhar-e hafte chikar mikoni?

“

dāri barāye āyande-ye khod chikar mikoni?

Journal Prompts

Describe your current room.
What are you doing for your goals?
Describe a busy day.
Reflect on your learning process.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

man ___ mi-ravam.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: dāram
Correct auxiliary.
Fix the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

dāram mi-ravad.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: dāram mi-ravam
Agreement.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

dāri ___?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: mi-ravi
Agreement.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words in the correct order:

All words placed

Click words above to build the sentence

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: man dāram mi-ravam
Word order.
Translate to Persian. Translation

I am eating.

Answer starts with: dār...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: dāram ghazā mikhoram
Correct structure.
Match the subject. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: mi-ravand
Agreement.
Conjugate. Conjugation Drill

dāram + kār kardan

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: dāram kār mikonam
Agreement.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

dāram + neveshtan

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: dāram minevisam
Agreement.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

man ___ mi-ravam.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: dāram
Correct auxiliary.
Fix the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

dāram mi-ravad.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: dāram mi-ravam
Agreement.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

dāri ___?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: mi-ravi
Agreement.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

mi-ravam / dāram / man

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: man dāram mi-ravam
Word order.
Translate to Persian. Translation

I am eating.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: dāram ghazā mikhoram
Correct structure.
Match the subject. Match Pairs

dārand -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: mi-ravand
Agreement.
Conjugate. Conjugation Drill

dāram + kār kardan

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: dāram kār mikonam
Agreement.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

dāram + neveshtan

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: dāram minevisam
Agreement.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

5 exercises
Put the words in order to say 'Are you listening to music?' Sentence Reorder

داری / گوش / آهنگ / می‌دی / ؟

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: داری آهنگ گوش می‌دی؟
Translate to Persian: 'He was sleeping.' Translation

He was sleeping.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: داشت می‌خوابید
Match the English to the Persian equivalent. Match Pairs

Match the pairs:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I am going | دارم می‌روم
Fill in the correct auxiliary: 'We are watching a movie.' Fill in the Blank

ما ___ فیلم می‌بینیم.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: داریم
Which sentence describes a general habit (NOT an ongoing action)? Multiple Choice

Choose the habitual sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: من هر روز قهوه می‌خورم.

Score: /5

FAQ (8)

No, only active verbs.

It is mostly spoken.

On the main verb.

It means 'to have' the action.

No, use simple present.

Yes, but different auxiliary.

Yes, mostly.

It is incorrect.

Scaffolded Practice

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Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

Sign up free to practice

In Other Languages

English high

Present Continuous

English uses 'to be', Persian uses 'to have'.

Spanish high

Estar + gerundio

Spanish uses 'estar', Persian uses 'dāštan'.

German low

Simple present

Persian uses a specific auxiliary.

Japanese moderate

-te iru

Japanese uses a suffix, Persian an auxiliary.

Arabic moderate

qā'id + verb

Persian uses a conjugated verb.

Chinese moderate

zài + verb

Persian conjugates the auxiliary.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Persian Advanced Connectors: Although, However, & Beyond (Agarche, Montaha)

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