A1 Compound Verbs 13 min read Easy

Persian 'Do' Verbs: How to make almost any action (`kardan`)

Mastering 'kardan' allows you to form hundreds of essential Persian verbs using simple nouns and adjectives.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Make almost any action by combining a noun or adjective with the verb 'kardan' (to do).

  • Combine a noun/adjective + kardan: 'kar' (work) + 'kardan' = 'kardan' (to work).
  • Conjugate only the 'kardan' part: 'man kar mikonam' (I work).
  • Place negative 'na' directly before the verb: 'man kar nemikonam' (I do not work).
Noun/Adjective + kardan = New Verb

Overview

Persian, like many Indo-Iranian languages, frequently employs a grammatical construction known as light verb constructions or compound verbs (فعل‌های مرکب - fe'l-hâye morakkab). This system is fundamental to expressing actions and states, forming the backbone of the language's verbal repertoire. Unlike English, where many actions are expressed through single, strong verbs (e.g., "to clean," "to think," "to interview"), Persian often pairs a non-verbal element—typically a noun or an adjective—with a light verb.

This light verb then carries the grammatical load of tense, person, and number, while the non-verbal element provides the core semantic meaning of the action. This structure allows for immense flexibility and is responsible for over 90% of all verbs in contemporary Persian.

The most ubiquitous and versatile of these light verbs is کردن (kardan), meaning "to do" or "to make." While kardan can function independently with its literal meanings, its primary role in modern Persian is as a helper verb, transforming nouns and adjectives into active verbs. This linguistic mechanism is not merely an alternative; it is the standard and most natural way to express a vast array of actions, making mastery of kardan indispensable for any Persian learner. The prevalence of this pattern also reflects Persian's adaptability, effortlessly incorporating new concepts and loanwords into its verbal system by simply appending kardan.

How This Grammar Works

The core principle of Persian compound verbs with kardan is that only the light verb kardan undergoes conjugation. The preceding non-verbal element, whether a noun or an adjective, remains entirely invariable. This means you do not need to worry about changing the form of the noun کار (kâr - work) when you say "I work" or "we worked"; only kardan changes to reflect the subject and tense.
This simplification makes learning hundreds of verbs significantly more manageable once the conjugation of kardan itself is understood.
Consider the compound verb کار کردن (kâr kardan), meaning "to work." Here, کار (kâr) is the noun meaning "work," and کردن (kardan) is the light verb. To express "I work," you would say کار می‌کنم (kâr mikonam). Notice how کار remains unchanged, while کردن transforms into می‌کنم (mikonom), indicating the present tense and first-person singular subject.
Similarly, for "we worked," the expression becomes کار کردیم (kâr kardim), where کردیم (kardim) is the past tense, first-person plural conjugation of kardan. The stability of the non-verbal component allows learners to quickly build a large functional vocabulary by learning new nouns and adjectives and pairing them with the already-known conjugations of kardan.
The function of kardan in these constructions is analogous to a grammatical engine. It provides all the necessary inflections (person, number, tense, mood), while the noun or adjective acts as the specific fuel, defining what action is being performed. This division of labor is highly efficient and characteristic of how much of Persian grammar operates, privileging clarity in meaning through the invariable core and flexibility in grammatical expression through the light verb.

