A2 Verb System 10 min read Easy

Expressing Ability: How to use 'Can' (tavānestan)

Combine a conjugated form of tavānestan with a subjunctive verb to express what you can or cannot do.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

To express ability in Persian, use the verb 'tavānestan' followed by the short infinitive of the main verb.

  • Conjugate 'tavānestan' based on the subject: 'man mitavānam' (I can).
  • Follow it with the short infinitive (the verb stem without the -an ending).
  • For negatives, add the 'mi-' prefix to the negative 'na-tavānestan' form.
Subject + (mi) + tavānestan + [Verb Stem] + (am/i/ad/im/id/and)

Overview

tavānestan (توانستن) is the fundamental Persian verb for expressing ability, possibility, or permission. At the A2 CEFR level, mastering tavānestan is crucial for communicating basic capabilities and making polite requests. It functions as an auxiliary verb, requiring a second verb to convey the main action.

This structure is a cornerstone of expressing potential actions in Persian, differentiating between what one does and what one is able to do. Without tavānestan, your communicative range regarding personal skills, potential events, or social interactions remains significantly limited. It signals that an action is not merely performed, but lies within the realm of the subject's capacity or the circumstances' allowance.

How This Grammar Works

tavānestan (توانستن) operates as a modal auxiliary verb in Persian. It modifies the meaning of another verb, the main verb, which carries the primary action. Crucially, tavānestan is conjugated for tense, mood, and person, while the main verb always appears in the present subjunctive form.
This dependency defines Persian modal expressions.
The present subjunctive form for the main verb linguistically reflects the potential, hypothetical, or non-actualized nature of the action. When you use tavānestan, you are not stating that an action is or was happening, but rather that it can happen under certain conditions or because of an inherent capacity. The conjugated form of tavānestan carries all grammatical information regarding who can do something and when.
For instance, in می‌توانم بروم (mitavānam beravam, "I can go"), می‌توانم (mitavānam) indicates the subject is "I" and the tense is present indicative. بروم (beravam), the present subjunctive of رفتن (raftan, "to go"), signifies the action of "going" as a possibility. This division of labor between auxiliary and main verb is a core principle for modals.
The main verb's form is fixed by tavānestan.
This grammatical architecture prevents redundant conjugation and separates "ability" from "action." Compare من فارسی صحبت می‌کنم (man fārsi sohbat mikonam, "I speak Persian") with من می‌توانم فارسی صحبت کنم (man mitavānam fārsi sohbat konam, "I can speak Persian"). In the latter, می‌توانم (mitavānam) handles the "I can," and صحبت کنم (sohbat konam) is the subjunctive of "to speak." tavānestan thus shifts the grammatical relationship between subject and action.

