Home
Learn
Persian
Grammar
The Ezafe: Connecting Words
Possessive Suffixes: My, Your, His (-am, -at, -aš)

1 The Invisible Glue: Linking Words with Ezafe (-e) 2 Possessive Suffixes: My, Your, His (-am, -at, -aš)

Back to Chapter

A1 Nouns & Pronouns 14 min read Easy

Possessive Suffixes: My, Your, His (-am, -at, -aš)

To show possession in Persian, just attach a simple suffix to the noun instead of using a separate word.

Mark as Learned

Practice it

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

In Persian, you don't use 'my' as a separate word; you attach a short sound to the end of the noun.

For 'my', add -am to the noun: ketāb-am (my book).
For 'your' (singular), add -at to the noun: ketāb-at (your book).
For 'his/her', add -aš to the noun: ketāb-aš (his/her book).

Noun + (-am/-at/-aš) = Possessive

Overview

Possessive suffixes in Persian constitute a foundational grammatical element, directly appending to nouns to denote ownership or association. Unlike English, which employs separate possessive adjectives (e.g., 'my', 'your', 'his'), Persian integrates this information directly onto the noun stem. This mechanism, known as agglutination, allows for a high degree of linguistic efficiency, merging the concept of the object and its possessor into a single lexical unit.

For instance, to express 'my book', Persian does not use a separate word for 'my'; instead, the noun ketâb (کتاب) – 'book' – receives a specific suffix to become ketâb-am (کتابم).

This system is pervasive across all registers of Persian, from formal academic writing to casual digital communication. Its mastery is critical for basic comprehension and production, as it is the standard and most natural method for indicating possession. The suffixes are invariant, meaning they do not change based on the grammatical gender or number of the possessed noun, only reflecting the person and number of the possessor.

How This Grammar Works

At its core, Persian possessive suffixes function as clitics – grammatical elements that behave like words but lack the autonomy of independent words, attaching phonologically to an adjacent word. Specifically, they are enclitics, meaning they attach to the end of the word. This enclitic nature allows the language to express possession compactly, eliminating the need for separate particles or prepositions in most contexts.

The linguistic efficiency stems from the morphophonological fusion, where the possessor pronoun effectively becomes part of the noun.

Each grammatical person (first singular, second singular, third singular, first plural, second plural, third plural) corresponds to a unique suffix. The primary challenge for learners lies in the subtle morphophonological rules governing their attachment. These rules dictate whether a connecting sound, specifically the epenthetic ی (y), is required between the noun stem and the suffix.

The presence or absence of this connector depends solely on the final sound of the noun – specifically, whether it ends in a consonant or a vowel. This systematic approach ensures phonetic fluency, preventing sequences of vowel sounds that are typically avoided in Persian.

This grammatical pattern integrates seamlessly with other core Persian structures. While distinct from the Ezafe construction, which links nouns and adjectives or two nouns (ketâb-e Ali – Ali's book), the possessive suffixes serve a parallel function of relational marking. Understanding the precise domain of each construction is paramount for accurate expression.

The pervasive use of possessive suffixes in Persian reflects a preference for synthesising grammatical information directly onto lexical items, contributing to the language's characteristic flow and economy.

Formation Pattern

The formation of possessed nouns using these suffixes follows a predictable two-step process, primarily determined by the final sound of the noun stem. The six possessive suffixes are consistent across all nouns.

The Possessive Suffixes:

These enclitic pronouns are fixed for each person and number:

| :--------------- | :---------------------- | :-------------- | :----------------- | :--------------- |

| First Person Sg. | ـم | -am | my | ketâb-am (کتابم)|

Pattern 1: Nouns ending in a consonant

When the noun stem concludes with a consonant sound, the possessive suffix is appended directly. There are no intervening sounds or letters. This is the most straightforward application of the rule.

Formula: Noun (consonant-final) + Suffix

| :-------- | :-------------- | :------ | :----- | :------------- | :-------------- | :------------ |

Pattern 2: Nouns ending in a vowel

If the noun stem ends with a vowel sound, an epenthetic ی (y, ی) is inserted between the noun and the possessive suffix. This ی acts as a glide, facilitating smooth pronunciation and preventing a hiatus (a clash of two vowel sounds). This is particularly common with nouns ending in ا (â), و (u), and ه (e, often silent in writing but marks a vowel sound).

