Formal Future Tense: Will + Verb (khāstan)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
To express the future in Persian, conjugate the auxiliary verb 'khāstan' (to want) and add the short infinitive of your main verb.
- Conjugate 'khāstan' for the subject: 'man khāham', 'to khāhi', etc.
- Place the short infinitive (infinitive minus 'an') after the conjugated auxiliary.
- For negatives, add the 'na-' prefix to the auxiliary verb: 'man nakhāham raft'.
Overview
At the B1 level of Persian, you are moving beyond basic survival phrases into more complex and nuanced communication. This includes mastering the Formal Future Tense, often referred to as the 'Will + Verb' construction. Unlike the more common colloquial future expressions, which frequently employ the present tense with future adverbials (e.g., فردا میروم - fardā mi-ravam - "Tomorrow I go/will go"), the formal future tense is a distinct grammatical structure.
It signals a higher register of language, akin to the difference between "I'm going to do it" and "I shall accomplish it" in English. Understanding its function and application is crucial for comprehending formal Persian texts, news broadcasts, academic discourse, and classical literature.
This tense is not merely an alternative way to express future actions; it carries implications of certainty, formality, and sometimes solemnity. It exists because Persian, like many Indo-European languages, developed a dedicated grammatical form for future intention and prediction within formal contexts. Its consistent structure makes it predictable once the underlying mechanism is understood, allowing you to accurately interpret and produce highly precise future statements.
The primary utility of this form lies in its ability to remove ambiguity regarding temporal reference in formal settings where clarity is paramount.
How This Grammar Works
خواستن (khāstan), which fundamentally means "to want." In this specific construction, however, خواستن loses its volitional meaning and functions purely as a tense marker, signifying futurity—much like "will" or "shall" in English. This auxiliary verb carries the burden of conjugation for person and number, while the main verb remains immutable.خواستن, which is خواه (khāh), serves as the base for the auxiliary verb. This stem is then affixed with standard personal endings, but crucially, it never takes the present tense prefix می- (mi-). This absence of می- (mi-) immediately distinguishes it from the present tense or subjunctive forms of خواستن that express "wanting." Following this conjugated auxiliary, the past stem (or short infinitive) of the main verb is placed.خواستن as خواهم (khāham - "I will") and combine it with the past stem of نوشتن (neveshtan - "to write"), which is نوشت (nevesht). The result is خواهم نوشت (khāham nevesht).Formation Pattern
خواستن (khāstan, "to want"). Its present stem is خواه (khāh). This is the consistent base to which all personal endings will be attached. Remember, for this tense, خواستن functions purely as a future marker, not expressing desire.
خواه- (khāh-) for Person and Number
خواه (khāh). It is critical to not add the present tense prefix می- (mi-) at this stage. The absence of می- (mi-) is a defining characteristic of this auxiliary in the future tense.
خواه- | Persian Script | Meaning |
من (man)| خواهم (khāham) | خواهم (khāham) | I will |
تو (to) | خواهی (khāhi) | خواهی (khāhi) | You (sg.) will |
او (u) | خواهد (khāhad) | خواهد (khāhad) | He/She/It will |
ما (mā) | خواهیم (khāhim) | خواهیم (khāhim) | We will |
شما (shomā)| خواهید (khāhid) | خواهید (khāhid) | You (pl./formal) will |
آنها (ānhā)| خواهند (khāhand)| خواهند (khāhand)| They will |
ـن (-an) or ـدن (-dan) from the full infinitive. For instance, from رفتن (raftan, "to go"), the past stem is رفت (raft). From خوردن (khordan, "to eat"), it is خورد (khord). This past stem is invariable and does not change based on person or number.
(Subject – optional) + Conjugated خواه- (khāh-) + Past Stem of Main Verb
من فردا به بازار خواهم رفت. (Man fardā be bāzār khāham raft.) - "I will go to the market tomorrow." (Here, رفت is the past stem of رفتن - raftan.)
آنها گزارش را هفتهی آینده خواهند نوشت. (Ānhā gozāresh rā hafte-ye āyande khāhand nevesht.) - "They will write the report next week." (Here, نوشت is the past stem of نوشتن - neveshtan.)
دولت طرح جدیدی را تصویب خواهد کرد. (Dowlat tarh-e jadidi rā tasvib khāhad kard.) - "The government will approve a new plan." (Here, کرد is the past stem of کردن - kardan.)
