C1 Verb System 12 min read Medium

Persian Impersonal Verbs: Expressing 'One' or 'It' (`mî-šavad`)

Mastering impersonal constructions like mî-šavad shifts your Persian from personal narrative to professional, objective, and nuanced communication.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'mî-šavad' to express general truths, possibilities, or impersonal actions where the subject is unknown or irrelevant.

  • Use 'mî-šavad' for general facts: 'dar în šahr mî-šavad fârsi harf zad' (In this city, one can speak Persian).
  • Use it for possibility: 'mî-šavad raft?' (Is it possible to go?).
  • Combine with 'ke' for complex clauses: 'mî-šavad ke ân-hâ bi-âyand' (It is possible that they will come).
mî-šavad + (ke) + [Subjunctive Verb/Clause]

Overview

Impersonal verbs in Persian, af'āl-e bî-šaxs (اَفعالِ بی‌‌شَخص), are a C1-level grammatical concept enabling the expression of actions, states, or possibilities without an explicit subject. Unlike conjugating verbs (e.g., mî-ravam مى‌روم – "I go"), impersonal verbs remain fixed in the third-person singular. This structure shifts focus from who acts to the action or state itself, conveying objectivity, generality, or abstract necessity/possibility.

Mastering these is vital for natural, sophisticated Persian, moving beyond basic subject-verb agreement to nuanced ideas in both formal and colloquial contexts. For example, mî-šavad raft (مى‌شود رفت – "One can go" or "It is possible to go") offers a general permissibility, unlike the personal man mî-tavānam beravam (من مى‌توانم بروم – "I can go"). This distinction facilitates polite inquiries, general statements, or objective observations where the agent is unknown, irrelevant, or deliberately omitted.

How This Grammar Works

The core mechanism of impersonal verbs is their lack of a grammatical subject. Though often appearing in the third-person singular, this form refers not to a specific he, she, or it, but introduces a general truth, condition, necessity, or possibility. The most common impersonal verb, mî-šavad (مى‌شود), functions as "one can," "it is possible," or "it is happening," though literally meaning "it becomes." Other key impersonal verbs include bāyad (بایَد – "must," "it is necessary"), šāyad (شایَد – "maybe," "it is possible"), momken ast (مُمکِن اَست – "it is possible"), and lāzem ast (لازِم اَست – "it is necessary").
These are typically followed by a short infinitive (the past stem of a verb) or a subjunctive clause, depending on the verb and intended nuance. The absence of an explicit subject means the "doer" is implicitly understood or considered universal, emphasizing the action or state over the agent, particularly for rules, societal norms, or general observations.
For instance, bāyad goft (بایَد گُفت – "It must be said" or "One must say") features bāyad unchanged, regardless of the speaker. goft (گُفت), the past stem of goftan (گُفتَن – "to say"), conveys the action. Similarly, mî-šavad xarid (مى‌شود خَرید – "One can buy" or "It is possible to buy") uses impersonal mî-šavad with the past stem xarid (خَرید).
This structure generalizes responsibility or focus away from an individual, making it useful in formal writing, legal texts, or instructional manuals. Crucially, bāyad is invariant; forms like bāyadam (بایَدَم) are grammatically incorrect.

