Past Continuous: "I was doing..." (dāshtam miraftam)
daashtam + mi-verb to say you were 'in the middle of' doing something in the past.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use the past continuous to describe an action that was in progress at a specific moment in the past.
- Use the auxiliary verb 'dāshtan' in the past tense: 'dāshtam', 'dāshti', etc.
- Add the main verb in the past continuous stem (past stem + -am, -i, -ad, -im, -id, -and).
- Example: 'dāshtam ketāb mikhāndam' (I was reading a book).
Overview
To effectively narrate events in Persian, particularly to describe ongoing actions in the past, understanding the Past Continuous tense is indispensable. This grammatical structure allows you to express that an action was in progress at a specific point in time or over a period in the past. It’s the Persian equivalent of the English "was/were doing," providing crucial context and setting the scene for other events.
Mastering the Past Continuous elevates your storytelling, enabling you to distinguish between actions that were completed and those that were still unfolding.
Linguistically, the Persian Past Continuous highlights the imperfective aspect of an action. This means it focuses on the internal duration or progression of an event, rather than its completion or result. While other past tenses, like the Simple Past (مَاضی سَادِه - māzi-ye sāde) and Past Imperfect (مَاضی اِستِمرَاری - māzi-ye estemrāri), exist to describe past actions, the Past Continuous uniquely emphasizes the ongoing nature of an action, often implying it was interrupted or occurred parallel to another event.
This precision in aspect is fundamental to conveying complex temporal relationships in Persian.
How This Grammar Works
داشتن (dāshtan, to have) conjugated in the simple past, immediately followed by the main verb conjugated in the past imperfect form. Although داشتن literally means "to have," in this specific construction, it functions not to denote possession but as an aspectual marker.داشتم میرفتم (dāshtam miraftam, I was going). Here, داشتم (dāshtam, I had) doesn't mean "I had" in a possessive sense, but rather acts as a grammatical beacon, drawing attention to the continuous nature of میرفتم (miraftam, I was going/I used to go). Without داشتن, میرفتم alone can be ambiguous, meaning either "I used to go" (habitual past) or "I was going." The inclusion of داشتن unambiguously locks the meaning into "I was going" at a specific moment or over a definite period, emphasizing the in-progress aspect.داشتن and the main verb must agree in person and number with the subject. For instance, if the subject is "we," both verbs will reflect the "we" ending. This grammatical agreement ensures cohesion and clarity within the sentence.داشتن sets the stage for continuous action, while the imperfect form of the main verb describes that action itself. This mechanism is a hallmark of how Persian expresses nuanced temporal relationships, making the aspectual role of داشتن a critical concept to grasp.Formation Pattern
داشتن (dāshtan) and the Past Imperfect form of the main verb. Understanding these two components individually is crucial before combining them.
داشتن (dāshtan) in the Simple Past.
داشتن (dāshtan, to have) acts as the auxiliary verb. You must conjugate it for the appropriate person and number in the Simple Past. This form sets the tense for the entire construction.
داشتن | Transliteration | Meaning |
مَن (man) | داشتم | dāshtam | I had |
تو (to) | داشتی | dāshti | You had |
او/آن (u/ān) | داشت | dāsht | He/She/It had |
مَا (mā) | داشتیم | dāshtim | We had |
شُمَا (shomā) | داشتید | dāshtid | You (pl./pol.) had |
آنها (ānhā) | داشتند | dāshtand | They had |
می (mi-) to the past stem of the verb, followed by the appropriate personal ending.
می (mi-) + Past Stem + Personal Ending
ـَن (-an) from the infinitive. For رفتن (raftan, to go), the past stem is رفت (raft).
رفتن - raftan) | Transliteration | Meaning |
ـَم (-am) | میرفتم | miraftam | I was going/used to go |
ـی (-i) | میرفتی | mirafti | You were going/used to go |
ـد (-ad) | میرفت | miraft | He/She/It was going/used to go |
ـیم (-im) | میرفتیم | miraftim | We were going/used to go |
ـید (-id) | میرفتید | miraftid | You (pl./pol.) were going/used to go |
ـَند (-and) | میرفتند | miraftand | They were going/used to go |
داشتن directly before the Past Imperfect form of the main verb. Both verbs must agree with the subject in person and number.