نـ (na-) directly before the conjugated خواه- (khāh-).
او هرگز این کار را نخواهد کرد. (U hargez in kār rā nakhāhad kard.) - "He will never do this work."
ما اینجا نخواهیم ماند. (Mā injā nakhāhim mānd.) - "We will not stay here."
When To Use It
- Official and Academic Writing: In reports, essays, official correspondence, legal documents, and academic papers, this tense is the standard for expressing future events, plans, or predictions. It lends authority and clarity to the text. For instance,
پژوهشگران نتایج جدیدی را منتشر خواهند کرد.(Pazhuheshgarān natāyej-e jadidi rā montasher khāhand kard.- "Researchers will publish new results.") - News Broadcasts and Formal Speeches: You will almost exclusively hear this tense used by news anchors, politicians, and public speakers when discussing future events, policies, or outcomes. It conveys impartiality and certainty. A news report might state:
رئیسجمهور فردا به پایتخت باز خواهد گشت.(Ra’is-e Jomhur fardā be pāy-takht bāz khāhad gasht.- "The President will return to the capital tomorrow.") - Literature and Poetry: Classical and many contemporary literary works employ the formal future tense to create a timeless or profound tone. Its rhythmic quality and formal structure are often preferred for poetic expression or narrative gravitas. Poets might use it to speak of destiny or enduring truths, such as
تاریخ حقایق را آشکار خواهد ساخت.(Tārikh haghāyeq rā āshkār khāhad sākht.- "History will reveal the truths.") - Emphasis and Solemn Promises/Warnings: When a strong, unwavering commitment or a serious warning is intended, the formal future tense adds weight. It implies an unshakeable resolve. For example, a legal document might warn:
هرگونه تخلف پیگرد قانونی خواهد داشت.(Hargune takhallof peygard-e ghānuni khāhad dāsht.- "Any violation will have legal consequences.")
فردا میآم - fardā mi-yām - "I'm coming tomorrow"). Using the formal future in a casual setting can sound overly stiff, academic, or even archaic, potentially creating a linguistic distance between speakers.Common Mistakes
- Confusing with
میخواهم(mi-khāham) - "I want to": This is arguably the most frequent error. While both constructions involveخواستن(khāstan), their meanings and structures are distinct. - Formal Future:
خواهم رفت(khāham raft) - "I will go." Here,خواه-(khāh-) acts as an auxiliary, without theمی-(mi-) prefix, and is followed by the main verb's past stem. - "Want to" Construction:
میخواهم بروم(mi-khāham beravam) - "I want to go." Here,میخواهم(mi-khāham) is a fully conjugated present tense ofخواستن(withمی-), expressing desire, and is followed by a subjunctive verb (بروم-beravam). The structures are fundamentally different; one expresses intention/future, the other desire.
- Inserting
می-(mi-) beforeخواه-(khāh-): As established, the auxiliaryخواه-(khāh-) in the future tense never takesمی-(mi-). A construction likeمیخواهم رفت(mi-khāham raft) is grammatically incorrect. Theمی-(mi-) prefix explicitly marks the present or past continuous tense, which is incompatible with the formal future auxiliary.
- Using the Full Infinitive instead of the Past Stem: The main verb must be in its past stem form (e.g.,
رفت-raftfromرفتن-raftan). Using the full infinitive, such asخواهم رفتن(khāham raftan), is a common mistake. Theـن(-an) suffix must be removed. This error indicates a failure to recognize the 'defective' or 'fixed' nature of the main verb in this compound structure.
- Incorrect Word Order or Insertion of Elements: The auxiliary
خواه-(khāh-) and the main verb's past stem form a tight semantic and syntactic unit. While adverbs and objects can precede or follow this unit, you should not place words between the auxiliary and the main verb. For example,خواهم فردا رفت(khāham fardā raft) is incorrect; the correct form isفردا خواهم رفت(fardā khāham raft) orخواهم فردا رفت(khāham raft fardā). The adverbفردا(fardā) should typically precede the entire verb phrase, or the wholeخواهم رفتcomes at the end of the sentence.
- Overuse in Informal Contexts: While not a grammatical error, using the formal future in casual conversation or informal writing makes you sound unnatural and overly stiff. It's akin to using archaic language in modern English. Reserve it for formal settings to avoid awkwardness.