Formation Pattern

1
Constructing sentences with tavānestan (توانستن) follows a precise, two-part structure: the conjugated form of tavānestan followed by the present subjunctive form of the main verb.
2
1. Conjugation of tavānestan:
3
tavānestan is a regular verb. In the present tense, it typically takes the present indicative prefix می- (mi-) and is conjugated using the present stem توان- (tavān-).
4
| Person | Formal Persian Script (می‌توانستن) | Transliteration (Formal) | Colloquial Persian Script (می‌تونستن) | Transliteration (Colloquial) | English |
5
| :--------------------- | :--------------------------------- | :----------------------- | :----------------------------------- | :--------------------------- | :------------- |
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| I (من man) | می‌تَوانَم (mi-tavānam) | mitavānam | می‌تونَم (mi-tunam) | mitunam | I can |
7
| You (تو to) | می‌تَوانی (mi-tavāni) | mitavāni | می‌تونی (mi-tuni) | mituni | You can (sg) |
8
| He/She/It (او u) | می‌تَوانَد (mi-tavānad) | mitavānanad | می‌تونِه (mi-tune) | mitune | He/She/It can |
9
| We (ما mā) | می‌تَوانیم (mi-tavānim) | mitavānim | می‌تونیم (mi-tunim) | mitunim | We can |
10
| You (شما shomā) | می‌تَوانید (mi-tavānid) | mitavānid | می‌تونین (mi-tunin) | mitunin | You can (pl/f) |
11
| They (آنها ānhā) | می‌تَوانَند (mi-tavānand) | mitavānanad | می‌تونَن (mi-tunan) | mitunan | They can |
12
Observe the vowel changes in the colloquial forms (ā to u). These colloquial forms are predominant in everyday speech and essential for natural communication.
13
2. Present Subjunctive Form of the Main Verb:
14
This form is created by adding the prefix بِ- (be-) to the verb's present stem, followed by the appropriate personal ending. Stems are usually derived by removing -دن (-dan) or -تن (-tan) from the infinitive, though irregular stems exist.
15
Let's use رفتن (raftan, "to go").
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Infinitive: رفتن (raftan)
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Present Stem: رو- (rov-) (irregular)
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| Person | Present Subjunctive Script | Transliteration |
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| :--------------------- | :------------------------- | :-------------- |
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| I (من man) | بِرَوَم (be-ravam) | beravam |
21
| You (تو to) | بِرَوی (be-ravi) | beravi |
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| He/She/It (او u) | بِرَوَد (be-ravad) | beravad |
23
| We (ما mā) | بِرَویم (be-ravim) | beravim |
24
| You (شما shomā) | بِرَوید (be-ravid) | beravid |
25
| They (آنها ānhā) | بِرَوَند (be-ravand) | beravand |
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In highly colloquial speech, the بِ- (be-) prefix can sometimes be dropped, especially with common verbs. However, for A2 learners, consistently using بِ- (be-) is the recommended practice for correctness. Colloquially, بروم (beravam) often reduces to برم (beram), where the و (v) is dropped.
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3. Combining tavānestan and the Main Verb:
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[Conjugated tavānestan] + [Present Subjunctive Main Verb]
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Formal Example: من می‌توانم فارسی صحبت کنم. (man mitavānam fārsi sohbat konam.) "I can speak Persian."
30
می‌توانم (mitavānam): "I can"
31
صحبت کنم (sohbat konam): "to speak" (subjunctive of صحبت کردن)
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Colloquial Example: تو می‌تونی زودتر بیای؟ (to mituni zudtar biyāy?) "Can you come earlier?"
33
می‌تونی (mituni): "Can you"
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بیای (biyāy): "to come" (subjunctive of آمدن)
35
The subject dictates the personal ending for both tavānestan and the main subjunctive verb, ensuring agreement.

When To Use It

tavānestan (توانستن) is indispensable for expressing capacity, permission, and possibility.
  • Expressing Ability or Capability: This is its primary use, referring to physical, mental, or general capacity.
  • من می‌توانم این کتاب را بخوانم. (man mitavānam in ketāb-rā bekhānam.) - "I can read this book."
  • ما می‌تونیم فارسی صحبت کنیم. (mā mitunim fārsi sohbat konim.) - "We can speak Persian."
  • Asking for or Granting Permission: When seeking approval, tavānestan is the most common and polite phrasing.
  • می‌تونم بشینم؟ (mitunam beshinam?) - "Can I sit down?" (Asking for permission.)
  • شما می‌تونید برید. (shomā mitunid berid.) - "You can go." (Granting permission.)
  • Indicating Possibility or Feasibility: tavānestan conveys that an action is possible given circumstances, or that an event could occur. It is often used impersonally.
  • این مشکل می‌تونه حل بشه. (in moshkel mitune hal beshe.) - "This problem can be solved."
  • این کار می‌تونه خیلی سخت باشه. (in kār mitune kheyli sakht bāshe.) - "This work can be very difficult."
  • Making Polite Requests (Ta'arof): In Persian culture, Ta'arof (تعارف) involves humility. Using tavānestan softens a request, making it more polite by querying the other person's ability to perform the action.
  • می‌تونید در را باز کنید؟ (mitunid dar-rā bāz konid?) - "Can you open the door?" (Implies "Would you be kind enough...").
  • Future Ability: tavānestan in the present tense can also imply future ability when combined with time adverbs.
  • فردا می‌تونم بیام. (fardā mitunam biyām.) - "Tomorrow I can come." (I will be able to come tomorrow.)
Understanding these applications allows for precise and culturally appropriate communication. Context usually clarifies the intended meaning.