Subject + Simple Past of داشتن + می + Past Stem of Main Verb + Personal Ending
نوشتن (neveshtan, to write)
مَن داشتم مینوشتم. (Man dāshtam mineveshtam.) — I was writing.
شُمَا داشتید مینوشتید. (Shomā dāshtid mineveshtid.) — You (pl./pol.) were writing.
آنها داشتند مینوشتند. (Ānhā dāshtand mineveshtand.) — They were writing.
کَار کَردن - kār kardan, to work; تَلِفُن کَردن - telefon kardan, to call), the structure slightly changes. The noun or adjective part of the compound verb is placed between the conjugated داشتن and the می form of the verbal component.
Subject + Simple Past of داشتن + Noun/Adjective + می + Past Stem of Verbal Component + Personal Ending
کَار کَردن (kār kardan, to work). Past stem of کردن (kardan) is کرد (kard).
مَن داشتم کار میکردم. (Man dāshtam kār mikardam.) — I was working.
او داشت تلفن میکرد. (U dāsht telefon mikard.) — He/She was calling.
When To Use It
- To describe an action in progress that was interrupted by another past action.
داشتم کتاب میخواندم که تلفن زنگ زد.(Dāshtam ketāb mikhāndam ke telefon zang zad.) — I was reading a book when the phone rang.وقتی رسید، ما داشتیم غذا میخوردیم.(Vaghti resid, mā dāshtim ghazā mikkhordim.) — When he arrived, we were eating dinner.
- To describe two or more actions happening simultaneously in the past.
او داشت فیلم میدید و من داشتم آشپزی میکردم.(U dāsht film midid va man dāshtam āshpazi mikardam.) — He was watching a movie and I was cooking.بچهها داشتند بازی میکردند و پدرشان داشت روزنامه میخواند.(Bachehā dāshtand bāzi mikardand va pedarashān dāsht ruznāme mikhānd.) — The children were playing and their father was reading the newspaper.
- To set the scene or provide background information for a narrative.
شب بود و برف داشت میبارید.(Shab bud va barf dāsht mibārid.) — It was night and snow was falling.مردم داشتند از اداره برمیگشتند و خیابانها شلوغ بود.(Mardom dāshtand az edāre barmi-gashtand va khiābānhā sholugh bud.) — People were returning from the office, and the streets were crowded.
- To emphasize the duration or persistence of a past action.
تمام روز داشت درس میخواند.(Tamām-e ruz dāsht dars mikhānd.) — He was studying all day.مدت طولانی داشتیم منتظر میماندیم.(Moddat-e tulāni dāshtim montazer mimāndim.) — We were waiting for a long time.
- Colloquial Usage: Polite suggestions or indirect requests (often with rhetorical intent).
نمیگید چی داشتم میگفتم؟(Nemi-gid chi dāshtam migoftam?) — (Lit. Aren't you saying what I was saying?) Implies: "Could you please tell me what I was saying?" or "Weren't you listening?" (Rhetorical question, often expressing mild exasperation).مگه نگفتم؟ چرا داشتی این کارو میکردی؟(Magge nagofam? Cherā dāshti in kāro mikardi?) — (Lit. Didn't I tell you? Why were you doing this work?) Implies: "I told you not to; why were you doing it anyway?"
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect Double Conjugation (Lack of Agreement):
داشتن and the main verb agree with the subject in person and number. Learners might correctly conjugate داشتن but then use a 3rd person singular ending for the main verb, or vice-versa. This creates a grammatical mismatch.- Incorrect:
مَن داشت میرفتم.(Man dāsht miraftam.) — (Lit. I he-had I-was-going.) - Reason:
داشتis 3rd person singular, whileمیرفتمis 1st person singular. They do not agree withمَن(I). - Correct:
مَن داشتم میرفتم.(Man dāshtam miraftam.) — I was going. - Principle: Both parts of the construction must reflect the subject. For
مَن(I), both must be 1st person singular (داشتمandمیرفتم).