Formula: Noun (vowel-final) + ی (y) + Suffix

| :--------- | :-------------- | :------ | :----- | :------------- | :-------------- | :-------------- |

It is crucial to note the written form when ه (silent e) is the final letter. While pronounced as a vowel, the ی is written separately before the suffix, often with a hamzeh (ء) over the ه to indicate the underlying vowel sound, though this is less common in modern informal writing (e.g., خانه‌ام vs. خانه‌ام).

Gender & Agreement

Persian is a language without grammatical gender. Nouns, irrespective of what they refer to, do not carry inherent masculine or feminine properties that influence grammatical agreement. Consequently, possessive suffixes also do not exhibit any variation based on the gender of the possessed item.

Whether you are referring to 'my car' (mâšin-am, ماشینم) or 'my sister' (xâhar-am, خواهرم), the suffix -am remains identical.

This characteristic simplifies the learning process considerably, as you do not need to memorize different forms for different noun categories. A particularly salient example of this gender neutrality is the third-person singular suffix, -aš (ـش). This single suffix covers 'his', 'her', and 'its', reflecting a broader pattern in Persian where personal pronouns also lack gender distinction for the third person singular (u, او – he/she/it).

This efficiency is a hallmark of Persian grammar, streamlining expression across various contexts.

When To Use It

The use of possessive suffixes is the default and most idiomatic method for expressing possession in Persian. You will encounter and employ them in nearly every instance where an English speaker would use a possessive adjective. Their application spans a wide array of contexts, from concrete objects to abstract concepts, and is integral to natural Persian communication.

Everyday Objects and Possessions: This is the most common use. For example, telefon-am (تلفنم – my phone), mâšin-at (ماشینت – your car), or medâd-ešân (مدادشان – their pencil).
Body Parts: Possessive suffixes are almost exclusively used when referring to one's own body parts or those of others. You would say dast-am (دستم – my hand) or česm-at (چشمت – your eye), rather than dast-e man.
Family Members and Relationships: Indicating familial or personal connections. For instance, barâdar-am (برادرم – my brother), pedar-aš (پدرش – his/her father), or mâdar-emân (مادرمان – our mother).
Abstract Concepts and Ideas: Possessive suffixes are not limited to tangible items; they frequently attach to abstract nouns. You might express nazar-am (نظرم – my opinion), fekr-at (فکرت – your thought), or zendegi-yeš (زندگی‌اش – his/her life).
Locations and Addresses: When specifying personal locations or addresses. For example, xâne-yam (خانه‌ام – my house) or âdres-ešân (آدرسشان – their address).
Common Expressions and Greetings: Many fixed phrases and greetings incorporate these suffixes. hâl-et četoreh? (حالت چطوره؟ – How are you? [lit. your condition is how?]), esm-am ... ast (اسمم ... است – My name is ...).

While possessive suffixes are the standard, it is important to be aware of the more formal or emphatic alternatives. In formal written Persian or when explicit emphasis is desired, the Ezafe construction with a detached personal pronoun (e.g., ketâb-e man – book of me) is used. However, in spoken and everyday written Persian, the suffixed form is overwhelmingly preferred and sounds more natural.

Colloquially, for second and third person plural, you may often hear -etun (ـتون) and -ešun (ـشون) instead of the more formal -etân and -ešân`. These colloquial forms are primarily for spoken use and generally avoided in formal writing.

Common Mistakes

Learners often encounter specific pitfalls when first integrating possessive suffixes into their Persian. Recognizing these common errors is crucial for developing accurate and natural-sounding language.

1Omitting the Epenthetic ی (y) with Vowel-Final Nouns: This is perhaps the most frequent error. Attempting to attach a suffix directly to a noun ending in a vowel creates an ungrammatical and phonologically awkward sequence. For example, saying xâne-am (خانه ام) instead of xâne-yam (خانه‌ام) for 'my house' sounds unnatural to a native speaker. The ی (y) is not optional; it is a critical phonological bridge.

Incorrect: dânešju-aš (دانشجو اش) – his/her student
Correct: dânešju-yaš (دانشجويش) – his/her student
Incorrect: pâ-at (پا ات) – your foot
Correct: pâ-yat (پایت) – your foot

1Confusing Possessive Suffixes with the Ezafe Construction: A significant conceptual hurdle is distinguishing possessive suffixes from the Ezafe. While both indicate relationships, they operate differently. Possessive suffixes directly modify the noun to show who owns it (my, your, his, etc.), whereas the Ezafe (-e) links a noun to another noun (e.g., ketâb-e Ali – Ali's book) or an adjective (e.g., ketâb-e xub` – good book). Crucially, you cannot use an Ezafe on a noun that already has a possessive suffix, nor can you add a possessive suffix to a noun within an Ezafe chain that refers to the possessor. Combining them on the same noun in this way results in a severe grammatical error.