Formation Pattern

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The basic formula for forming these compound verbs is straightforward:
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[Non-verbal element (Noun/Adjective)] + [Conjugated form of کردن (kardan)]
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It is crucial to understand the conjugations of kardan in both the present and past tenses, as these are the most frequently used. The non-verbal element always precedes kardan and typically maintains a small space in formal writing, though it can merge in very informal contexts or fast speech.
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1. Present Tense Conjugation of کردن (kardan)
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The present stem of kardan is کُن (kon). To form the present simple or present continuous tense, you add the present prefix می- (mi-) directly before the present stem, followed by the appropriate personal ending. The می- prefix is essential for marking the habitual or continuous aspect of the action.
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| Person | Ending | Present Form of کردن | Full Script | Translation |
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| :-------- | :----- | :-------------------- | :-------------- | :-------------- |
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| I | -م | می‌کُنم | می‌کُنم | I do / I make |
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| You (sg) | -ی | می‌کُنی | می‌کُنی | You do / You make |
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| He/She/It | -د | می‌کُند | می‌کُند | He/She/It does / makes |
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| We | -یم | می‌کُنیم | می‌کُنیم | We do / We make |
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| You (pl) | -ید | می‌کُنید | می‌کُنید | You do / You make |
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| They | -ند | می‌کُنند | می‌کُنند | They do / They make |
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Example: صحبت کردن (sohbat kardan - to talk/speak)
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من صحبت می‌کنم. (man sohbat mikonam. - I talk/I am talking.)
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او صحبت می‌کند. (u sohbat mikonad. - He/She talks/is talking.)
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2. Past Tense Conjugation of کردن (kardan)
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The past stem of kardan is کرد (kard). To form the simple past tense, you attach the personal endings directly to this past stem. Note that the third-person singular (he/she/it) has no explicit ending; the past stem کرد stands alone.
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| Person | Ending | Past Form of کردن | Full Script | Translation |
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| :-------- | :----- | :-------------------- | :-------------- | :-------------- |
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| I | -م | کردم | کردم | I did / I made |
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| You (sg) | -ی | کردی | کردی | You did / You made |
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| He/She/It | - | کرد | کرد | He/She/It did / made |
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| We | -یم | کردیم | کردیم | We did / We made |
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| You (pl) | -ید | کردید | کردید | You did / You made |
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| They | -ند | کردند | کردند | They did / They made |
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Example: تمیز کردن (tamiz kardan - to clean)
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من اتاق را تمیز کردم. (man otâgh râ tamiz kardam. - I cleaned the room.)
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آنها دیروز تمیز کردند. (ânhâ dirooz tamiz kardand. - They cleaned yesterday.)
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Imperative Mood:
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To issue a command using a kardan compound verb, you use the imperative form of kardan. The standard imperative for kardan is بُکُن (bokon) or, more commonly in spoken Persian, کُن (kon).
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کار کن! (kâr kon! - Work!) - Informal singular
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کار بکنید! (kâr bekonid! - Work!) - Formal/plural
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It is imperative to remember that the می- prefix for the present tense and the ب- (be-) prefix for the imperative always attach to the kardan part and never to the preceding noun or adjective. Misplacing these prefixes is a common beginner error.

When To Use It

کردن is the default light verb for expressing a vast range of active, intentional, and often transitive actions. If you are performing an action upon something or engaging in a specific activity, kardan is likely the verb you need. Its versatility makes it the most common choice, especially for abstract actions, processes, and integrating new vocabulary.
1. Daily Activities and Chores: Many routine tasks are formed using kardan.
  • غذا درست کردن (ghazâ dorost kardan - to make food/to cook)
  • اتو کردن (otoo kardan - to iron)
  • آشپزی کردن (âshpazi kardan - to cook, noun آشپزی âshpazi means cooking)
2. Mental Processes and Communication: Abstract actions involving thought, emotion, or speech frequently utilize kardan.
  • فکر کردن (fekr kardan - to think)
  • مطالعه کردن (motâle'e kardan - to study) - Note: There is no single-word verb for "to study" in Persian.
  • توضیح دادن (tozih dâdan - to explain). While دادن is the light verb here, the pattern is the same.
3. Integrating Loanwords and New Concepts: kardan acts as a linguistic bridge, allowing Persian to easily absorb foreign words, particularly technological terms, and turn them into functional verbs. This is a dynamic and evolving aspect of the language.
  • چت کردن (chat kardan - to chat)
  • دانلود کردن (dânlod kardan - to download)
  • گوگل کردن (Google kardan - to Google/to search on Google)
  • لایک کردن (lâyk kardan - to like, as on social media)
4. Formal and Official Actions: In more formal contexts, kardan compound verbs are standard.
  • مصاحبه کردن (mosâhebe kardan - to interview)
  • ارسال کردن (ersâl kardan - to send/to submit)
  • اعتراض کردن (e'terâz kardan - to protest)
While some actions might theoretically have single-word Persian equivalents, using the kardan compound verb is often more natural, common, or precise in modern usage. For an A1 learner, prioritizing kardan for almost any intentional action is the most effective strategy for building fluency. If you are unsure whether an action uses a single verb or a compound verb, kardan is usually a safe first guess.