- Incorrect Negation:
داشتن part of the construction is generally incorrect and sounds unnatural. While technically you could say نداشتم میرفتم (nadāshtam miraftam), this is rarely used by native speakers. Instead, Persian expresses a negative continuous past action almost exclusively by negating the Past Imperfect form of the main verb and dropping داشتن entirely.- Incorrect (rarely used):
مَن نداشتم میرفتم.(Man nadāshtam miraftam.) — I was not going. - Correct and Natural:
مَن نمیرفتم.(Man nemiraftam.) — I was not going / I didn't use to go. - Reason: The negation of the Past Imperfect (
نمیرفتم) is sufficient to convey the negative continuous past, andداشتنis redundant in this context. Whileنمیرفتمcan still carry the ambiguity of "used to not go," in most conversational contexts where continuous action is implied, it's understood. If extreme clarity is needed, a speaker might rephrase the sentence or add temporal adverbs.
- Confusion with Simple Past (
مَاضی سَادِه) and Past Imperfect (مَاضی اِستِمرَاری) withoutداشتن:
داشتم میرفتم) specifically means "I was going" with emphasis on ongoing action. The Simple Past (رفتم) means "I went" (completed action). The Past Imperfect alone (میرفتم) is ambiguous: it can mean "I used to go" (habitual) or "I was going" (continuous, less emphatic).رفتم خانه.(Raftam khāne.) — I went home. (Completed action)میرفتم خانه.(Mīraftam khāne.) — I used to go home / I was going home. (Ambiguous/habitual)داشتم میرفتم خانه.(Dāshtam mīraftam khāne.) — I was going home. (Clearly continuous)- Principle:
داشتنremoves the ambiguity of the simple Past Imperfect, firmly establishing the continuous aspect.
- Incorrect Placement of Objects or Adverbs:
داشتن and the main verb. While some adverbs can occasionally appear there for emphasis in highly formal or poetic language, in standard usage, the داشتن and the main verb (or the compound verb's nominal part and verbal part) are tightly bound.- Incorrect:
مَن داشتم به سرعت میرفتم.(Man dāshtam be sor'at mīraftam.) — I was quickly going. - Correct:
مَن داشتم به سرعت میرفتم.(Man dāshtam be sor'at mīraftam.) OR more naturally:مَن به سرعت داشتم میرفتم.(Man be sor'at dāshtam mīraftam.) — I was going quickly. (Adverbs usually precede the entire construction). - For compound verbs, remember the structure:
داشتن+Noun/Adjective+میفعل. Do not insert other words between the noun/adjective and theمیفعل.
Real Conversations
Understanding how the Past Continuous functions in everyday Persian is crucial for achieving fluency beyond textbook examples. This tense is widely used in both formal and informal contexts, across various communication mediums.
1. Casual Dialogue & Storytelling:
In spoken Persian, the Past Continuous is indispensable for recounting past events, explaining circumstances, or providing background to a main action. It makes narratives feel more dynamic and engaging.
- Scenario: Explaining why you didn't answer the phone.
- دیشب داشتم فیلم میدیدم، برای همین تلفنتو نشنیدم. (Dīshab dāshtam film midīdam, barā-ye hamīn telefoneto nashnīdam.) — Last night I was watching a movie, that's why I didn't hear your phone.
- Scenario: Describing a chaotic scene.
- همه داشتن فرار میکردن و پلیس هم دنبالشون بود. (Hame dāshtan farār mikardan va polis ham donbāleshun bud.) — Everyone was running away and the police were chasing them too.
2. Text Messages & Social Media:
While often abbreviated, the structure remains consistent in digital communication. This demonstrates its fundamental role in conveying nuance efficiently.
- Text (informal): کجا بودی؟ داشتم بهت زنگ میزدم. (Kojā budi? Dāshtam behet zang mizadam.) — Where were you? I was calling you.
- Social Media Caption: سال پیش تو همین روز داشتم برای امتحان آماده میشدم. (Sāl pīsh to hamīn ruz dāshtam barā-ye emtehān āmāde mishodam.) — This very day last year, I was preparing for an exam.
3. Formal Contexts (Written & Spoken):
In formal writing, news reports, or academic discourse, the Past Continuous provides precision in describing unfolding historical events or processes.
