Persian Ranges: From... To... (az... tā...)
az [start] tā [end] to define ranges in time, space, or quantity.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'az' for the starting point and 'tā' for the ending point to define ranges in time or space.
- Use 'az' before the start: 'az Tehran' (from Tehran).
- Use 'tā' before the end: 'tā Shiraz' (to Shiraz).
- Combine them for a range: 'az Tehran tā Shiraz' (from Tehran to Shiraz).
Overview
Understanding how to define boundaries is crucial for effective communication in any language. Whether you specify a time frame, a geographical distance, a quantity, or an abstract spectrum, precisely marking a beginning and an end is essential. In Persian, this function is handled consistently by the structure **`az...
tā...`** (از... تا...). This pattern acts as a linguistic tool, allowing you to delineate the extent of nearly any concept with clarity.
For A2 CEFR learners, mastering az... tā... significantly enhances your ability to express ranges of time, location, and quantity confidently.
Unlike English, which uses various prepositions like "from... to," "from... until," or "between...
and," Persian maintains remarkable consistency. The pair az (از) and tā (تا) serves as a singular, reliable framework. This reduces the cognitive burden of choosing different prepositions for various contexts.
Grasping this foundational structure will deepen your comprehension of how Persian speakers conceptualize and articulate relationships between distinct points along a continuum. This article explains its mechanics, applications, common pitfalls, and real-world usage, helping you integrate it naturally into your Persian repertoire.
How This Grammar Works
az... tā... structure functions as a binary relational marker. It indicates a definitive starting point and a definitive ending point along a continuum.az (از), meaning "from," marks the origin or commencement, establishing the initial boundary from which a range extends. Conversely, tā (تا) denotes "to," "until," or "up to," marking the terminal boundary or limit. Together, these two prepositions create a cohesive semantic unit that describes the entire span between the two specified points.az and tā operate as prepositions within this construction, governing the nouns, pronouns, or adverbial phrases that follow them. The consistent pairing—az always for the beginning, tā always for the end—is a hallmark of its simplicity and efficacy. This predictability significantly benefits learners by reducing ambiguity often associated with prepositions in other languages.از ساعت دَه تا دوازده (az sā'at dah tā davāzdah, "from ten o'clock to twelve"). Here, ساعت دَه (sā'at dah) is the starting point, and ساعت دوازده (sā'at davāzdah) is the ending point.از تهران تا شیراز, az Tehrān tā Shīrāz, "from Tehran to Shiraz") and abstract notions like emotional spectrums (از شادی تا غم, az shādī tā gham, "from joy to sorrow"). The structure itself remains invariant.az... tā... an incredibly stable and versatile tool in Persian grammar, simplifying its application across diverse grammatical contexts without conjugation, gender agreement, or number agreement.Formation Pattern
az (از) and the ending point with tā (تا), inserting the specific elements that define your range between these markers.
az (از) + [Starting Point] + tā (تا) + [Ending Point]
az and tā are typically written as separate words preceding their respective points. They do not attach as prefixes or suffixes to the words they govern. While az is a common Persian preposition meaning "from" or "of," and tā can function as both a preposition ("until," "up to") and a conjunction ("so that," "in order that"), in this specific construction, they are locked into this complementary role. For instance, in از شنبه تا سهشنبه (az shanbeh tā seshanbeh, "from Saturday to Tuesday"), شنبه (shanbeh) is the starting day and سهشنبه (seshanbeh) is the ending day.
az... tā... phrase functions as an adverbial unit within a sentence, modifying a verb or an entire clause. Its placement is flexible; it can precede the verb, follow it, or even appear at the beginning of the sentence for emphasis. Crucially, the az... tā... construction itself remains unbroken. You would not insert other words or sentence elements between az and its starting point, or between tā and its ending point. For example: من هر روز از ساعت ۹ تا ۵ کار میکنم. (Man har rūz az sā'at noh tā panj kār mikonam., "I work every day from 9 to 5."). The range از ساعت ۹ تا ۵ (az sā'at noh tā panj) acts as a single unit.