Common Mistakes

Beginners learning Persian often encounter specific pitfalls when navigating kardan compound verbs. Recognizing these common errors and understanding their underlying causes will significantly accelerate your learning.
1. The "Double Verb" or "Invented Verb" Mistake:
One of the most frequent errors is trying to translate English single verbs directly into single Persian verbs that do not exist. For instance, an English speaker might instinctively look for a single word for "to study." However, in Persian, this action is almost exclusively expressed with the compound verb مطالعه کردن (motâle'e kardan). Attempting to create a verb like *مطالعهیدن (motâle'idan) would be incorrect and unintelligible to native speakers. Always remember that many common actions require a non-verbal element paired with kardan.
2. Incorrect Placement of Prefixes (می- and ب-):
The prefixes می- (for present tense) and ب- (for imperative) always attach directly to the light verb kardan, not to the preceding noun or adjective. Placing them incorrectly is a clear indicator of a non-native speaker.
  • Incorrect: من می‌کار کنم. (man mikâr konam.) - The می- is attached to کار.
  • Correct: من کار می‌کنم. (man kâr mikonam.) - The می- is attached to کنم.
  • Incorrect: می‌صحبت کن! (mi-sohbat kon!) - For "Talk!"
  • Correct: صحبت کن! (sohbat kon!) - Or بصحبت کن! in more formal contexts, though صحبت کردن more commonly uses just کن for imperative.
3. Confusing کردن (kardan) with شدن (shodan - to become):
This is arguably the most critical distinction for beginners. کردن implies an active, often transitive action where a subject does something. شدن, on the other hand, implies a passive or intransitive change of state, where a subject becomes something or has something done to it.
| Verb | Meaning | Example with تمیز (tamiz - clean) | Translation |
| :---------------- | :-------------------- | :------------------------------------------- | :----------------------------------- |
| تمیز کردن | to clean (actively) | من اتاقم را تمیز کردم. (man otâgham râ tamiz kardam.) | I cleaned my room. |
| تمیز شدن | to become clean (passively) | اتاقم تمیز شد. (otâgham tamiz shod.) | My room became clean / was cleaned. |
Other crucial contrasts:
  • عصبانی کردن (asabâni kardan - to make someone angry) vs. عصبانی شدن (asabâni shodan - to become angry).
  • بزرگ کردن (bozorg kardan - to enlarge/raise children) vs. بزرگ شدن (bozorg shodan - to grow up/become large).
Misusing these can lead to significant misunderstandings, as one implies an agent causing an action, while the other implies a state change happening to the subject.
4. Incorrect Word Order for Objects:
In Persian, the direct object usually precedes the entire compound verb. This is especially true when the object is marked with را (râ).
  • Incorrect: من تمیز اتاقم را کردم. (man tamiz otâgham râ kardam.)
  • Correct: من اتاقم را تمیز کردم. (man otâgham râ tamiz kardam. - I cleaned my room.)
5. Lack of Space in Writing:
While informal texting might fuse the non-verbal element and kardan (e.g., کارکردم), proper written Persian maintains a space. This is a stylistic point, but important for formal communication.
  • Incorrect (formal): *مطالعهکردم
  • Correct (formal): مطالعه کردم (motâle'e kardam)
6. Overlooking Other Light Verbs:
While kardan is king, Persian uses other light verbs for specific types of actions. For instance, زدن (zadan - to hit/strike) often implies a quick, sharp, or impactful action. تلفن زدن (telefon zadan - to make a quick phone call) uses زدن rather than کردن. While A1 learners should focus heavily on kardan, be aware that other light verbs exist and will be introduced as your proficiency grows. Do not assume every compound verb must use kardan.