Common Mistakes

Learners often make specific errors when using tavānestan (توانستن), primarily due to its auxiliary nature and the subjunctive requirement for the main verb.
  • The Double Conjugation Error:
  • Mistake: Conjugating both tavānestan and the main verb for person and tense, e.g., من می‌تَوانَم می‌رَوَم. (man mitavānam miravam.).
  • Explanation: The main verb must be in the present subjunctive form. tavānestan carries the tense and person. The subjunctive form lacks the می- (mi-) prefix of the indicative, instead usually taking بِ- (be-).
  • Correct Form: من می‌تَوانَم بِرَوَم. (man mitavānam beravam.) - "I can go." (Colloquial: من می‌تونَم بِرَم.)
  • Forgetting the می- (mi-) Prefix on tavānestan:
  • Mistake: Saying تَوانَم بِرَوَم. (tavānam beravam.).
  • Explanation: In the present tense, tavānestan requires the می- (mi-) prefix to indicate continuous or habitual action, including present ability. Without it, the verb sounds archaic or incomplete.
  • Correct Form: می‌تَوانَم بِرَوَم. (mitavānam beravam.)
  • Confusion with بلد بودن (balad budan, "to know how to"):
  • Distinction: This is a crucial semantic difference:
  • tavānestan (توانستن): Expresses general ability, physical capacity, or possibility.
  • Example: من می‌تَوانَم بدَوَم. (man mitavānam bedavam.) - "I can run." (I have the physical capability.)
  • balad budan (بلد بودن): Expresses learned skill or expertise.
  • Example: من دویدن بَلَدَم. (man davidan baladam.) - "I know how to run." (I have learned the technique, e.g., for a marathon.)
  • Application: While "I can speak French" might be من می‌توانم فرانسوی صحبت کنم (man mitavānam fārānsavi sohbat konam), من فرانسوی بَلَدَم. (man fārānsavi baladam.) is often more precise if referring to a learned skill.
  • Incorrect Negative Placement:
  • Mistake: Negating the main verb instead of tavānestan, e.g., من می‌تَوانَم نَرَوَم. (man mitavānam naravam.).
  • Explanation: To express "cannot," the negative prefix نَـ (na-) attaches to tavānestan. Negating the second verb (نَرَوَم) changes the meaning to "I can choose not to go" or "I am able to not go," a distinct construction.
  • Correct Form: من نِمی‌تَوانَم بِرَوَم. (man nemitavānam beravam.) - "I cannot go." (Colloquial: من نِمی‌تونَم بِرَم.)
  • Omitting the بِ- (be-) Prefix on the Subjunctive Verb (for A2 learners):
  • Mistake (for A2): Saying می‌تَوانَم رَوَم. (mitavānam ravam.).
  • Explanation: For A2 learners, consistently use the بِ- (be-) prefix. It explicitly marks the subjunctive mood. While native speakers may omit it in informal speech, consistent use ensures grammatical correctness.

Real Conversations

In authentic Persian conversations, tavānestan (توانستن) frequently appears, often in its colloquial forms, reflecting practical application.

- Asking about availability (text message):

- A: عصر می‌تونی بیای کافه؟ (asr mituni biyāy kāfe?) - "Can you come to the café this afternoon?"

- B: امروز نه، کار دارم. فردا می‌تونم. (emruz na, kār dāram. fardā mitunam.) - "Not today, I have work. I can (come) tomorrow."