ساعت هفت (sā'at haft) | seven o'clock | ساعت دَه (sā'at dah) | ten o'clock | از ساعت هفت تا ساعت دَه | az sā'at haft tā sā'at dah (from seven to ten o'clock) |
دیروز (dīrūz) | yesterday | امروز (emrūz) | today | از دیروز تا امروز | az dīrūz tā emrūz (from yesterday until today) |
مشهد (Mashhad) | Mashhad | تهران (Tehrān) | Tehran | از مشهد تا تهران | az Mashhad tā Tehrān (from Mashhad to Tehran) |
اینجا (in-jā) | here | آنجا (ān-jā) | there | از اینجا تا آنجا | az in-jā tā ān-jā (from here to there) |
دو (do) | two | پنج (panj) | five | از دو تا پنج دانشجو | az do tā panj dāneshjū (from two to five students) |
صد تومان (sad Tūmān) | 100 Tomans | دویست تومان (devīst Tūmān) | 200 Tomans | از صد تا دویست تومان | az sad tā devīst Tūmān (from 100 to 200 Tomans) |
کودکی (kūdaki) | childhood | جوانی (javānī) | youth | از کودکی تا جوانی | az kūdaki tā javānī (from childhood to youth) |
When To Use It
az... tā... construction is remarkably versatile, applicable whenever you need to define a clear range or extent. Its usage spans temporal, spatial, quantitative, and abstract domains, making it indispensable for expressing boundaries in Persian.- Temporal Ranges: This is one of the most frequent applications. Use
az... tā...to specify a duration or period, from a starting moment to an ending moment. This includes hours, days, months, years, or broader historical eras. کلاس ما از ساعت نه تا یازده است.(Kelās-e mā az sā'at noh tā yāzdah ast.) – "Our class is from 9 to 11 o'clock."از اول فروردین تا سیزده فروردین تعطیل بودیم.(Az avval-e Farvardīn tā sīzdah-e Farvardīn ta'tīl būdīm.) – "We were on holiday from the first of Farvardin until the thirteenth of Farvardin."این پروژه از سال ۲۰۲۰ تا ۲۰۲۴ ادامه داشت.(In projeh az sāl-e 2020 tā 2024 edāmeh dāsht.) – "This project continued from 2020 to 2024."
- Spatial Ranges and Distance: When discussing physical movement, geographical extent, or the boundaries of a location,
az... tā...is the natural choice. It defines the path or distance covered. سفر از شیراز تا اصفهان چهار ساعت طول میکشد.(Safar az Shīrāz tā Esfahān chahār sā'at tūl mīkeshad.) – "The trip from Shiraz to Esfahan takes four hours."آنها از شمال تا جنوب کشور سفر کردند.(Ānhā az shomāl tā jonūb-e keshvar safar kardand.) – "They traveled from the north to the south of the country."فاصله از خانه من تا دانشگاه با اتوبوس بیست دقیقه است.(Fāseleh az khāneh-ye man tā dāneshgāh bā otobūs bīst daghīqeh ast.) – "The distance from my house to the university by bus is twenty minutes."
- Numerical and Quantitative Ranges: This pattern is essential for expressing numerical boundaries, such as price ranges, age groups, statistical data, or any quantifiable spectrum.
قیمت این کتاب از سی تا چهل هزار تومان است.(Gheymat-e in ketāb az sī tā chehel hezār Tūmān ast.) – "The price of this book is from thirty to forty thousand Tomans."تعداد افراد حاضر از پانزده تا بیست نفر بود.(Tedad-e afrād-e hāzer az pānzdah tā bīst nafar būd.) – "The number of people present was from fifteen to twenty."درجه حرارت از منفی ده تا مثبت پنج درجه خواهد بود.(Darajeh-ye harārat az manfī dah tā mosbat panj darajeh khāhad būd.) – "The temperature will be from minus ten to plus five degrees."
- Abstract Ranges and Spectrums: Beyond concrete measurements,
az... tā...effectively describes the range of abstract concepts, opinions, emotional states, or stages within a process. بحث ما از سیاست تا هنر را پوشش داد.(Bahs-e mā az siyāsat tā honar rā pūshesh dād.) – "Our discussion covered from politics to art."نظرات در این مورد از حمایت کامل تا مخالفت شدید متغیر است.(Nazarāt dar īn mowred az hemāyat-e kāmel tā mokhālefat-e shadīd motaghayyer ast.) – "Opinions on this matter vary from full support to strong opposition."او مراحل زیادی را از دانشجویی تا استادی طی کرد.(Ū marāhel-e ziyādī rā az dāneshjūyī tā ostādī tay kard.) – "He went through many stages from student to professor."