Real Conversations
Understanding where the formal future tense actually appears in modern Persian communication requires distinguishing between spoken and written registers. While it's grammatically correct, its use in typical spontaneous conversation is rare. For a B1 learner, focusing on its presence in specific contexts is key.
In spoken Persian, especially casual daily interactions, you will rarely hear the full formal future tense. Native speakers almost universally opt for simpler constructions:
- Present Tense with Future Adverb: فردا میروم. (fardā mi-ravam.) - "Tomorrow I go/will go." (Most common.)
- Present Continuous with Future Adverb: دارم میروم. (dāram mi-ravam.) - "I am going (soon)."
- میخواهم (mi-khāham) + Subjunctive: میخواهم بروم. (mi-khāham beravam.) - "I want to go." (Can imply near future intention.)
However, the formal future tense is absolutely vital for understanding and producing formal written Persian and specific types of formal spoken discourse:
- Formal Emails/Official Correspondence: When communicating in a professional or official capacity, particularly with those of higher status or unfamiliar contacts, this tense is expected.
- Example: نامهی شما به زودی پاسخ داده خواهد شد. (Nāme-ye shomā be zudi pāsokh dāde khāhad shod.) - "Your letter will be answered soon." (A standard closing in formal correspondence.)
- News Articles and Reports: Journalism, particularly in print or on formal news channels (like IRIB in Iran or BBC Persian), uses this tense extensively for upcoming events, predictions, and statements of fact.
- Example: تیم ملی فوتبال هفتهی آینده با رقیب خود روبرو خواهد شد. (Team-e melli-ye futbāl hafte-ye āyande bā raghib-e khod rāberu khāhad shod.) - "The national football team will face its rival next week."
- Academic and Scientific Texts: Research papers, academic presentations, and scientific reports employ this tense to state anticipated findings, methodologies, or conclusions.
- Example: در آزمایشات بعدی، فرضیههای جدیدی مورد بررسی قرار خواهند گرفت. (Dar āzmāyeshāt-e ba'di, farziye-hā-ye jadidi mowred-e barresi qarār khāhand gereft.) - "In subsequent experiments, new hypotheses will be investigated."
- Legal Documents and Laws: Precision is paramount in legal language, and the formal future tense delivers this clarity.
- Example: این قانون از تاریخ اعلام، لازمالاجرا خواهد بود. (In qānun az tārikh-e e'lām, lāzemo-ejarā khāhad bud.) - "This law will be enforceable from the date of announcement."
- Formal Public Announcements/Speeches: When a speaker needs to convey authority or make a solemn declaration, the formal future provides the necessary register. Think of a president's address or a public warning.
- Example: ما آیندهی روشنتری برای کشور خواهیم ساخت. (Mā āyande-ye roshan-tari barāye keshvar khāhim sākht.) - "We will build a brighter future for the country."
Therefore, while you might not speak it daily, a B1 learner must be able to recognize and understand it in formal contexts and be prepared to produce it when writing formally. It is a critical component of advanced Persian literacy.
Quick FAQ
- Is this tense common in all regions of the Persian-speaking world?
- Can I use this tense for making predictions?
دمای هوا در روزهای آینده افزایش خواهد یافت. (Damā-ye havā dar ruz-hā-ye āyande afzāyesh khāhad yāft. - "The air temperature will increase in the coming days.")- How do I form questions with the formal future tense?
چرا - cherā - "why," کی - key - "when") at the beginning of the sentence. The word order of the verb phrase (conjugated خواه- + past stem) itself generally remains unchanged.- Statement:
او خواهد آمد.(U khāhad āmad.) - "He will come." - Yes/No Question:
آیا او خواهد آمد؟(Āyā u khāhad āmad?) - "Will he come?" (The optionalآیا-āyācan be used for clarity.) - Wh-Question:
کی خواهد آمد؟(Key khāhad āmad?) - "When will he come?"
- Does the main verb ever take a prefix like
بـ(be-)?
بـ (be-) are characteristic of the subjunctive mood (e.g., بروم - beravam) or imperative mood, which are distinct from this future construction. The main verb here is 'frozen' in its past stem.- What if the main verb is a compound verb (e.g.,
تماشا کردن-tamāshā kardan- "to watch")?