- Discussing abilities (casual chat):

- A: تو می‌تونی پیانو بزنی؟ (to mituni piyāno bezani?) - "Can you play the piano?"

- B: نه، ولی خواهرم خوب می‌تونه. (na, vali khāharam khub mitune.) - "No, but my sister can (play) well."

- Polite request in a shop/office:

- Customer: ببخشید، می‌تونید کمکم کنید؟ (bebakhshid, mitunid komakam konid?) - "Excuse me, can you help me?"

- Shopkeeper: بله، حتماً. چطور می‌تونم کمکتون کنم؟ (bale, hatman. chetor mitunam komaketun konam?) - "Yes, certainly. How can I help you?"

- Expressing possibility/impossibility (social media comment):

- با این قیمت، نمی‌تونم بخرم. (bā in gheymat, nemitunam bekharam.) - "At this price, I can't buy it."

- فکر می‌کنی می‌تونیم پروژه رو تا آخر هفته تموم کنیم؟ (fekr mikoni mitunim projez-ro tā ākhare hafte tamum konim?) - "Do you think we can finish the project by the end of the week?"

These examples highlight how tavānestan negotiates daily life, expresses limitations, and engages in social interactions, typically in its contracted colloquial forms. Context often clarifies its specific nuance.

Quick FAQ

  • Q: Can I use tavānestan for "May I?"
  • A: Yes, absolutely. می‌توانم...؟ (mitavānam...?) or the colloquial می‌تونم...؟ (mitunam...?) is the standard and most polite way to ask for permission. For instance, می‌تونم برم؟ (mitunam beram?) means "May I go?"
  • Q: Why does the second verb change to the subjunctive mood?
  • A: The subjunctive mood in Persian signifies a potential, desired, or hypothetical action. Since tavānestan expresses ability or possibility (i.e., an action can happen but hasn't necessarily happened), the subjunctive naturally follows to reflect this non-actualized or potential state of the main verb's action.
  • Q: Do I always need the بِ- (be-) prefix on the second verb (subjunctive)?
  • A: For A2 learners, it is strongly recommended to always use the بِ- (be-) prefix. It explicitly marks the subjunctive mood. While some native speakers might occasionally omit it in very fast, informal speech, consistent use of بِ- (be-) ensures grammatical correctness and clarity.
  • Q: Can tavānestan be used in the past tense?
  • A: Yes. When tavānestan is conjugated in the past tense, it expresses "could" or "was able to." For example, the past imperfect می‌توانستم (mitavānestam, "I was able to / I could") or the simple past توانستم (tavānestam, "I managed to / I was able to"). The main verb still remains in the present subjunctive form.
  • Example: دیروز نتوانستم بیایم. (diruz natavānestam biyāyam.) - "Yesterday I could not come."
  • Q: How does tavānestan relate to the formal future tense?
  • A: While the formal future tense (خواهم رفت - khāham raft, "I will go") states a definite future action, tavānestan in the present tense often implies future ability when paired with future time markers. It's less about a formal future statement and more about present capacity applying to a future point.
  • Example: فردا می‌توانم بهت زنگ بزنم. (fardā mitavānam behet zang bezanam.) - "Tomorrow I can call you." (Meaning "I will be able to call you tomorrow.")

Conjugation of Tavānestan (Present)

Pronoun Affirmative Negative
Man
Mitavānam
Nemitavānam
To
Mitavāni
Nemitavāni
Ou
Mitavānad
Nemitavānad
Mā
Mitavānim
Nemitavānim
Shomā
Mitavānid
Nemitavānid
Ānhā
Mitavānand
Nemitavānand

None

N/A
N/A

Meanings

The verb 'tavānestan' is used to express physical, mental, or situational ability to perform an action.

1

Physical Ability

Capability to perform a physical task.

“او می‌تواند شنا کند (He can swim)”

“ما می‌توانیم بدویم (We can run)”

2

Permission/Possibility

Used to ask if something is allowed or possible.

“آیا می‌توانم وارد شوم؟ (Can I enter?)”