Formation Pattern

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Impersonal verb constructions follow precise, predictable patterns. The choice depends on the specific impersonal verb and desired formality or nuance.
2
1. mî-šavad (مى‌شود): General Possibility / "One Can"
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This is the most common and versatile impersonal construction, used formally and informally.
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Pattern: mî-šavad + Past Stem (Short Infinitive)
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Meaning: "One can," "It is possible to," "It is permissible to."
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Examples:
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az înjā mî-šavad daryā rā dīd. (از اینجا مى‌شود دریا را دید – "From here, one can see the sea.")
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mî-šavad be fārsî harf zad? (مى‌شود به فارسی حرف زد؟ – "Is it possible to speak in Persian?")
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Negative: ne-mî-šavad (نه‌مى‌شود) + Past Stem (e.g., ne-mî-šavad raft. نه‌مى‌شود رفت – "One cannot go.")
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2. bāyad (بایَد): Necessity / Obligation ("Must")
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bāyad expresses strong obligation or necessity. It is invariant and never conjugates. The agent of the obligation is specified in the subsequent verb.
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Pattern: bāyad + Subjunctive Verb (Present Stem + be- prefix)
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Meaning: "Must," "Should," "It is necessary to."
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Examples:
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bāyad kār hā-ye man rā bekonam. (باید کارهای من را بِکُنَم – "I must do my tasks.")
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šomā bāyad zūd bexābid. (شما باید زود بِخوابید – "You must sleep early.")
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Negative: nabāyad (نَبایَد) + Subjunctive Verb (e.g., šomā nabāyad dīr bexābid. شما نباید دیر بخوابید – "You must not sleep late.")
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3. mi-tavān (مى‌توان): Formal Possibility / "One Can"
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This is the formal, literary equivalent of mî-šavad, found in academic texts and news reports.
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Pattern: mi-tavān + Past Stem (Short Infinitive)
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Meaning: "One can," "It is possible to" (formal).
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Examples:
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az în barxord mî-tavân natije gereft. (از این برخورد مى‌توان نتیجه گرفت – "From this encounter, one can draw a conclusion.")
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Negative: ne-mî-tavân (نه‌مى‌توان) + Past Stem.
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4. šod (شُد): Past Possibility / "One Could (but didn't)" or "It Became Possible"
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Used for past impersonal statements of possibility or capability.
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Pattern: šod + Past Stem (Short Infinitive)
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Meaning: "One could," "It became possible to." Often implies a completed action or missed opportunity.
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Examples:
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dīr šod, dīgar na-šod raft. (دیر شد، دیگر نه‌شد رفت – "It got late, one couldn't go anymore.")
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Negative (Simple Past): na-šod (نَه‌شُد) + Past Stem.
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5. be nazar mî-rasad (به نظر مى‌رسد): "It Seems" / "It Appears"
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This construction expresses an observation or appearance, often followed by a clause.
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Pattern: be nazar mî-rasad ke (به نظر مى‌رسد که) + (Subjunctive) Clause
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Meaning: "It seems that," "It appears that."
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Examples:
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be nazar mî-rasad ke barf bîâyad. (به نظر مى‌رسد که برف بیاید – "It seems that it might snow.")
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6. momken ast (مُمکِن اَست) / ehtemāl dārad (احتمال دارد): "It Is Possible" / "There Is a Probability"
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These are more direct and often more formal than mî-šavad for expressing possibility.
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Pattern: momken ast / ehtemāl dārad + Subjunctive Clause
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Meaning: "It is possible that," "There is a probability that."
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Examples:
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momken ast ū be Tehran beravad. (ممکن است او به تهران برود – "It is possible that he goes to Tehran.")
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7. lāzem ast (لازِم اَست): "It Is Necessary" (Softer bāyad)
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Similar to bāyad but conveys a softer or less imperative necessity.
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Pattern: lāzem ast + Subjunctive Clause
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Meaning: "It is necessary that," "One needs to."
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Examples:
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lāzem ast zūd-tar harkat konîm. (لازم است زودتر حرکت کنیم – "It is necessary that we depart sooner.")
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| Impersonal Verb | Meaning | Pattern | Example (Persian) | Example (English) |
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| :-------------------- | :------------------------ | :--------------------------------------- | :---------------------------------------------- | :-------------------------------------------- |
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| mî-šavad (مى‌شود) | One can, It's possible | mî-šavad + Past Stem | mî-šavad xarid. (مى‌شود خرید) | One can buy. / It's possible to buy. |
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| bāyad (بایَد) | Must, It is necessary | bāyad + Subjunctive Verb | bāyad beravam. (باید بروم) | I must go. |
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| mi-tavān (مى‌توان) | One can, It's possible (formal) | mi-tavān + Past Stem | mi-tavān goft. (مى‌توان گفت) | One can say. / It can be said. |
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| šod (شُد) | One could, It became possible | šod + Past Stem | ne-šod raft. (نه‌شد رفت) | One couldn't go. / It wasn't possible to go. |
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| be nazar mî-rasad ke (به نظر مى‌رسد که) | It seems that | be nazar mî-rasad ke + (Subjunctive) Clause | be nazar mî-rasad ke barf bîâyad. (به نظر مى‌رسد که برف بیاید) | It seems that it might snow. |
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| momken ast (مُمکِن اَست) | It is possible that | momken ast + Subjunctive Clause | momken ast ū be Tehran beravad. (ممکن است او به تهران برود) | It is possible that he goes to Tehran. |