Correct (Suffix): ketâb-am (کتابم) – my book
Correct (Emphatic Ezafe): ketâb-e man (کتاب من) – my book (emphatic)
Incorrect: ketâb-e-am – This construction is grammatically impossible.

1Confusing Possessive Suffixes with Verbal Endings: The first-person singular possessive suffix -am (ـم) is identical in form to the first-person singular present tense verbal ending (e.g., hast-am – I am). Learners sometimes conflate these. The key distinction lies in the word class to which they attach: possessive suffixes attach to nouns and express possession, while verbal endings attach to verb stems (or predicate adjectives/nouns with the verb 'to be') and indicate the subject of the verb.

Possession: xâne-yam (خانه‌ام) – my house (attaches to noun xâne)
Verb: man xub-am (من خوبم) – I am good (attaches to adjective xub with implied verb 'to be')
Verb: man mirav-am (من می‌روم) – I go (attaches to verb stem rav)

Context always disambiguates these forms.

1Over-reliance on Separate Personal Pronouns: While man (I), to (you), u (he/she/it) exist, their use in conjunction with nouns to indicate possession (e.g., man ketâb) is incorrect. The possessive suffix replaces this function. Using the Ezafe construction with these pronouns (ketâb-e man) is grammatically correct but carries an emphatic nuance, making it less common for neutral possession. The default should always be the suffix.

Common Collocations

Possessive suffixes frequently appear with specific nouns, forming highly common and idiomatic expressions. Familiarizing yourself with these collocations enhances both comprehension and natural language production.

Body Parts: Almost universally takes suffixes.
dast-am (دستم) – my hand
pâ-yat (پایت) – your foot
češm-eš (چشمش) – his/her eye
Feelings and Inner States: Often expressed with a suffixed del (دل – heart/mind/feelings).
del-am mi-xâhad (دلم می‌خواهد) – I want (lit. 'my heart wants')
del-am tang šode (دلم تنگ شده) – I miss (lit. 'my heart has become tight')
Opinions and Thoughts: Frequently paired with nazar (نظر – opinion/view) or fekr (فکر – thought).
nazar-am in ast ke... (نظرم این است که...) – My opinion is that...
fekr-eš xub nist (فکرش خوب نیست) – His/her idea is not good.
Condition/State: hâl (حال – condition, state of being).
hâl-et četoreh? (حالت چطوره؟) – How are you? (lit. 'your condition is how?')
Name: esm (اسم – name).
esm-am Ali ast (اسمم علی است) – My name is Ali.
Home/Life: xâne (خانه – house/home) and zendegi (زندگی – life).
xâne-yam koja-st? (خانه‌ام کجاست؟) – Where is my home?
zendegi-yeš pur az šâdi ast (زندگی‌اش پر از شادی است) – His/her life is full of joy.

These collocations demonstrate how possessive suffixes are deeply integrated into the fabric of everyday Persian, extending beyond mere ownership to express a range of personal associations and states. Using these suffixed forms is a strong indicator of fluency.

Real Conversations

Possessive suffixes are ubiquitous in authentic Persian communication, from informal spoken exchanges to written texts and social media posts. Observing their use in context highlights their natural frequency and function.

Example 1

Casual Text Exchange

A: ketâb-am ro pîdâ nemikonam. (کتابم رو پیدا نمی‌کنم.) – I can't find my book.

B: to-ye kîfeš nist? (تو کیفش نیست؟) – Is it not in his/her bag?

A: negâh kardam, nist. (نگاه کردم، نیست.) – I looked, it's not there.

B: šâayad to-ye otâq-emân bâšeh. (شاید تو اتاقمان باشه.) – Maybe it's in our room.

Here, ketâb-am (my book), kîfeš (his/her bag), and otâq-emân (our room) flow naturally, reflecting typical spoken usage where the suffix is preferred over the emphatic ketâb-e man.

Example 2

Social Media Comment

Man 'aks-am ro doost dâram! (من عکسم رو دوست دارم!) – I like my photo! (Note: ro is a direct object marker)

Hâl-et xub šode? (حالت خوب شده؟) – Have you gotten well? (lit. 'your condition has become good?')

These examples show immediate, personal associations. The suffixed forms are concise and direct, mirroring the brevity often preferred in digital communication.