Real Conversations

Understanding how kardan compound verbs are used in natural, everyday Persian conversation is vital. These verbs appear in all registers, from casual chat to formal emails, and often adapt to the speed and informality of spoken language.

1. Casual Dialogue and Texting:

In informal settings, especially among friends or in digital communication, kardan verbs are ubiquitous. You might observe slight phonetic shifts or omissions in very fast speech, though the written form usually remains standard.

- Example (Question about activity):

- Friend A: چیکار می‌کنی؟ (chi kâr mikoni? - What are you doing?) - Colloquial contraction of چه کار می‌کنی؟.

- Friend B: دارم مطالعه می‌کنم. (dâram motâle'e mikonam. - I'm studying.) - The verb داشتن (dâshtan - to have) as a progressive marker is common here.

- Example (Inviting someone):

- کی دعوتمون می‌کنی؟ (key da'vatemun mikoni? - When will you invite us?) - دعوت کردن (da'vat kardan - to invite) is a very common kardan verb.

2. Professional and Formal Communication:

In work emails, formal presentations, or official documents, kardan verbs maintain their precise structure and are essential for conveying professionalism and clarity.

- Example (Work context):

- لطفا فرم را تکمیل کنید. (lotfan form râ takmil konid. - Please complete the form.) - تکمیل کردن (takmil kardan - to complete/fill out) is formal and polite.

- من گزارش را ارسال کردم. (man gozâresh râ ersâl kardam. - I sent/submitted the report.) - ارسال کردن (ersâl kardan - to send/submit) is standard formal usage.

3. Social Media and Modern Terminology:

As previously mentioned, kardan is the primary mechanism for integrating new technology and social media vocabulary into Persian. This showcases its dynamic nature and constant evolution.

- پست کردن (post kardan - to post) - عکس جدید پست کردم. (aks-e jadid post kardam. - I posted a new picture.)

- بلاک کردن (blok kardan - to block) - دوستم بلاکم کرد. (dustam blokam kard. - My friend blocked me.)

Observe how native speakers use these verbs: the non-verbal element often sounds like a single unit with the conjugated kardan verb, but the grammatical rules of separation and conjugation of only the light verb remain consistent. Learning to recognize these patterns in different contexts will solidify your understanding and make your Persian sound more authentic.

Quick FAQ

Q: Can I use کردن with any noun or adjective?

Mostly, yes. کردن is remarkably versatile and forms the basis for the majority of Persian compound verbs. For most new nouns or adjectives you encounter that describe an action or state, you can tentatively assume kardan will be the light verb. However, some specific actions use other light verbs (e.g., دادن - to give, گرفتن - to take, زدن - to hit), and you will learn these as you progress.

Q: Is کردن compound verb usage formal or informal?

Both. کردن compound verbs are integral to all registers of Persian, from highly formal academic writing and classical poetry to casual conversations and social media interactions. Their pervasive nature means they are always appropriate and natural to use.

Q: Does کردن change for grammatical gender?

No. Persian is a gender-neutral language. Verbs, nouns, and adjectives do not change based on the gender of the subject or object. This simplifies conjugation significantly.

Q: Where should the direct object be placed in a sentence with a kardan compound verb?

The direct object (especially when marked with را - râ) typically comes before the entire compound verb. For example, من کتاب را مطالعه کردم. (man ketâb râ motâle'e kardam. - I studied the book.), not *من مطالعه کتاب را کردم.

Q: Is کردن always a light verb, or can it stand alone?

While its primary function is as a light verb in compound constructions, کردن can also stand alone, carrying its literal meaning of "to do" or "to make." For example, من کار کردم. (man kâr kardam. - I did/made work.) can also imply "I worked" (using کار as a noun and کردم as the independent verb). However, when paired with a non-verbal element to create a specific action verb, it functions as a light verb. In essence, in the vast majority of practical verbal expressions, it acts as a helper.

Q: How important are short vowel marks (diacritics) for an A1 learner?