خواه- (khāh-) always precedes the non-verbal component, and the past stem of the verbal component follows it. The non-verbal component (often a noun or adjective) remains in place.ما فیلم را تماشا خواهیم کرد.(Mā film rā tamāshā khāhim kard.) - "We will watch the movie." (Here,تماشا(tamāshā) comes first, thenخواهیم(khāhim), thenکرد(kard) fromکردن(kardan).)
- Is there any situation where the formal future tense sounds less formal?
Conjugation of 'Khāstan' (Future Auxiliary)
| Pronoun | Khāstan (Auxiliary) | Short Infinitive | Full Future Form |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Man (I)
|
khāham
|
raft
|
khāham raft
|
|
To (You)
|
khāhi
|
raft
|
khāhi raft
|
|
U (He/She)
|
khāhad
|
raft
|
khāhad raft
|
|
Mā (We)
|
khāhim
|
raft
|
khāhim raft
|
|
Shomā (You pl.)
|
khāhid
|
raft
|
khāhid raft
|
|
Ānhā (They)
|
khāhand
|
raft
|
khāhand raft
|
Meanings
The future tense is used to describe actions that will occur after the present moment. It is formed by using the auxiliary verb 'khāstan' (to want/will) followed by the short infinitive of the main verb.
Predictive Future
Actions expected to happen in the future.
“او کتاب را خواهد خواند”
“ما در آینده موفق خواهیم شد”
Intentional Future
Expressing a firm plan or intention.
“من این کار را انجام خواهم داد”
“آنها به سفر خواهند رفت”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Aux + Short Inf
|
khāham raft
|
|
Negative
|
na-Aux + Short Inf
|
nakhāham raft
|
|
Question
|
Aux + Subject + Short Inf
|
khāhi raft?
|
|
Short Answer (Yes)
|
Yes + Aux
|
bale, khāham
|
|
Short Answer (No)
|
No + na-Aux
|
na, nakhāham
|
Formality Spectrum
من به فروشگاه خواهم رفت. (Daily life)
من به فروشگاه میروم. (Daily life)
فروشگاه میرم. (Daily life)
میزنم به چاک (going to leave/go). (Daily life)
Future Tense Components
Auxiliary
- khāstan to want/will
Main Verb
- Short Infinitive Infinitive minus -an
Examples by Level
من خواهم رفت
I will go
تو خواهی آمد
You will come
او خواهد دید
He/she will see
ما خواهیم خورد
We will eat
من فردا خواهم آمد
I will come tomorrow
آیا تو خواهی آمد؟
Will you come?
من نخواهم رفت
I will not go
آنها خواهند نوشت
They will write
من در این پروژه کار خواهم کرد
I will work on this project
او به ما کمک خواهد کرد
He will help us
شما این کتاب را خواهید خواند
You will read this book
ما هرگز فراموش نخواهیم کرد
We will never forget
این تصمیم آینده ما را تغییر خواهد داد
This decision will change our future
آیا شما در کنفرانس شرکت خواهید کرد؟
Will you participate in the conference?
او هرگز چنین حرفی نخواهد زد
He will never say such a thing
ما به زودی نتیجه را اعلام خواهیم کرد
We will announce the result soon
تحقیقات ما نشان خواهد داد که این نظریه درست است
Our research will show that this theory is correct
دولت اقدامات جدیدی را اجرا خواهد کرد
The government will implement new measures
این تغییرات تأثیر عمیقی بر جامعه خواهد گذاشت
These changes will have a deep impact on society
هیچکس نمیتواند مانع پیشرفت ما خواهد شد
No one can stop our progress
آیندهنگری دقیق، مسیر توسعه را هموار خواهد ساخت
Precise foresight will pave the path of development
این واقعه در تاریخ ثبت خواهد شد
This event will be recorded in history
او در نهایت به حقیقت پی خواهد برد
He will eventually realize the truth
ما بر این چالشها فائق خواهیم آمد
We will overcome these challenges
Easily Confused
Learners often use the Present Continuous for all future events.
The verb 'khāstan' means 'to want' in the present tense.
Both involve future events.
Common Mistakes
man khāham raftan
man khāham raft
man khāstan raft
man khāham raft
man nakhāstan raft
man nakhāham raft
man khāham raft-e
man khāham raft
to khāham raft
to khāhi raft
u khāham raft
u khāhad raft
man raft khāham
man khāham raft
man khāham raftam
man khāham raft
man nakhāham raftan
man nakhāham raft
man khāham rafti
man khāham raft
man khāham ke raft
man khāham raft
man khāham raft-e-am
man khāham raft
man khāham raft-e-shod
man khāham raft
Sentence Patterns
من ___ خواهم کرد.