“می‌شود اینجا نشست؟ (Can one sit here?)”

Reference Table

Reference table for Expressing Ability: How to use 'Can' (tavānestan)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Subject + mitavānam + verb
Man mitavānam beravam
Negative
Subject + nemitavānam + verb
Man nemitavānam beravam
Question
Mitavānam + verb + ?
Mitavāni beravi?
Past
Subject + mitavānestam + verb
Man mitavānestam beravam
Subjunctive
Subject + betavānam + verb
Bāyad betavānam beravam

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Man mitavānam in rā anjām daham.

Man mitavānam in rā anjām daham. (Daily task)

Neutral
Man mitavānam in kār rā konam.

Man mitavānam in kār rā konam. (Daily task)

Informal
Mitavānam in kār-o konam.

Mitavānam in kār-o konam. (Daily task)

Slang
Mitunam in-o konam.

Mitunam in-o konam. (Daily task)

Ability Map

Tavānestan

Physical

  • شنا کردن Swim

Mental

  • فکر کردن Think
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Examples by Level

1

من می‌توانم بخوانم

I can read

2

او می‌تواند بنویسد

He can write

3

ما می‌توانیم برویم

We can go

4

آنها می‌توانند ببینند

They can see

1

آیا می‌توانی کمک کنی؟

Can you help?

2

من نمی‌توانم بیایم

I cannot come

3

می‌توانم اینجا بنشینم؟

Can I sit here?

4

او نمی‌تواند فارسی حرف بزند

He cannot speak Persian

1

اگر وقت داشته باشم، می‌توانم بیایم

If I have time, I can come

2

او گفت که می‌تواند این کار را انجام دهد

He said that he can do this task

3

ما باید بتوانیم این مشکل را حل کنیم

We must be able to solve this problem

4

آیا می‌شود کاری کرد؟

Can anything be done?

1

کاش می‌توانستم بیشتر بمانم

I wish I could stay longer

2

او می‌توانست قهرمان شود

He could have become a champion

3

هر چه می‌توانست انجام داد

He did whatever he could

4

آیا امکان دارد بتوانیم زودتر برویم؟

Is it possible that we can go earlier?

1

توانستن به معنای داشتن قدرت انجام کار است

To be able to means having the power to do a task

2

او چنان با مهارت می‌نواخت که همه را مسحور کرد

He played with such skill that he charmed everyone

3

هیچ‌کس نمی‌توانست تصور کند که چه پیش خواهد آمد

No one could imagine what would happen

4

باید بتوانیم از این فرصت بهره ببریم

We must be able to take advantage of this opportunity

1

در متون کهن، این فعل به کرات به کار رفته است

In ancient texts, this verb has been used frequently

2

او در نهایت توانست بر مشکلات فائق آید

He finally managed to overcome the problems

3

آیا می‌توان بر این باور بود که...؟

Can one believe that...?

4

او نمی‌توانست از وسوسه دوری کند

He could not avoid the temptation

Easily Confused

Expressing Ability: How to use 'Can' (tavānestan) vs Tavānestan vs. Mishavad

Learners use 'mitavānam' for everything.

Expressing Ability: How to use 'Can' (tavānestan) vs Short Infinitive vs. Full Infinitive

Learners always use the full infinitive.

Expressing Ability: How to use 'Can' (tavānestan) vs Present vs. Past

Confusing 'mitavānam' and 'mitavānestam'.

Common Mistakes

✗

Man mitavānam raftan

✓

Man mitavānam beravam

Do not use the full infinitive.
✗

Man tavānam beravam

✓

Man mitavānam beravam

Missing the 'mi-' prefix.
✗

Man mitavānamam beravam

✓

Man mitavānam beravam

Double conjugation.
✗

Man nemitavānam raftan

✓

Man nemitavānam beravam

Full infinitive in negative.
✗

Mitavāni raft?

✓

Mitavāni beravi?