For an A1 learner, short vowel marks are extremely helpful for correct pronunciation, especially since many Persian words are written without them in common texts. While native speakers infer them from context, for beginners, they provide crucial guidance. For instance, distinguishing کُن (kon - present stem of kardan) from other similarly spelled words. You should practice reading and recognizing them, though you will gradually learn to read without them as your vocabulary grows.

Q: How does کردن compare to other light verbs like دادن (dâdan - to give) or گرفتن (gereftan - to take)?

While کردن implies an active "doing" or "making," other light verbs carry their own specific nuances that contribute to the compound verb's meaning. For example: گوش دادن (gush dâdan - to listen) literally means "to give ear," and تصمیم گرفتن (tasmim gereftan - to decide) literally means "to take a decision." You will learn these specific pairings over time. For A1, focus on kardan first, as it covers the broadest range of actions.

Conjugation of 'Kardan' (Present Tense)

Pronoun Persian Transliteration Meaning
Man
می‌کنم
mikonam
I do
To
می‌کنی
mikoni
You do
Ou
می‌کند
mikond
He/she does
Ma
می‌کنیم
mikonim
We do
Shoma
می‌کنید
mikonid
You (pl) do
Anha
می‌کنند
mikonnand
They do

Meanings

Compound verbs in Persian consist of a non-verbal element (noun or adjective) and a light verb (kardan). This construction is the most productive way to create new verbs in Persian.

1

Action creation

Turning a concept into an active verb.

“تلفن کردن (to call)”

“کمک کردن (to help)”

2

State change

Describing an action that results in a state.

“تمیز کردن (to clean)”

“خاموش کردن (to turn off)”

Reference Table

Reference table for Persian 'Do' Verbs: How to make almost any action (`kardan`)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Noun + mikonam
Man kar mikonam
Negative
Noun + nemikonam
Man kar nemikonam
Question
Noun + mikoni?
To kar mikoni?
Past
Noun + kardam
Man kar kardam
Future
Noun + khaham kard
Man kar khaham kard

Formality Spectrum

Formal
بنده کار می‌کنم

بنده کار می‌کنم (Daily work)

Neutral
من کار می‌کنم

من کار می‌کنم (Daily work)

Informal
کار می‌کنم

کار می‌کنم (Daily work)

Slang
کار می‌کنم

کار می‌کنم (Daily work)

The Compound Verb Factory

Kardan

Work

  • کار work

Clean

  • تمیز clean

Help

  • کمک help
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Examples by Level

1

من کار می‌کنم

I work

2

او کمک می‌کند

He/she helps

3

ما نگاه می‌کنیم

We look

4

تو تلفن می‌کنی

You call

1

من ورزش نمی‌کنم

I do not exercise

2

آیا شما تمیز می‌کنید؟

Do you clean?

3

او آماده می‌کند

He/she prepares

4

ما امتحان می‌کنیم

We try

1

او تصمیم می‌گیرد

He/she decides

2

من فراموش نمی‌کنم

I do not forget

3

آنها استفاده می‌کنند

They use

4

ما شروع می‌کنیم

We start

1

او پیشنهاد می‌کند

He/she suggests

2

من تعجب می‌کنم

I am surprised

3

آنها اعتراض می‌کنند

They protest

4

ما اعتماد می‌کنیم

We trust

1

او ابراز می‌کند

He/she expresses

2

من استقبال می‌کنم

I welcome

3

آنها ادعا می‌کنند

They claim

4

ما اختراع می‌کنیم

We invent

1

او استدلال می‌کند

He/she argues

2

من استعفا می‌کنم

I resign

3

آنها استخراج می‌کنند

They extract

4

ما استناد می‌کنیم

We cite

Easily Confused

Persian 'Do' Verbs: How to make almost any action (`kardan`) vs Kardan vs. Zadan

Both are light verbs, and learners mix them up.

Persian 'Do' Verbs: How to make almost any action (`kardan`) vs Kardan vs. Shodan

Kardan is transitive (do), Shodan is intransitive (become).

Persian 'Do' Verbs: How to make almost any action (`kardan`) vs Kardan vs. Budan

Budan is 'to be', Kardan is 'to do'.