- Idiomatic Expressions: Persian includes rich idiomatic phrases that utilize
az... tā...to convey comprehensive scope or totality. These add depth to communication. از سیر تا پیاز(az sīr tā piyāz) – literally "from garlic to onion." This means "everything," "all the details," or "from A to Z."ماجرا را از سیر تا پیاز برایم تعریف کن.(Mājarā rā az sīr tā piyāz barāyam ta'rīf kon.) – "Tell me the whole story, from A to Z."از پا به سر(az pā be sar) – literally "from foot to head." This implies "completely" or "from top to bottom."لباسهایش از پا به سر خاکی بود.(Lebās-hāyesh az pā be sar khākī būd.) – "His clothes were dusty from head to toe."
az... tā... allows you to communicate with greater precision and nuance, delineating exact boundaries and extents in your Persian discourse.Common Mistakes
az... tā... structure, primarily due to direct translation from their native languages or confusion with other similar-sounding prepositions. Recognizing these pitfalls is essential for accurate and natural Persian.- 1Confusing
tā(تا) withbe(به) for the Endpoint: This is a prevalent mistake among A2 learners. Whilebealso translates to "to" or "at," it signifies a destination or direction towards a specific point, rather than the extent or range up to a point.befocuses on arrival at a single destination.tāemphasizes the journey, duration, or range up to that destination.
- Incorrect for range:
من از خانه به کار میروم.(Man az khāneh be kār mīravam.) – "I go from home to work." (This describes movement to a destination, not the range of the commute itself usingaz... tā....) - Correct for range:
من از خانه تا کار پیاده میروم.(Man az khāneh tā kār piyādeh mīravam.) – "I walk from home to work." (Emphasizes the full range of the walk.) - Correct for destination:
من به کار میروم.(Man be kār mīravam.) – "I go to work." (Focuses on the destination.)
be points to a specific arrival, while tā marks the limit of a span or duration.az... be... | az... tā... |از تهران به اصفهان رفت. | از تهران تا اصفهان چهار ساعت است. |Az Tehrān be Esfahān raft. (He went from Tehran to Esfahan.) | Az Tehrān tā Esfahān chahār sā'at ast. (It is four hours from Tehran to Esfahan.) |- 1Omitting
az(از) in the Range: In English, expressions like "Monday to Friday" are common. A direct translation toدوشنبه تا جمعه(doshanbeh tā jomeh) withoutazis grammatically incomplete in formal or standard Persian when expressing a range. While understandable colloquially, especially with common time expressions, for clarity and grammatical correctness, always includeaz. The fullaz... tā...construction clearly defines both boundaries.
- Informal (colloquial, less common for A2):
صبح تا شب کار کردم.(sobh tā shab kār kardam.) – "I worked morning to night." - Correct (Standard):
از صبح تا شب کار کردم.(Az sobh tā shab kār kardam.) – "I worked from morning until night."
- 1Incorrect Word Order: Inserting Elements within the Range Phrase: The
az... tā...construction forms a single, cohesive adverbial unit. You should not interject other words, especially verbs or conjunctions, betweenazand its starting point, or betweentāand its ending point, nor typically between the two parts of the range. The structural integrity of theaz... tā...phrase is paramount for its clarity.
- Incorrect:
از صبح میخواهم تا شب کار کنم.(Az sobh mīkhāham tā shab kār konam.) – (Here,میخواهم(mīkhāham, "I want") is incorrectly placed, breaking the range phrase.) - Correct:
من میخواهم از صبح تا شب کار کنم.(Man mīkhāham az sobh tā shab kār konam.) – "I want to work from morning until night." (The entireاز صبح تا شب(az sobh tā shab) unit functions as an adverbial phrase modifyingکار کنم(kār konam, "to work").)
az... tā... from az... be... and adhering to its fixed internal structure, you will significantly enhance the accuracy and naturalness of your Persian expressions of range.Real Conversations
To truly master az... tā..., it is crucial to observe how native Persian speakers employ it in everyday communication, from casual chats to more formal exchanges. This pattern is deeply embedded in daily life, reflecting the Persian speaker's need to define boundaries in various contexts.
- 1. Everyday Casual Conversation:
In informal settings, az... tā... is used fluidly to discuss plans, describe experiences, or share information about durations and distances. The full construction is typically maintained for clarity.
- من هر روز از ساعت هشت تا چهار اداره هستم. (Man har rūz az sā'at hasht tā chahār edāreh hastam.)