- News Report Snippet: در آن زمان، دولت داشت روی طرحهای اقتصادی جدیدی کار میکرد. (Dar ān zamān, dolat dāsht ruy-e tarhhā-ye eqtesādi-ye jadīdi kār mikard.) — At that time, the government was working on new economic plans.
- Historical Narrative: کشورهای استعماری داشتند منابع طبیعی را غارت میکردند. (Keshvarhā-ye este'māri dāshtand manābe' tabī'i rā ghārat mikardand.) — The colonial powers were plundering natural resources.
4. Colloquial Variations:
In casual spoken Persian, especially in the Tehrani dialect, personal endings might be slightly shortened or pronounced more fluidly, but the core داشتن + میفعل structure is preserved. For instance, داشتم میرفتم might sound like داشتم میرفتم (dāshtam mīraftam) with a softened final م (m). However, the written form always maintains full endings.
- It's common to omit the subject pronoun (مَن, تو, etc.) when it's clear from the verb's ending, particularly in spoken language. داشتم میرفتم implicitly means "I was going."
These examples illustrate that the Past Continuous is not merely a theoretical construct but a vibrant part of how Persians communicate about the past, adding richness and clarity to their expressions. Observing its use in authentic materials will significantly enhance your intuitive grasp of this tense.
Quick FAQ
- Q: Can I separate
داشتنand the main verb with other words?
Generally, no. In most standard and natural Persian sentences, داشتن and the main verb (or the nominal part of a compound verb and its verbal component) act as a tight unit. Inserting adverbs, objects, or other words between them is usually awkward or grammatically incorrect. Adverbs typically precede the entire داشتن + میفعل construction, or follow it.
- Natural:
مَن دیروز داشتم کتاب میخواندم.(Man diruz dāshtam ketāb mikhāndam.) — Yesterday I was reading a book. - Less natural/awkward:
مَن داشتم دیروز کتاب میخواندم.(Man dāshtam diruz ketāb mikhāndam.) – While understandable, the adverbدیروز(diruz) is usually placed at the beginning or end of the clause.
- Q: What is the difference between Past Continuous and Present Continuous in Persian?
The fundamental difference lies in the time frame. The Present Continuous (حَال اِستِمرَاری - hāl-e estemrāri) describes an action happening now (e.g., دارم میروم - dāram miravam, I am going). It uses the present tense of داشتن (دارم, dāram) followed by the Present Imperfect of the main verb. The Past Continuous describes an action that was happening in the past (e.g., داشتم میرفتم - dāshtam miraftam, I was going). It uses the simple past of داشتن (داشتم, dāshtam) followed by the Past Imperfect of the main verb.
- Present Continuous:
دارم مطالعه میکنم.(Dāram motāle'e mikonam.) — I am studying. - Past Continuous:
داشتم مطالعه میکردم.(Dāshtam motāle'e mikardam.) — I was studying.
- Q: Is the Past Continuous used in formal or informal contexts?
The Past Continuous is a standard and essential grammatical tense used across all registers of Persian, from highly formal written prose and academic discourse to everyday casual conversations and informal messages. Its structure and function remain consistent, though pronoun omission is more common in spoken and informal contexts.
- Q: How does this tense connect to the broader concept of aspect in Persian verbs?
The Persian verb system places significant emphasis on aspect (whether an action is completed, ongoing, or habitual) in addition to tense (when the action occurs). The Past Continuous is a clear example of an imperfective aspect in the past. The auxiliary داشتن serves precisely to mark this imperfective aspect, differentiating it from the perfective aspect of the Simple Past (رفتم, I went - completed) and providing a clear, unambiguous "ongoingness" that the standalone Past Imperfect (میرفتم) might lack due to its habitual interpretation.
- Q: Does
داشتنalways function as an auxiliary verb in such constructions?
No. It's crucial to remember that داشتن (dāshtan) primarily means "to have" or "to possess." It only functions as an aspectual auxiliary in specific grammatical constructions like the Past Continuous and Present Continuous. In other contexts, داشتن retains its literal meaning.