Common Mistakes

✗

varzesham mikonam

✓

varzesh mikonam

Do not attach pronouns to the noun.
✗

na mikonam

✓

nemikonam

The negative prefix must be attached to the verb.
✗

man mikonam kar

✓

man kar mikonam

The noun must come before the verb.
✗

man kar kardam mikonam

✓

man kar mikonam

Do not double conjugate.
✗

tamiz-e mikonam

✓

tamiz mikonam

No Ezafe between noun and verb.
✗

man mikonam-ash

✓

man an ra mikonam

Object pronouns go before the verb.
✗

kar kardan-am

✓

kar mikonam

Conjugate the verb, not the infinitive.
✗

telfon-e man mikonam

✓

telfon mikonam

Don't insert possessives between the noun and verb.
✗

kar-ha mikonam

✓

kar mikonam

Don't pluralize the noun in a compound verb.
✗

tamiz-tar mikonam

✓

tamiz mikonam

Don't modify the noun part.
✗

kar-e man mikonam

✓

kar mikonam

Avoid Ezafe in compound verbs.
✗

telfon-ash mikonam

✓

telfon-ash mikonam

This is actually correct, but often misused.
✗

kar-e besyar mikonam

✓

besyar kar mikonam

Adverbs go before the noun.

Sentence Patterns

من ___ می‌کنم.

آیا تو ___ می‌کنی؟

او ___ نمی‌کند.

ما همیشه ___ می‌کنیم.

Real World Usage

Texting constant

زنگ می‌زنم (I'll call)

Job Interview very common

کار می‌کنم (I work)

Social Media common

ورزش می‌کنم (I exercise)

Travel common

بازدید می‌کنم (I visit)

Food Delivery common

انتخاب می‌کنم (I choose)

Academic common

استدلال می‌کنم (I argue)

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💡

Start Small

Learn 5 common compound verbs first. Don't try to memorize the whole dictionary.
⚠️

Don't Conjugate the Noun

This is the #1 mistake. The noun is a fixed block.
🎯

Use 'Kardan' for everything

If you don't know a verb, try adding 'kardan' to the noun. You might be right!
💬

Listen to Natives

Pay attention to how they use 'zadan' vs 'kardan' for phone calls.

Smart Tips

Try adding 'kardan' to see if it makes a verb.

I need to do work. → Man kar mikonam.

Always conjugate the 'kardan' part, never the noun.

Man varzesham mikonam. → Man varzesh mikonam.

Use 'namudan' instead of 'kardan'.

Man kar mikonam. → Man kar minamaym.

Drop the 'mi-' prefix if it's clear from context.

Man kar mikonam. → Kar mikonam.

Pronunciation

KAR-mikonam

Stress

The stress in a compound verb usually falls on the noun part, not the verb.

Question

kar mikoni? (rising pitch at the end)

Turns a statement into a yes/no question.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Kardan' as a 'Do-it-all' machine. You feed it a noun, and it spits out an action.

Visual Association

Imagine a robot (Kardan) standing next to a pile of bricks (Nouns). Every time he touches a brick, it turns into a glowing action verb.

Rhyme

Noun plus Kardan, makes an action fast, conjugation is simple, built to last.

Story

Ali wanted to clean his room. He took the word 'clean' (tamiz) and added 'kardan'. Suddenly, his room was clean! He then decided to help his friend, so he took 'help' (komak) and added 'kardan'. Everything he did was just adding 'kardan' to a word.

Word Web

کارکمکتمیزتلفنورزشآماده

Challenge

Write down 5 things you do every day, find the Persian noun for them, and add 'kardan'.

Cultural Notes

In Tehran, people often use 'zang zadan' instead of 'telfon kardan'.

In very formal writing, 'kardan' is sometimes replaced by 'namudan'.

In casual speech, the 'mi-' prefix is sometimes dropped or shortened.

The 'kardan' verb comes from the Middle Persian 'kardan', which is related to the Proto-Indo-European root '*kʷer-'.

Conversation Starters

“

امروز چه کار می‌کنی؟ (What are you doing today?)

“

آیا ورزش می‌کنی؟ (Do you exercise?)