- Translation: "I am at the office every day from eight to four."
- Observation: This directly states a daily work schedule using a clear temporal range.
- پیادهروی از اینجا تا پارک حدود بیست دقیقه است. (Piyādeh-ravī az in-jā tā pārk hodūd bīst daghīqeh ast.)
- Translation: "The walk from here to the park is about twenty minutes."
- Observation: A common way to discuss commute times or physical distance.
- قیمت محصولات از ده هزار تا سی هزار تومان شروع میشود. (Gheymat-e mahsūlāt az dah hezār tā sī hezār Tūmān shorū' mīshavad.)
- Translation: "Product prices start from ten thousand to thirty thousand Tomans."
- Observation: Used to give a price bracket without needing to list every item.
- 2. Texting and Social Media:
In digital communication, where brevity is often valued, az... tā... remains clear and concise. While az might occasionally be dropped in extremely informal, well-understood contexts, its inclusion is still the norm for explicit ranges, even in shortened forms.
- کلاس آنلاین از ۸ تا ۱۰ صبح. (Kelās online az hasht tā dah sobh.)
- Translation: "Online class from 8 to 10 AM."
- Observation: A typical, concise way to share a schedule in a message.
- تخفیف ویژه از امروز تا جمعه آینده! (Takhfif-e vīzheh az emrūz tā jomeh-ye āyandeh!)
- Translation: "Special discount from today until next Friday!"
- Observation: Common in promotions or announcements, often with exclamation marks for emphasis on the offer's duration.
- مسیر دوچرخهسواری: از درب ورودی تا کافه. (Masīr-e docharkheh-savārī: az darb-e vorūdī tā kāfe.)
- Translation: "Biking route: from the entrance gate to the cafe."
- Observation: Provides clear instructions for a short route.
- 3. Work Emails and Formal Contexts:
In professional or academic settings, az... tā... is used with precision to convey clear instructions, report findings, or specify project timelines. Its formal application is identical to its casual usage, emphasizing its grammatical stability and unambiguous nature.
- لطفاً بخشهای ۱ تا ۳ گزارش را مرور فرمایید. (Lotfan bakhsh-hā-ye yek tā seh gozāresh rā morūr farmāyīd.)
- Translation: "Please review sections 1 to 3 of the report."
- Observation: A polite, formal instruction requiring review of a specific range of content.
- دوره آموزشی از تاریخ ۲۰۲۵/۰۹/۰۱ تا ۲۰۲۵/۱۲/۳۱ برگزار خواهد شد. (Dowreh-ye āmuzeshī az tārīkh-e 01/09/2025 tā 31/12/2025 bargozār khāhad shod.)
- Translation: "The training course will be held from 2025/09/01 until 2025/12/31."
- Observation: Announcing a fixed timeline for an event, often seen in official communications.
- این نرمافزار برای کاربران از سن ۱۸ تا ۶۵ سال مناسب است. (In narm-afzār barā-ye kārbārān az sen-e hezhdah tā shast-o panj sāl monāseb ast.)
- Translation: "This software is suitable for users from 18 to 65 years old."
- Observation: Specifying a clear age range for product suitability.
- Cultural Insight: The precise definition of boundaries and extents is highly valued in Persian communication, often reflecting a desire for clarity and detail. The consistent use of az... tā... facilitates this, whether recounting a long journey, explaining a period of illness, or describing the progression of an idea. It allows for a structured narrative, ensuring the listener understands the precise scope of what is being discussed. This preference for detail means that even when context might seem clear, speakers often opt for the full az... tā... construction to avoid any ambiguity, a practice A2 learners should emulate.
Quick FAQ
az... tā... in various scenarios.az... tā... be used for people, similar to "from person X to person Y"?این مسئولیت از مدیر تا کارمند به همه مربوط است.(In mas'ūlīyat az modīr tā kārmand be hame marbūt ast.) – "This responsibility concerns everyone, from the manager to the employee." (Indicating a hierarchical range.)نظرات از کودکان تا سالمندان جمعآوری شد.(Nazarāt az kūdakān tā sālmandān jam'-āvarī shod.) – "Opinions were collected from children to the elderly." (Indicating an age range of people.)