When To Use It

Impersonal constructions are deployed when the agent of the action is generic, unknown, or deliberately deemphasized. At a C1 level, you will encounter and employ these structures to convey objectivity, politeness, and generality across various communicative contexts.
  • Expressing General Rules or Possibilities: Use when describing how things generally work, laws, or universal truths, common in instructions or scientific discourse.
  • az în qavânîn mî-šavad pîravî kard. (از این قوانین مى‌شود پیروى کرد – "These rules can be followed.")
  • dar în sar-zamîn bâz ham mî-tavân omîdvār boud. (در این سرزمین باز هم مى‌توان امیدوار بود – "In this land, one can still be hopeful.")
  • Polite Requests or Suggestions: Framing a request with mî-šavad makes it less direct and more polite, shifting focus from the listener's obligation to the possibility of the action.
  • Instead of komak-am kon (کمکم کن – "Help me!"), use mî-šavad komak konîd? (مى‌شود کمک کنید؟ – "Could you help?")
  • Objective Observations or Conclusions: For presenting facts, observations, or conclusions impartially, especially in academic or journalistic writing.
  • az în dalâyel mî-tavân natīje gereft ke... (از این دلایل مى‌توان نتیجه گرفت که... – "From these reasons, one can conclude that...")
  • be nazar mî-rasad ke vaz'îyat behtar šode ast. (به نظر مى‌رسد که وضعیت بهتر شده است – "It seems that the situation has improved.")
  • Referring to Necessity without Specific Agent: bāyad and lāzem ast are ideal for stating general obligations or where the specific doer is contextually clear but unstated.
  • bāyad sokoût kard. (باید سکوت کرد – "One must be silent.")
  • Discussing Potential or Inability in the Past: šod for past possibilities, often hinting at regret or describing an outcome.
  • har kārî kardam, amâ na-šod xodam rā qāne' konam. (هر کارى کردم، اما نه‌شد خودم را قانع کنم – "I did everything, but I couldn't convince myself.")
  • Social Media and Modern Contexts: Impersonal constructions suit reflective, philosophical, or witty online statements, creating a sense of shared experience or universal wisdom.
  • Instagram Caption: mî-šavad zendegî rā bā labxand pordaxîd. (مى‌شود زندگى را با لبخند پرورید – "One can nurture life with a smile.")

Common Mistakes

Avoiding common pitfalls with impersonal verbs is crucial for maintaining grammatical accuracy and conveying subtle meanings. Learners often err by over-applying personal conjugation rules or misinterpreting nuance.
  • Conjugating bāyad or mi-tavān: These verbs are invariant and never change form based on the subject of the following verb.
  • Incorrect: man bāyadam beravam. (من بایَدَم بروم)
  • Correct: man bāyad beravam. (من باید بروم – "I must go.")
  • Incorrect: šomā mi-tavānîd goft. (شما مى‌توانید گفت)
  • Correct (Personal): šomā mî-tavānîd begoyîd. (شما مى‌توانید بگویید – "You can say.")
  • Correct (Impersonal): mi-tavān goft. (مى‌توان گفت – "One can say.")
  • Confusing mî-šavad with the Passive Voice: While šodan (شُدَن) forms the passive, mî-šavad + Past Stem expresses possibility or generality, not necessarily an action done to something.
  • mî-šavad deraxt rā qat' kard. (مى‌شود درخت را قطع کرد – "One can cut down the tree.") (Active, impersonal)
  • deraxt qat' šod. (درخت قطع شد – "The tree was cut down.") (Passive)
  • Using the Full Infinitive instead of the Past Stem: For mî-šavad, mi-tavān, and šod, you must use the past stem (e.g., raft رَفت), not the full infinitive (raftan رَفتَن). The past stem acts as a verbal noun in these constructions.
  • Incorrect: mî-šavad raftan. (مى‌شود رفتن)
  • Correct: mî-šavad raft. (مى‌شود رفت – "One can go.")
  • Redundant Subject with mî-šavad: mî-šavad is impersonal; an explicit subject before it is awkward if a purely impersonal meaning is intended.
  • Incorrect: man mî-šavad beravam. (من مى‌شود بروم)
  • Correct: mî-šavad beravam. (مى‌شود بروم – "It is possible for me to go.")
  • Incorrect Negation: For mî-šavad, mi-tavān, and šod, negate the impersonal verb with ne- (نه‌). For bāyad, it becomes nabāyad (نَبایَد).
  • Incorrect: mî-na-šavad. (مى‌نه‌شود)
  • Correct: ne-mî-šavad. (نه‌مى‌شود – "It is not possible.")