مَن کتاب داشتم.(Man ketāb dāshtam.) — I had a book. (داشتنas "to have")مَن داشتم کتاب میخواندم.(Man dāshtam ketāb mikhāndam.) — I was reading a book. (داشتنas auxiliary for continuous aspect`)
- Q: Are there any specific verbs that cannot be used in the Past Continuous?
Generally, almost all action verbs can be used in the Past Continuous. Verbs that describe states or conditions (stative verbs) are less commonly used in continuous tenses in many languages, including Persian, if the state is considered static rather than dynamic. However, even stative verbs can sometimes appear in continuous forms to emphasize a temporary or changing state.
Conjugation of 'dāshtan' (Past Continuous)
| Subject | Auxiliary | Main Verb (Example: kār kardan) |
|---|---|---|
|
Man
|
dāshtam
|
kār mikardam
|
|
To
|
dāshti
|
kār mikardi
|
|
Ou
|
dāsht
|
kār mikard
|
|
Mā
|
dāshtim
|
kār mikardim
|
|
Shomā
|
dāshtid
|
kār mikardid
|
|
Ānhā
|
dāshtand
|
kār mikardand
|
Meanings
The past continuous describes an action that was ongoing or interrupted in the past.
Ongoing action
An action happening over a period of time in the past.
“داشتم ناهار میخوردم.”
“داشتیم با هم حرف میزدیم.”
Interrupted action
An action interrupted by another event.
“داشتم میرفتم که او را دیدم.”
“داشتم میخوابیدم که در زدند.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
dāshtan (past) + verb
|
dāshtam miraftam
|
|
Negative
|
dāshtan (past) + na + verb
|
dāshtam nemiraftam
|
|
Question
|
dāshtan (past) + verb?
|
dāshti mirafti?
|
|
Short Answer
|
Yes/No
|
Bale, dāshtam / Na, nadashtam
|
Formality Spectrum
داشتم کار میکردم. (General)
داشتم کار میکردم. (General)
داشتم کار میکردم. (General)
داشتم کار میکردم. (General)
Past Continuous Components
Auxiliary
- dāshtan to have (past)
Main Verb
- Past Stem root
- Endings -am, -i, -ad...
Examples by Level
داشتم غذا میخوردم.
I was eating food.
داشتم کتاب میخواندم که خوابم برد.
I was reading a book when I fell asleep.
داشتم به حرفهایش فکر میکردم.
I was thinking about his words.
داشتم برای امتحان آماده میشدم که برق رفت.
I was preparing for the exam when the power went out.
در حالی که داشتم در خیابان قدم میزدم، صدای عجیبی شنیدم.
While I was walking in the street, I heard a strange sound.
او داشت با اشتیاق از آیندهاش میگفت.
He was talking about his future with enthusiasm.
Easily Confused
Learners often use simple past for ongoing actions.
Learners mix up the timeline.
Using the wrong verb form.
Common Mistakes
dāshtam raftam
dāshtam miraftam
dāshtam kār kardan
dāshtam kār mikardam
dāsht miraftam
dāshtam miraftam
dāshtam na-miraftam
dāshtam nemiraftam
dāshtam rāftam
dāshtam miraftam
dāshtam kār kardam
dāshtam kār mikardam
dāshtam miraft
dāshtam miraftam
dāshtam bāzi kardam
dāshtam bāzi mikardam
dāshtam rāftam
dāshtam miraftam
dāshtam nemiraft
dāshtam nemiraftam
dāshtam rāftam
dāshtam miraftam
dāshtam kār kardam
dāshtam kār mikardam
dāshtam nemiraft
dāshtam nemiraftam
dāshtam bāzi kardam
dāshtam bāzi mikardam
Sentence Patterns
داشتم ___ میکردم.
داشتم ___ که ___.
آیا داشتی ___ میکردی؟
من داشتم ___ میکردم در حالی که او داشت ___ میکرد.
Real World Usage
داشتم رانندگی میکردم، الان رسیدم.
داشتم در شرکت قبلی روی این پروژه کار میکردم.
داشتم فیلم میدیدم که این عکس رو گرفتم.
داشتم در بازار قدم میزدم که گم شدم.
داشتم سفارش میدادم که اینترنت قطع شد.