tā (تا) differ from the conjunction tā (تا)?- Prepositional
tā(تا): As seen inaz... tā..., it precedes a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase, indicating a limit or endpoint. Its primary role is to define a range or an extent. از صبح تا ظهر کار کردم.(Az sobh tā zohr kār kardam.) – "I worked from morning until noon." (Hereظهر(zohr) is a noun phrase).- Conjunction
tā(تا): Thistāintroduces a subordinate clause, expressing purpose, result, or a temporal relationship (e.g., until a certain action occurs). It connects two clauses and is followed by a verb. آنقدر مطالعه کرد تا قبول شد.(Ān ghadr motāle'eh kard tā ghabūl shod.) – "He studied so much that he passed." (Result;قبول شد(ghabūl shod) is a verb phrase).منتظر بمان تا من بیایم.(Montazer bemān tā man biyāyam.) – "Wait until I come." (Temporal;بیایم(biyāyam) is a verb.)
tā is followed by a noun/pronoun (preposition) or a verb/clause (conjunction) is key to differentiation.az... tā... be used for non-sequential items, or does it always imply a continuum?az... tā... structure inherently implies a continuum, sequence, or ordered progression. It connects a starting point to an ending point along some measurable or conceptual line.و (va, "and") is usually preferred, or phrases like شاملِ (shāmel-e, "including") might be used to enumerate.- Appropriate:
از الف تا ی(az alef tā ye) – "from A to Z" (sequential letters). - Less appropriate for a simple list:
از سیب تا پرتقال(az sīb tā portoghāl) if merely listing fruits. You would typically sayسیب و پرتقال(sīb o portoghāl) – "apple and orange."
tā (تا) is used, without az (از)? Does it still imply a range?tā is used alone, it functions as a preposition meaning "until" or "up to," but it typically denotes a limit from an unspecified or implicitly understood starting point. It does not define a bilateral range with two explicit points in the same way az... tā... does.تا فردا صبر کن.(Tā fardā sabr kon.) – "Wait until tomorrow." (The starting point is implicitly "now.")فقط تا ساعت پنج باز است.(Faghat tā sā'at panj bāz ast.) – "It is only open until 5 o'clock." (Starting point implicitly "now" or "opening time.")
az is indispensable.az... tā...?az... tā.... These verbs align with the concept of spanning a range. Some common examples include:طول کشیدن(tūl keshīdan) – to take (time), to lastسفر ما از مشهد تا اصفهان هشت ساعت طول کشید.(Safar-e mā az Mashhad tā Esfahān hasht sā'at tūl keshīd.) – "Our trip from Mashhad to Esfahan took eight hours."ادامه داشتن(edāmeh dāshtan) – to continue, to lastجشن از شب تا صبح ادامه داشت.(Jashn az shab tā sobh edāmeh dāsht.) – "The celebration continued from night until morning."بودن(būdan) – to be (when describing states or durations)هوا از دیروز تا امروز ابری بود.(Havā az dīrūz tā emrūz abrī būd.) – "The weather was cloudy from yesterday until today."- Verbs of motion such as
رفتن(raftan- to go),آمدن(āmadan- to come),سفر کردن(safar kardan- to travel) are also very common, asaz... tā...often defines the scope of their action.
Range Construction Table
| Component | Persian | Function | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Start Marker
|
az
|
Beginning
|
az Tehran
|
|
Start Point
|
Tehran
|
Location
|
az Tehran
|
|
End Marker
|
tā
|
Ending
|
tā Shiraz
|
|
End Point
|
Shiraz
|
Location
|
tā Shiraz
|
|
Full Range
|
az... tā...
|
Combined
|
az Tehran tā Shiraz
|
Meanings
These particles function as correlative prepositions to define the boundaries of a distance, time duration, or numerical range.
Spatial Range
Defining physical distance between two points.
“از خانه تا مدرسه پیاده رفتم.”
“از اینجا تا آنجا خیلی دور است.”
Temporal Range
Defining the duration between two points in time.
“از صبح تا شب کار کردم.”
“از سال ۱۳۹۰ تا ۱۴۰۰ اینجا زندگی کردیم.”
Numerical/Abstract Range
Defining a range of numbers or abstract concepts.
“از یک تا ده بشمار.”