Real Conversations

Impersonal verbs are integral to authentic Persian communication, distinguishing native-like speech across contexts.

- Everyday Discussions (Colloquial):

- Friend 1: mî-šavad emšab be cinema beravîm? (مى‌شود امشب به سینما برویم؟ – "Can we go to the cinema tonight?")

- Friend 2: hâlâ na-mî-šavad, kâr dāram. (حالا نه‌مى‌شود، کار دارم – "Now it's not possible, I have work.")

- In a café: mî-šavad ye châyî-e dīge biâvarîd? (مى‌شود یه چایی دیگه بیارید؟ – "Could you bring another tea?") (Polite request)

- Social Media/Messaging Apps:

- WhatsApp: eyvâl, qošang šode. mî-šavad fîlm ham gereft. (ایول، قشنگ شده. مى‌شود فیلم هم گرفت – "Awesome, it's become beautiful. One can also take a video.")

- Instagram (philosophical): zendegî kûtâh ast, amâ mî-šavad lahazât-e zîbâ îjād kard. (زندگى کوتاه است، اما مى‌شود لحظات زیبا ایجاد کرد – "Life is short, but one can create beautiful moments.")

- Formal Settings (Work/News):

- Meeting: bāyad pîšnahādāt-e jadîd rā bar-rasî kard. (باید پیشنهاد‌های جدید را بررسى کرد – "One must review the new proposals.")

- News: az în gozāreš mî-tavân natāyej-e mohemmî gereft. (از این گزارش مى‌توان نتایج مهمی گرفت – "From this report, important conclusions can be drawn.")

- Cultural Insight: The extensive use of impersonal verbs like mî-šavad and bāyad reflects a cultural inclination towards politeness, indirectness, and a sense of shared responsibility. Directly stating "You must do X" (šomā bāyad X konîd) can be assertive; bāyad X kard (باید ایکس کرد – "X must be done") generalizes the obligation, making it less confrontational. This aligns with social dynamics valuing deference and communal understanding.

Quick FAQ

  • Q: Can I use mî-šavad to ask a specific person to do something?
  • A: Yes, but with a subjunctive. While impersonal, a specific agent can be implied in the subjunctive clause. mî-šavad tū în kār rā konî? (مى‌شود تو این کار را کنى؟ – "Can you do this task?") is a common and polite request.
  • Q: Is mî-šavad only for "can" or "possible"?
  • A: Primarily, yes, for its impersonal use. However, mî-šavad also retains its literal meaning of "it becomes" or "it happens." E.g., dîr mî-šavad. (دیر مى‌شود – "It's getting late."). Context clarifies its function.
  • Q: Why use the past stem (raft, goft) with mî-šavad and mi-tavān?
  • A: This is a fixed grammatical convention. The past stem functions here not as a past tense, but as a verbal noun or "short infinitive," referring to the action generally, without conjugation. It's an established linguistic rule for these constructions.
  • Q: How do šāyad (شایَد) and momken ast (ممکن است) differ from mî-šavad?
  • A: šāyad is an adverbial particle ("perhaps") taking a subjunctive verb: šāyad beravad. (شاید برود – "Perhaps he will go."). momken ast is an impersonal construction ("it is possible that") also taking a subjunctive clause: momken ast ū beravad. (ممکن است او برود – "It is possible that he goes."). mî-šavad + past stem specifically means "one can" or "it is possible to," focusing on the feasibility of an action, while šāyad and momken ast express general likelihood or probability.
  • Q: What about negation? Is it always ne-mî-šavad or nabāyad?
  • A: Yes, for these core impersonal verbs, negation applies directly to the impersonal verb:
  • ne-mî-šavad (نه‌مى‌شود – "It is not possible to / One cannot")
  • nabāyad (نباید – "One must not / It is not necessary to")
Negating the main verb in the subjunctive clause (bāyad na-beravam. باید نه‌روم – "I must not go.") is distinct from negating the impersonal verb itself (nabāyad beravam. نباید بروم – "I should not go.").