Wrong verb form.
✗

Ou mitavānam beravad

✓

Ou mitavānad beravad

Wrong person conjugation.
✗

Man mitavānestam beravam

✓

Man mitavānam beravam

Using past instead of present.
✗

Mitavānam ke beravam

✓

Mitavānam beravam

Unnecessary 'ke'.
✗

Mishavad ke man beravam

✓

Mitavānam beravam

Confusing possibility with ability.
✗

Bāyad mitavānam beravam

✓

Bāyad betavānam beravam

Wrong mood after 'bāyad'.
✗

Mitavānest ke anjām dād

✓

Mitavānest anjām dahad

Wrong tense/mood sequence.
✗

Tavānestan-e man

✓

Tavān-e man

Using infinitive as noun.
✗

Mitavānad shodan

✓

Mishavad

Incorrect modal usage.

Sentence Patterns

Man mitavānam ___ konam.

Āyā mitavāni ___ koni?

Man nemitavānam ___ konam, chon ___.

Agar betavānam ___ konam, ___.

Real World Usage

Texting constant

Mituni biāi?

Job Interview common

Mitavānam be Fārsi sohbat konam.

Ordering Food common

Mitavānam yek sandwich sefāresh daham?

Travel common

Mitavānam bilit bekharam?

Social Media common

Mitavānam in rā be eshterāk bogozāram?

Classroom very common

Mitavānam soāli beporsam?

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💡

Short Infinitive

Always remember to use the short stem of the second verb. It makes you sound much more natural.
⚠️

Avoid Double Conjugation

Only conjugate the first verb. The second verb should be in the short infinitive form.
🎯

Politeness

Use the plural 'mitavānid' to be polite, even when talking to one person.
💬

Spoken vs Written

In speech, 'mitavānam' often becomes 'mitunam'.

Smart Tips

Use 'mitavānam' + [verb] + '?'

Man beravam? → Mitavānam beravam?

Use 'mitunam' instead of 'mitavānam'.

Man mitavānam biāyam. → Man mitunam biāyam.

Remove the '-an' from the infinitive.

Mitavānam raftan. → Mitavānam ravam.

Use the plural 'mitavānid'.

Mitavāni komak koni? → Mitavānid komak konid?

Pronunciation

mi-ta-vā-nam

Mi- prefix

The 'mi-' prefix is always pronounced as a separate syllable.

Question

Mitavāni? ↑

Rising intonation at the end indicates a question.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Tavān' as 'Tower' — you have the power to build a tower!

Visual Association

Imagine a person lifting a heavy weight while shouting 'Tavā-nam!'

Rhyme

Tavānam, mitavānam, I can do it, yes I can!

Story

Ali wanted to climb a mountain. He said, 'Man mitavānam' (I can). He started climbing. He met a friend who asked, 'Mitavāni?' (Can you?). Ali smiled and said, 'Bale, mitavānam!'

Word Web

TavānMitavānamNemitavānamBetavānamTavānestan

Challenge

Write 5 sentences about things you can do today.

Cultural Notes

In spoken Tehran dialect, 'mi-' often becomes 'mi-'.

In writing, always use the full 'tavānestan' form.

Use 'mitavānid' (plural/polite) even for one person to show respect.

Derived from the Middle Persian 'tuvānestan'.

Conversation Starters

“

Mitavāni Fārsi sohbat koni?

“

Mitavāni be man komak koni?

“

Mitavāni be man begūyi ke chera in kār rā anjām dādi?

“

Agar mitavānesti be gozashte bargardi, che kār mikardi?