“از این کتاب تا آن کتاب را خواندم.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
az [A] tā [B]
|
az sobh tā shab
|
|
Negative
|
az [A] tā [B] + [Neg Verb]
|
az sobh tā shab kār nakardam
|
|
Question
|
az [A] tā [B]?
|
az Tehran tā Shiraz rafti?
|
|
Time Range
|
az [Time1] tā [Time2]
|
az haft tā noh
|
|
Distance
|
az [Loc1] tā [Loc2]
|
az injā tā ānja
|
|
Numerical
|
az [Num1] tā [Num2]
|
az yek tā dah
|
Formality Spectrum
از صبح تا شب (Daily routine)
از صبح تا شب (Daily routine)
از صبح تا شب (Daily routine)
از صب تا شب (Daily routine)
Range Concept Map
Space
- Tehran Tehran
- Shiraz Shiraz
Time
- Sobh Morning
- Shab Night
Examples by Level
از خانه تا مدرسه
From home to school
از یک تا ده
From one to ten
از تهران تا شیراز
From Tehran to Shiraz
از صبح تا شب
From morning to night
من از ساعت هشت تا ده کار میکنم.
I work from 8 to 10.
از اینجا تا آنجا چقدر راه است؟
How far is it from here to there?
او از شنبه تا چهارشنبه در سفر است.
He is traveling from Saturday to Wednesday.
از قیمت پنج تا ده دلار موجود است.
Available from 5 to 10 dollars.
از این دیدگاه تا آن دیدگاه تفاوت زیادی وجود دارد.
There is a big difference from this point of view to that one.
از سالهای دور تا امروز، این سنت باقی مانده است.
From long ago until today, this tradition has remained.
از نظر علمی تا نظر شخصی، همه چیز را بررسی کردیم.
From scientific opinion to personal opinion, we checked everything.
از شمال تا جنوب ایران، تنوع فرهنگی زیادی دیده میشود.
From north to south of Iran, much cultural diversity is seen.
از مرحله طراحی تا اجرای نهایی، پروژه شش ماه طول کشید.
From the design phase to the final execution, the project took six months.
از لحاظ تئوری تا عملی، فاصله بسیاری وجود دارد.
There is a great distance from theory to practice.
از تمامی اقشار جامعه، از کارگر تا مدیر، در این جلسه حضور داشتند.
From all walks of life, from worker to manager, were present at this meeting.
از منظر اقتصادی تا سیاسی، این تصمیم پیامدهای گستردهای دارد.
From an economic to a political perspective, this decision has wide consequences.
از اعماق وجود تا سطح ظاهر، او تغییر کرده بود.
From the depths of his being to his outward appearance, he had changed.
از سکوت مطلق تا فریادهای بلند، فضا مدام تغییر میکرد.
From absolute silence to loud screams, the atmosphere kept changing.
از کهنترین متون تا ادبیات معاصر، این واژه کاربرد داشته است.
From the oldest texts to contemporary literature, this word has been used.
از جزئیات کوچک تا کلیات بزرگ، همه چیز باید بررسی شود.
From small details to big generalities, everything must be checked.
از ازل تا ابد، این پرسش ذهن بشر را درگیر کرده است.
From eternity to eternity, this question has occupied the human mind.
از ظرایف زبانی تا پیچیدگیهای دستوری، او بر زبان مسلط بود.
From linguistic subtleties to grammatical complexities, he was fluent in the language.
از بطن تاریخ تا افقهای آینده، این ملت همواره در تکاپو بوده است.
From the heart of history to the horizons of the future, this nation has always been in motion.
از تضاد میان خیر و شر تا وحدت وجود، این اثر مفاهیم عمیقی را میکاود.
From the conflict between good and evil to the unity of existence, this work explores deep concepts.
Easily Confused
Learners mix up 'from' and 'to'.
Confusing the range marker with the conjunction.
Confusing origin with location.
Common Mistakes
Tehran tā Shiraz
az Tehran tā Shiraz
az Tehran be Shiraz
az Tehran tā Shiraz
tā Tehran az Shiraz
az Tehran tā Shiraz
az Tehran az Shiraz
az Tehran tā Shiraz
az sāt-e 8 be 10
az sāt-e 8 tā 10
az 10 tā 8
az 8 tā 10
az Tehran tā be Shiraz
az Tehran tā Shiraz
az in nazar be ān nazar
az in nazar tā ān nazar
az sāl-e 90 be 1400
az sāl-e 90 tā 1400
az inja tā be anja
az inja tā anja
az azl be abad
az azl tā abad
az inja tā dar anja
az inja tā anja
az 100 tā 200-e
az 100 tā 200
Sentence Patterns
من از ___ تا ___ هستم.