Impersonal mî-šavad Structure

Form Structure Example
Affirmative
mî-šavad + [Infinitive/Subjunctive]
mî-šavad raft
Negative
ne-mî-šavad + [Infinitive/Subjunctive]
ne-mî-šavad raft
Interrogative
mî-šavad + [Infinitive/Subjunctive] + ?
mî-šavad raft?
Clause (Aff)
mî-šavad + ke + [Subjunctive Clause]
mî-šavad ke bi-ravand
Clause (Neg)
ne-mî-šavad + ke + [Subjunctive Clause]
ne-mî-šavad ke bi-ravand
Past (Impersonal)
mî-shod + [Infinitive/Subjunctive]
mî-shod raft

Meanings

The impersonal verb 'mî-šavad' functions as a modal or existential marker indicating possibility, permission, or general occurrence without a specific human agent.

1

Possibility

Expressing that an action is feasible.

“mî-šavad ân-râ anjâm dâd.”

“mî-šavad be in-jâ raft?”

2

Generalization

Describing what is generally done or happens.

“dar zemestân mî-šavad ski kard.”

“in-jâ mî-šavad ketâb-hâ-ye nâyâb yâft.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Persian Impersonal Verbs: Expressing 'One' or 'It' (`mî-šavad`)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
mî-šavad + Verb
mî-šavad kâr kard
Negative
ne-mî-šavad + Verb
ne-mî-šavad kâr kard
Question
mî-šavad + Verb + ?
mî-šavad kâr kard?
Clause
mî-šavad ke + Clause
mî-šavad ke kâr konand
Past
mî-shod + Verb
mî-shod kâr kard
Future
mî-šavad + [Future context]
mî-šavad ke ân-râ anjâm dâd

Formality Spectrum

Formal
mî-šavad be in-jâ vared shod?

mî-šavad be in-jâ vared shod? (Asking for access)

Neutral
mî-šavad in-jâ raft?

mî-šavad in-jâ raft? (Asking for access)

Informal
mî-she in-jâ raft?

mî-she in-jâ raft? (Asking for access)

Slang
mî-she raft in-jâ?

mî-she raft in-jâ? (Asking for access)

mî-šavad Usage Map

mî-šavad

Possibility

  • mî-šavad raft It is possible to go

Permission

  • mî-šavad in-jâ neshast Can one sit here?

Generalization

  • dar in-jâ mî-šavad fârsi harf zad One can speak Persian here

mî-šavad vs mî-tavân

mî-šavad (Situation)
mî-šavad raft It is possible to go
mî-tavân (Ability)
mî-tavânam beravam I can go
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Examples by Level

1

mî-šavad raft?

Is it possible to go?

2

mî-šavad in-jâ neshast?

Can one sit here?

3

mî-šavad ân-râ did?

Can one see that?

4

ne-mî-šavad raft.

It is not possible to go.

1

dar in bâzâr mî-šavad hame-chiz xarid.

In this market, one can buy everything.

2

mî-šavad ke ân-hâ bi-âyand?

Is it possible that they come?

3

in-jâ mî-šavad fârsi harf zad.

Here, one can speak Persian.

4

ne-mî-šavad in kâr-râ anjâm dâd.

It is not possible to do this work.