آیا شما ___ خواهید کرد؟
او هرگز ___ نخواهد کرد.
ما در آینده ___ خواهیم شد.
Real World Usage
دولت قیمتها را افزایش خواهد داد.
من در این شرکت پیشرفت خواهم کرد.
این تحقیق به بررسی این موضوع خواهد پرداخت.
من به زودی با شما تماس خواهم گرفت.
ما به زودی خبرهای خوبی خواهیم داشت.
شما از این مکان لذت خواهید برد.
Drop the -an
Don't over-use
Formal Writing
Dialects
Smart Tips
Check if the first is 'khāstan'. If so, it's likely the future tense.
Always use the 'khāstan' future to sound professional.
Look for 'khāhad' + verb; it's the standard for future events.
Use the future tense to show strong commitment.
Pronunciation
Khāstan
The 'kh' is a voiceless velar fricative, like the 'ch' in Scottish 'loch'.
Declarative
Man khāham raft. ↘
Falling intonation at the end of a statement.
Interrogative
To khāhi raft? ↗
Rising intonation for yes/no questions.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Khāstan' as a 'Key' that unlocks the future door.
Visual Association
Imagine a person holding a key (Khāstan) and putting it into a lock (the verb) to open a door to the future.
Rhyme
Khāham, khāhi, khāhad too, future actions we will do!
Story
A traveler stands at a crossroads. He holds a golden key labeled 'Khāstan'. He inserts it into the door of 'Tomorrow'. He turns the key and walks into his future.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 3 sentences about what you will do tomorrow using the formal future tense.
Cultural Notes
In Tehran, the formal future is rarely used in speech. It sounds very literary or like a news anchor.
In university settings, the formal future is expected in written assignments.
Poetry often uses the future tense for dramatic effect.
The future tense in Persian originated from the verb 'khāstan' (to want/desire), which grammaticalized into a future marker.
Conversation Starters
فردا چه کار خواهید کرد؟
آیا فکر میکنید در آینده تکنولوژی پیشرفت خواهد کرد؟
آیا در تعطیلات به سفر خواهید رفت؟
آیا فکر میکنید سال آینده موفق خواهید شد؟
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
من فردا به تهران ___ رفت.
Which sentence is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
او خواهی آمد.
ما خواهیم نوشت.
شما ___ خواهید کرد.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
فردا / خواهم / رفت / من
A: آیا فردا میآیی؟ B: بله، من ___.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesمن فردا به تهران ___ رفت.
Which sentence is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
او خواهی آمد.
ما خواهیم نوشت.
شما ___ خواهید کرد.
Match: Man, To, U, Mā
فردا / خواهم / رفت / من
A: آیا فردا میآیی؟ B: بله، من ___.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesĀnhā fardā ___ āmad.
Which is correct?
Man khāham ghazā khord.
To fardā u rā ___ did.
Select the FUTURE tense sentence:
Match the pairs:
Hame chiz khub ___ bud.
Mā khāhim māndan.
Formal future tense:
U ___ kharid.
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
Rarely. In casual conversation, Persians use the present tense with a time marker.
The -an is the infinitive marker. When you use an auxiliary verb, you only need the stem.
Yes, but it's rare and can be confusing. 'Man mikhāham ke raftan-e-am rā ...' is better.
Yes, 'khāham raft' is formal and predictive; 'miravam' is immediate and casual.
The future tense uses the short infinitive, which is usually based on the past stem. It's very consistent.
No, this is strictly for the future.
Add 'na-' to the auxiliary verb: 'nakhāham raft'.
Yes, it is often used for dramatic or prophetic effect.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
will + verb
Persian 'khāstan' is conjugated for person, English 'will' is invariant.
ir a + infinitive
Spanish uses 'ir' (to go), Persian uses 'khāstan' (to want).
werden + infinitive
German 'werden' is specifically for the future, 'khāstan' has other meanings.
verb + darou
Japanese is agglutinative; Persian is analytic/synthetic.
sa- + verb
Arabic is a prefix; Persian is a separate word.
yào + verb
Chinese 'yào' is not conjugated; Persian 'khāstan' is.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Related Videos
Related Grammar Rules
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