Journal Prompts

Write 5 things you can do in Persian.
Describe a skill you have and how you learned it.
Write about a time you couldn't do something but now you can.
Discuss the importance of being able to speak multiple languages.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

Man ___ Fārsi sohbat konam.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: mitavānam
First person singular matches 'man'.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

Ou ___ be madrese beravad.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: mitavānad
Third person singular matches 'ou'.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Man mitavānam raftan.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Man mitavānam beravam
Use short infinitive.
Make it negative. Sentence Transformation

Man mitavānam biāyam.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Man nemitavānam biāyam
Add 'na-' to the modal.
Match the pronoun to the verb. Match Pairs

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

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: mitavānam, mitavānad, mitavānim
Correct conjugation mapping.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

beravam / mitavānam / man

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Man mitavānam beravam
Subject-Verb-Object order.
Conjugate for 'Shomā'. Conjugation Drill

Shomā ___ Fārsi sohbat konid.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: mitavānid
Second person plural.
Is this correct? True False Rule

Can I use the full infinitive after tavānestan?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
Always use the short stem.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

Man ___ Fārsi sohbat konam.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: mitavānam
First person singular matches 'man'.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

Ou ___ be madrese beravad.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: mitavānad
Third person singular matches 'ou'.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Man mitavānam raftan.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Man mitavānam beravam
Use short infinitive.
Make it negative. Sentence Transformation

Man mitavānam biāyam.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Man nemitavānam biāyam
Add 'na-' to the modal.
Match the pronoun to the verb. Match Pairs

Match: Man, Ou, Mā

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: mitavānam, mitavānad, mitavānim
Correct conjugation mapping.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

beravam / mitavānam / man

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Man mitavānam beravam
Subject-Verb-Object order.
Conjugate for 'Shomā'. Conjugation Drill

Shomā ___ Fārsi sohbat konid.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: mitavānid
Second person plural.
Is this correct? True False Rule

Can I use the full infinitive after tavānestan?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
Always use the short stem.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Put the words in the correct order. Sentence Reorder

کنی - می‌تونی - کمک - من - به - ؟

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: می‌تونی به من کمک کنی؟
Translate this sentence to Persian. Translation

We can see the moon.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ما می‌تونیم ماه رو ببینیم.
Match the English ability with the Persian translation. Match Pairs

Match the following:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I can:mitunam, You can:mituni, They can:mitunan
Fill in the blank with the correct subjunctive form of 'kardan' (to do). Fill in the Blank

او می‌تواند این کار را ________.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: بکند
Which is the correct way to ask 'Can you help?' formally? Multiple Choice

Formal request:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: می‌توانید کمک کنید؟
Identify the mistake: 'Man mitunam be farsi neveshtan.' Error Correction

Fix it:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: من میتونم به فارسی بنویسم.
Complete the sentence: 'Can they come today?' Fill in the Blank

آیا آنها __________ امروز بیایند؟

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: می‌توانند
Reorder for: 'I can't find my phone.' Sentence Reorder

گوشیم - رو - نمی‌تونم - پیدا - کنم

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: گوشیم رو نمی‌تونم پیدا کنم
Translate: 'Can you speak English?' Translation

Translation:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: می‌تونی انگلیسی حرف بزنی؟
Select the correct plural form of 'We can'. Multiple Choice

We can:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: می‌توانیم

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

Yes, use 'mitavānestam' (I could).

'Mitavānam' is indicative (I can), 'betavānam' is subjunctive (I might be able to).

Yes, for the present tense.

It is neutral, but can be formal depending on the verb used with it.

Yes, it is very common for polite requests.

That is the colloquial spoken form of 'mitavānam'.

No, 'shodan' is for possibility, 'tavānestan' is for ability.

You should learn the stem of the verb, which is usually the infinitive minus '-an'.

Scaffolded Practice

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Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

Poder

Spanish uses the full infinitive; Persian uses the short stem.

French high

Pouvoir

French uses full infinitive.

German moderate

Können

German modals are auxiliary; Persian tavānestan is a full verb.

Japanese low

Dekiru

Persian uses a separate modal verb.

Arabic moderate

Istatā'a

Arabic is a root-based system.

Chinese low

Néng

Chinese verbs do not conjugate.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Expressing Obligation: Must & Should (bāyad)
Next
Formal Future Tense: I will go (khāham raft)

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