1

mî-šavad ke prože-râ zud-tar tamâm konim.

It is possible that we finish the project earlier.

2

mî-šavad az in masir raft?

Is it possible to go via this route?

3

dar zemestân mî-šavad ski kard.

In winter, one can ski.

4

ne-mî-šavad be in soâl javâb dâd.

It is not possible to answer this question.

1

mî-šavad in-gune estedlâl kard ke...

It is possible to argue in this way that...

2

mî-šavad ke ân-hâ az in tasmim khosh-hâl na-bâshand.

It is possible that they are not happy with this decision.

3

mî-šavad in mas'ale-râ az zâviye-ye dīgari bar-rasi kard.

It is possible to examine this issue from another angle.

4

ne-mî-šavad in-râ be-unvân-e yek qâ'ede-ye kolli dar-nazar gereft.

It is not possible to consider this as a general rule.

1

mî-šavad in-tôr estenbât kard ke ân-hâ dârand az mas'uliyat farâr mî-konand.

It is possible to infer that they are evading responsibility.

2

mî-šavad ke in ruy-dâd-hâ neshân-e taqayyori dar ravand-e siyâsi bâshand.

It is possible that these events indicate a change in the political process.

3

ne-mî-šavad in-râ nâ-dide gereft.

It is not possible to ignore this.

4

mî-šavad in-râ be-sâdagi dar-k kard.

It is possible to understand this simply.

1

mî-šavad in-gune andishid ke ân-che mâ 'haqiqat' mî-nâmim, tanhâ yek bar-dâsht-e zihni-st.

It is possible to think that what we call 'truth' is merely a mental construct.

2

ne-mî-šavad in-râ juz dar qâleb-e yek tajrobe-ye ziste-ye khâs tafsir kard.

It is not possible to interpret this except within the framework of a specific lived experience.

3

mî-šavad ke ân-hâ dar in bâr-e khâs, hagh-e kâmel dâshte bâshand.

It is possible that they, in this specific instance, are completely right.

4

mî-šavad in-râ yek 'tâbâb-e nâ-gozir' nâmid.

It is possible to call this an 'inevitable consequence'.

Easily Confused

Persian Impersonal Verbs: Expressing 'One' or 'It' (`mî-šavad`) vs mî-šavad vs mî-tavân

Both translate to 'can' in English, leading learners to use them interchangeably.

Persian Impersonal Verbs: Expressing 'One' or 'It' (`mî-šavad`) vs mî-šavad vs mî-shod

Learners confuse present possibility with past possibility.

Persian Impersonal Verbs: Expressing 'One' or 'It' (`mî-šavad`) vs mî-šavad vs mî-bâshad

Both involve the verb 'to be/become'.

Common Mistakes

✗

man mî-šavad raft

✓

mî-šavad raft

mî-šavad is impersonal; it does not take a subject.
✗

mî-šavad raftam

✓

mî-šavad raft

Must use the infinitive or subjunctive, not past tense.
✗

mî-šavad ke man raft

✓

mî-šavad ke bi-ravam

Must use subjunctive in the clause.
✗

mî-šavad-am raft

✓

mî-šavad raft

Do not conjugate mî-šavad.
✗

mî-šavad ke ân-hâ mî-ravand

✓

mî-šavad ke ân-hâ bi-ravand

Subjunctive required after 'ke'.
✗

ne-mî-šavad ke ân-hâ bi-ravand

✓

ne-mî-šavad ke ân-hâ bi-ravand

Actually correct, but often learners avoid the 'ke' structure.
✗

mî-šavad raftan

✓

mî-šavad raft

Use the short infinitive (stem + d).
✗

mî-tavân in-jâ raft

✓

mî-šavad in-jâ raft

mî-tavân is for ability, mî-šavad for possibility.
✗

mî-šavad ke ân-hâ bi-âmadand

✓

mî-šavad ke ân-hâ bi-âyand

Wrong tense in the subjunctive clause.
✗

mî-šavad ân-râ kâr kard

✓

mî-šavad ân-râ anjâm dâd

Wrong verb choice.
✗

mî-šavad in-râ nâ-dide gereftand

✓

mî-šavad in-râ nâ-dide gereft

Impersonal verb must stay singular.
✗

mî-šavad ke ân-hâ bi-ravand-e

✓

mî-šavad ke ân-hâ bi-ravand

Spoken filler interference.
✗

mî-šavad-esh kard

✓

mî-šavad ân-râ kard

Avoid clitic attachment to impersonal verbs.