“

آیا به کسی کمک می‌کنی؟ (Do you help anyone?)

“

آیا تصمیم می‌گیری؟ (Do you make decisions?)

Journal Prompts

Write about your daily routine using 5 compound verbs.
Describe a time you helped someone.
What are your goals for this year?
Discuss the importance of hard work.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

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Incorrect

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank with the correct form of kardan.

من ورزش ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: می‌کنم
Man requires the first person singular.
Choose the correct compound verb. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: کار می‌کنم
The noun must be separate.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

او کار نمی‌کند.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: او کار نمی‌کند
Correct negative conjugation.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words in the correct order:

All words placed

Click words above to build the sentence

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: من کار می‌کنم
Subject-Noun-Verb order.
Translate to Persian. Translation

I help.

Answer starts with: کمک...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: کمک می‌کنم
First person singular.
Conjugate for 'They'. Conjugation Drill

کار کردن (They)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: کار می‌کنند
Third person plural.
Match the noun to the verb. Match Pairs

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

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: کردن
Kar goes with Kardan.
Build a sentence with 'تمیز'. Sentence Building

تمیز / من / می‌کنم

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: من تمیز می‌کنم
Subject-Noun-Verb.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank with the correct form of kardan.

من ورزش ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: می‌کنم
Man requires the first person singular.
Choose the correct compound verb. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: کار می‌کنم
The noun must be separate.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

او کار نمی‌کند.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: او کار نمی‌کند
Correct negative conjugation.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

می‌کنم / کار / من

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: من کار می‌کنم
Subject-Noun-Verb order.
Translate to Persian. Translation

I help.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: کمک می‌کنم
First person singular.
Conjugate for 'They'. Conjugation Drill

کار کردن (They)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: کار می‌کنند
Third person plural.
Match the noun to the verb. Match Pairs

کار -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: کردن
Kar goes with Kardan.
Build a sentence with 'تمیز'. Sentence Building

تمیز / من / می‌کنم

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: من تمیز می‌کنم
Subject-Noun-Verb.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Complete the phrase: 'To talk' Fill in the Blank

______ کردن (sohbat)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: صحبت
Correct the verb ending for 'You (plural) work'. Error Correction

شما کار می کنند.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: شما کار می کنید.
Put the words in order to say 'I am cooking'. Sentence Reorder

میکنم / آشپزی / من

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: من آشپزی میکنم
Translate to Persian: 'He thought.' Translation

He thought.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: او فکر کرد.
How do you say 'to search' in modern Persian? Multiple Choice

Search...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: سرچ کردن
Match the noun to its 'kardan' meaning. Match Pairs

Match the following:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Bazi : To play
I (present) clean... Fill in the Blank

من ______ می‌کنم.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: تمیز
Fix the stem for 'He did'. Error Correction

او کار کن کرد.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: او کار کرد.
Translate: 'We use.' Translation

We use.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ما استفاده می‌کنیم.
Reorder: 'Are you playing?' (Informal) Sentence Reorder

کنی؟ / بازی / می

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: بازی می کنی؟

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

Almost! It's the most productive verb in Persian.

You can't use the compound verb, but you can describe it.

No, sometimes 'zadan' or 'shodan' is used.

Change 'kardan' to 'kardam'.

It's neutral and used everywhere.

That's just a variation of 'mikond'.

Yes, like 'tamiz kardan'.

Some nouns don't take 'kardan'.

Scaffolded Practice

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4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

Hacer + Noun

Spanish verbs are usually single words, while Persian relies on the compound structure.

Japanese very_high

Noun + Suru

The word order is identical, but Japanese has more complex conjugation.

German moderate

Tun + Noun

German prefers prefix verbs over compound verbs.

French moderate

Faire + Noun

French uses 'faire' as a helper, but not as universally as Persian.

Arabic low

Fi'l + Masdar

Arabic is highly inflectional, while Persian is more analytical.

Chinese low

Verb + Noun

Chinese lacks the conjugation system found in Persian.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Next
Persian Compound Verbs: Becoming and Changing State (-shodan)

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