محقق داشت دادهها را تحلیل میکرد.
Use it for interruptions
Don't forget the stem
Shorten it
Be descriptive
Smart Tips
Use past continuous for the setting.
Use it to explain the ongoing reason.
Use it to describe the surreal atmosphere.
Use it for past continuous habits.
Pronunciation
Dāshtam
The 'ā' is long. Pronounced like 'dah-shtam'.
Question
dāshti mirafti↑
Rising intonation at the end indicates a question.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'dāshtam' as 'I held' the action in my hands.
Visual Association
Imagine holding a clock in your hand while walking; the clock is the 'dāshtam' and the walking is the action.
Rhyme
Dāshtam miraftam, dāshti mikhāndi, in the past, the action was pending.
Story
I was sitting in a cafe. I was drinking coffee. I was watching the rain. All these were happening at once.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 5 sentences about what you were doing at 8 PM last night.
Cultural Notes
Very common in daily speech to describe past events.
Often uses specific dialectal variations of the auxiliary.
Used in literature to set the scene.
Derived from the verb 'dāshtan' (to have) combined with the imperfective stem.
Conversation Starters
دیروز ساعت ۵ داشتی چه کار میکردی؟
وقتی به خانه رسیدی، داشتی به چه چیزی فکر میکردی؟
داشتی کتاب میخواندی که تلفن زنگ زد؟
آیا تا به حال شده که داشتی میخوابیدی و صدایی شنیدی؟
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
من ___ کتاب میخواندم.
او ___ داشت میرفت.
Find and fix the mistake:
داشتم رفتم.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
I was sleeping.
Answer starts with: داش...
داشتم کار میکردم -> ___
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Use 'dāshtam', 'miraftam', 'khāne'.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesمن ___ کتاب میخواندم.
او ___ داشت میرفت.
Find and fix the mistake:
داشتم رفتم.
میکردم / کار / داشتم
I was sleeping.
داشتم کار میکردم -> ___
Man -> ?
Use 'dāshtam', 'miraftam', 'khāne'.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesU ______ (was running) dar park.
Match the pairs.
Which sentence means 'I was writing a letter'?
Mā dāshtim mirim.
khāne / dāshtam / rā / tamiz / mikardam
They were watching TV.
A: Dāshti chikar mikardi? B: ______ (I was cooking).
Select the best context for 'Dāshtam mirandum' (I was driving).
To dāshti kār mikard.
Mā ______ midavidim (running) ke bārān āmad.
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
No, this is strictly for the past.
No, it changes based on the subject.
It is less common but possible for emphasis.
In casual speech, context is enough.
It is used in all registers.
It changes the meaning to completed.
Add 'na' to the main verb.
Yes, some dialects vary.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Estaba + gerundio
Persian uses 'have' while Spanish uses 'be'.
Être en train de + infinitive
French is a periphrastic construction.
War am ...
German is less common in formal writing.
Te-ita
Japanese is agglutinative.
Kuntu + imperfect
Arabic uses 'to be' (kāna).
Zhengzai + verb
Chinese has no conjugation.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Related Videos
Related Grammar Rules
Formal Future Tense: I will go (khāham raft)
Overview The formal future tense in Persian, known as `زمان آینده مطلق` (`zamān-e āyande-ye motlaq`) or `زمان آینده ساده...
The 'Past before the Past' (Past Perfect / گذشته بعید)
Overview The Persian Past Perfect tense, known as **گذشته بعید (gozashteh-ye ba'id)**, is a compound tense essential fo...
The Rebel Verb: 'To Have' in Present Tense (No mi- prefix!)
Overview In Persian, the verb `داشتن` (`dāshtan`) meaning “to have” or “to possess” stands as a notable exception within...
Persian Ongoing Actions: The 'Having' Auxiliary (dāštan)
Overview The Persian verb system distinguishes between habitual actions and actions in progress. While the ubiquitous pr...
Persian Subjunctive: Doubt & Desire (مضارع التزامی)
Overview The Persian Subjunctive Mood, known as `مضارع التزامی` (`mozāre'-e eltezāmi`), is a cornerstone of advanced Per...