Sentence Patterns

mî-šavad ___ ___?

mî-šavad ke ___ ___.

ne-mî-šavad ___ ___.

mî-šavad ___ az zâviye-ye ___ bar-rasi kard.

Real World Usage

Travel/Tourism very common

mî-šavad in-jâ aks gereft?

Professional/Work common

mî-šavad ke prože-râ zud-tar tamâm konim?

Social Media occasional

mî-she in-jâ aks-hâ-ro edit kard.

Academic/Writing common

mî-šavad in mas'ale-râ bar-rasi kard.

Food Delivery Apps occasional

mî-šavad in qazâ-râ pas dâd?

Public Signage common

ne-mî-šavad in-jâ park kard.

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🎯

The 'Short Infinitive' Secret

Remember that the short infinitive is just the past stem. For 'raftan' (to go), it's 'raft'. This is the key to all impersonal verbs!
⚠️

Subject-Free Zone

Don't put a personal pronoun (man, to, etc.) as the subject of 'mî-šavad'. It sounds very foreign. Let the verb stand alone.
💬

Politeness through Impersonality

In Iranian culture (Ta'arof), using impersonal forms makes requests sound less like commands and more like soft suggestions.

Smart Tips

Use mî-šavad to sound polite.

man in-jâ neshastam? → mî-šavad in-jâ neshast?

Use mî-šavad to be objective.

shomâ in-jâ park nemi-konid. → ne-mî-šavad in-jâ park kard.

Use mî-šavad ke to introduce possibilities.

ân-hâ bi-âyand. → mî-šavad ke ân-hâ bi-âyand.

Avoid personal pronouns.

man mî-tavânam in-râ bar-rasi konam. → mî-šavad in-râ bar-rasi kard.

Pronunciation

mee-sha-vad

mî-šavad

The 'š' is like the 'sh' in 'shoe'. The 'v' is soft.

Question

mî-šavad raft ↗?

Rising intonation at the end indicates a question.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'mî-šavad' as 'The Situation Happens'. If the situation allows it, 'mî-šavad'!

Visual Association

Imagine a door that opens automatically when you approach it. The door represents 'mî-šavad'—it is possible to pass through, no specific person needed to open it.

Rhyme

mî-šavad is the key, for what is possible for you and me.

Story

A traveler arrives in a new city. They see a sign: 'mî-šavad in-jâ aks gereft' (It is possible to take photos here). They feel relieved. They ask a local: 'mî-šavad ke in-jâ qazâ xord?' (Is it possible to eat here?). The local nods. The traveler realizes that 'mî-šavad' is the magic word for navigating the city's rules.

Word Web

mî-šavadne-mî-šavadmî-shodkeraftkârdidyâft

Challenge

For the next 5 minutes, look around your room and describe 3 things you can do using 'mî-šavad' (e.g., 'mî-šavad in-jâ ketâb khând').

Cultural Notes

In Tehran, 'mî-šavad' is frequently shortened to 'mî-she' in daily speech. It is the most common way to ask for permission.

In formal writing, the full 'mî-šavad' is strictly maintained to ensure an objective, professional tone.

Dialects may use different auxiliary verbs, but 'mî-šavad' remains universally understood as the standard for impersonal possibility.

Derived from the verb 'šodan' (to become), which evolved from Middle Persian 'šudan'.

Conversation Starters

“

mî-šavad dar in-jâ aks gereft?

“

mî-šavad ke mâ prože-râ zud-tar tamâm konim?

“

mî-šavad in-râ yek qâ'ede-ye kolli dānest?

“

mî-šavad in mas'ale-râ az zâviye-ye dīgari bar-rasi kard?