از ___ تا ___ چقدر راه است؟
از سال ___ تا ___ کار کردم.
از نظر ___ تا ___ تفاوت دارد.
Real World Usage
از تهران تا اصفهان با اتوبوس رفتم.
از ساعت 5 تا 7 میام.
از سال 2018 تا 2022 در این شرکت بودم.
از قیمت 50 تا 100 هزار تومان.
از اینجا تا میدان مستقیم برو.
از صفحه 10 تا 20 را بخوانید.
Consistency
Don't skip
Time ranges
Politeness
Smart Tips
Always think of the start and end points before speaking.
Use 'az... tā...' to avoid ambiguity.
Use it for any sequence.
Use it for abstract ranges.
Pronunciation
Az
Pronounced like 'uz' in 'buzz'.
Tā
Pronounced like 'ta' in 'taco'.
Rising
az Tehran tā Shiraz?
Questioning the range.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Az starts the race, Tā hits the base.
Visual Association
Imagine a runner starting at a gate labeled 'Az' and finishing at a finish line labeled 'Tā'.
Rhyme
Start with Az, end with Tā, that's how you travel near and far.
Story
Ali stood at the start line. He shouted 'Az!' as he began running. He ran until he reached the finish line, where he shouted 'Tā!'. Now he knows the range of his race.
Word Web
Challenge
Write down three things you did today using the 'az... tā...' format (e.g., 'I studied from 9 to 11').
Cultural Notes
In casual Tehrani speech, 'az' is often shortened to 'az' but 'tā' remains clear.
Shirazi dialect often emphasizes the 'tā' for dramatic effect.
Used strictly in all formal documents and speeches.
The construction derives from Middle Persian prepositions.
Conversation Starters
از کجا تا کجا سفر کردی؟
از ساعت چند تا چند کار میکنی؟
از نظر تو، از این کتاب تا آن کتاب کدام بهتر است؟
از چه سالی تا چه سالی در تهران بودی؟
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
من ___ تهران ___ شیراز رفتم.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Tehran tā Shiraz رفتم.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
From morning to night.
Answer starts with: az ...
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Use 'az', 'tā', 'Tehran', 'Shiraz'.
From 5 to 7.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesمن ___ تهران ___ شیراز رفتم.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Tehran tā Shiraz رفتم.
تا / از / ساعت / ده / هشت
From morning to night.
Match start and end.
Use 'az', 'tā', 'Tehran', 'Shiraz'.
From 5 to 7.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercises___ 5 ___ 7 (From 5 to 7)
From Tehran to Shiraz
Match the prepositions:
sobh / tā / az / kār mikonam / shab
I waited ___ 5 PM.
Kelās be 2 tā 4 ast.
___ khāne ___ madrese 10 kilometer ast.
From A to Z (Persian idiom: garlic to onion)
Count from one to ten.
Man ___ inja nemiravam.
ast / injā / metro / tā / dur
Az shanbe be jome.
Score: /12
FAQ (8)
Yes, but only if you are just stating an origin, not a range.
No, it can also mean 'until' or 'so that'.
No, it stays the same.
Yes, 'az 5 tā 10 dollar'.
It is used in all registers.
You would use multiple ranges or a list.
Yes, the core structure is universal.
Yes, 'az in nazar tā ān nazar'.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
de... a...
Spanish uses 'a' while Persian uses 'tā'.
de... à...
French uses 'à' for destination and range.
von... bis...
German uses 'bis' which is specifically for ranges.
kara... made...
Japanese particles come after the noun, Persian comes before.
min... ilā...
Arabic uses 'ilā' for to/until.
cong... dao...
Chinese uses 'dao' for arrival/to.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Related Grammar Rules
Persian Prepositions: To vs. For (be vs. barāye)
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Persian Prepositions: In, On, Under (dar, ru-ye, zir-e)
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The Preposition 'with' (bā) - Connecting People & Things
Overview The Persian preposition `bā` (با) is one of the most fundamental and versatile words you will learn. At its co...
Persian Direction Prepositions: To and From (be, az)
Overview Mastering the prepositions of direction is fundamental for any Persian learner, especially at the A1 level. The...
The Persian 'For': Using barā-ye (برای)
Overview In Persian, the preposition `barā-ye` (برای) is a fundamental component for expressing the concept of “for.” It...