Journal Prompts

Describe a place you visited. What could one do there?
Discuss a rule in your workplace or school.
Write a short analysis of a recent news event.
Reflect on a philosophical question using impersonal structures.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank with the correct form.

mî-šavad in-jâ ___ (raft)?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: raft
Use the short infinitive after mî-šavad.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: mî-šavad raft
mî-šavad is impersonal.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

mî-šavad ke ân-hâ mî-ravand.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: mî-šavad ke ân-hâ bi-ravand
Subjunctive is required after 'ke'.
Transform to negative. Sentence Transformation

mî-šavad in-jâ neshast.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ne-mî-šavad in-jâ neshast
Negate the main verb.
Match the sentence to its meaning. Match Pairs

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

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Can we go? / We cannot go.
mî-šavad is possibility.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

mî-šavad / in-jâ / aks / gereft

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: mî-šavad in-jâ aks gereft
Standard word order.
Select the correct modal. Multiple Choice

___ in-jâ fârsi harf zad.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: mî-šavad
Situational possibility.
Fill in the blank.

mî-šavad ke ân-hâ ___ (bi-âyand/mi-ayand).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: bi-âyand
Subjunctive mood.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank with the correct form.

mî-šavad in-jâ ___ (raft)?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: raft
Use the short infinitive after mî-šavad.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: mî-šavad raft
mî-šavad is impersonal.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

mî-šavad ke ân-hâ mî-ravand.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: mî-šavad ke ân-hâ bi-ravand
Subjunctive is required after 'ke'.
Transform to negative. Sentence Transformation

mî-šavad in-jâ neshast.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ne-mî-šavad in-jâ neshast
Negate the main verb.
Match the sentence to its meaning. Match Pairs

mî-šavad raft? / ne-mî-šavad raft.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Can we go? / We cannot go.
mî-šavad is possibility.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

mî-šavad / in-jâ / aks / gereft

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: mî-šavad in-jâ aks gereft
Standard word order.
Select the correct modal. Multiple Choice

___ in-jâ fârsi harf zad.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: mî-šavad
Situational possibility.
Fill in the blank.

mî-šavad ke ân-hâ ___ (bi-âyand/mi-ayand).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: bi-âyand
Subjunctive mood.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

6 exercises
Put the words in the correct order for the impersonal construction. Sentence Reorder

[kard] [aks] [mi-shavad] [in-ja]

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: in-ja mi-shavad aks kard
Translate this formal sentence into Persian. Translation

One can conclude that the results are positive.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: mi-tavan natije gereft ke pasokh-ha mosbat hastand
Complete the sentence with the past impersonal form. Fill in the Blank

دیروز ______ به پارک رفت چون باران می‌آمد.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: نمی‌شد
Match the impersonal verb with its English equivalent. Match Pairs

Match the following:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: bāyad:Must, šāyad:Perhaps, mî-šavad:One can, be nazar mî-rasad:It seems
Fix the literary impersonal form. Error Correction

می‌تواند رفت به آنجا.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: می‌توان رفت به آنجا.
Which one expresses a general possibility? Multiple Choice

Select the correct option:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: می‌شود اینجا پارک کرد.

Score: /6

FAQ (8)

Yes, as long as it makes sense in an impersonal context.

It is neutral, but used in formal writing.

Because English uses 'can' for both.

It is 'mî-shod'.

Yes, it is very common for asking permission.

Yes, in spoken Persian it is often dropped.

No, it remains singular.

Adding a subject pronoun.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

English partial

It is possible to / One can

Persian mî-šavad is strictly impersonal.

Spanish high

Se puede

Spanish uses a reflexive pronoun; Persian uses an impersonal verb.

French high

On peut

French uses a pronoun; Persian uses a verb form.

German moderate

Man kann

German requires a subject pronoun; Persian does not.

Japanese low

~koto ga dekiru

Japanese is agglutinative; Persian is analytic.

Arabic high

yumkin

Arabic 'yumkin' is a particle/verb; Persian 'mî-šavad' is a fully conjugated verb.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Persian Subjunctive: Doubt & Desire (مضارع التزامی)
Next
Advanced Persian Connectors: az in ru & be'alâve

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