Example 3

Formal Inquiry (Spoken)

beh-ehtemâl-e ziyâd, rezume-yešâm râ barâ-ye man ferestâd. (به احتمال زیاد، رزومه‌اش هم را برای من فرستاد.) – Most likely, he/she also sent their resume to me. (Note: rezume is a French loanword, rezume-yeš is typical pronunciation with an Ezafe-like connection before the suffix.)

Even in slightly more formal contexts, when the noun ends in a non-native vowel (like e in rezume), the ی (y) insertion or a similar glide naturally occurs, demonstrating the robustness of the phonological rule. The use of rezume-yeš is common despite rezume-yaš being technically correct based on strict vowel rules. This showcases a blend of prescriptive grammar and spoken evolution.

Example 4

Direct Question (with a polite 'your')

Ketâb-etân kojâst? (کتابتان کجاست؟) – Where is your (formal/plural) book?

This highlights the distinction between the informal singular ketâb-at and the formal/plural ketâb-etân, a key element of social register in Persian. The default polite address in Persian is often the plural 'you', even for a single person, and the possessive suffix follows this convention.

Quick FAQ

Q: Can I use these suffixes with any noun?

A: Generally, yes. Possessive suffixes are highly productive and can attach to virtually any noun, whether concrete or abstract. For instance, šaxsiat-am (شخصیتم – my personality), vaqt-at (وقتت – your time), or moškel-aš (مشکلش – his/her problem).

Their widespread applicability makes them a cornerstone of Persian grammar.

Q: Is there a difference between 'his', 'her', and 'its' in the suffixes?

A: No. The third-person singular suffix -aš (ـش) is entirely neutral regarding gender and animacy. It covers 'his', 'her', and 'its'.

This is a direct reflection of Persian's lack of grammatical gender and its single third-person singular pronoun u (او), which also functions for 'he', 'she', and 'it'.

Q: What is the difference between -at and -etân for 'your'?

A: The distinction is based on formality and number. -at (ـت) is the informal, singular 'your', used when addressing a single person you know well (a friend, family member, child). -etân (ـتان) is the formal 'your', used to address elders, superiors, or strangers, or it can be used for plural 'your' (addressing multiple people).

In polite communication, even if you are addressing a single person, -etân is often preferred to show respect.

Q: I sometimes see -etun and -ešun in spoken Persian. What are these?

A: These are the colloquial, informal spoken variants of -etân (your plural/formal) and -ešân (their), respectively. ketâb-etun (کتابتون) for 'your book' (plural/formal) and ketâb-ešun (کتابشون) for 'their book'. While perfectly acceptable and very common in everyday conversation and informal texts, they should typically be avoided in formal writing, where -etân and -ešân are the standard.

Q: Do I still need to use separate personal pronouns like man (I) or to (you) if I'm using suffixes?

A: Yes, but for a different grammatical function. man and to are subject pronouns. They are used to specify the doer of an action or the subject of a sentence (e.g., man raftam – I went).

Possessive suffixes, however, indicate ownership or association with a noun. So, man ketâb-am-râ xândam (من کتابم را خواندم) means 'I read my book'. Here, man is the subject, and -am indicates possession of the book.

They serve complementary roles.

Q: When would I not use a possessive suffix and instead use the Ezafe + Pronoun structure (ketâb-e man)?

A: The Ezafe + Pronoun structure (e.g., ketâb-e man, کتاب من) is used for two primary reasons:

1Emphasis: When you want to specifically highlight or stress the ownership, often in contrast to someone else's possession. For instance, if someone asks, ketâb-e ki-yeh? (کتاب کیه؟ – Whose book is it?), you might respond ketâb-e man! to emphasize it's yours.
2Complex Ezafe Chains: If the possessed noun is already part of a longer Ezafe chain, adding a possessive suffix might become awkward or grammatically impossible. For example, rang-e panjere-ye xâne-ye man (رنگ پنجره خانه من – the color of the window of my house). Here, xâne is already part of an Ezafe chain, so attaching -am directly to xâne would break the structure. In such cases, Ezafe + man is the only option.

For simple, neutral possession, the suffix remains the preferred and most natural choice.

Possessive Suffixes Table

Person	Suffix	Example (Noun: Ketāb)	Translation
1st (My)	-am	ketābam	my book
2nd (Your)	-at	ketābat	your book
3rd (His/Her)	-aš	ketābaš	his/her book

Meanings

Possessive suffixes are attached to the end of nouns to indicate who the object belongs to. They replace the need for separate possessive pronouns like 'my' or 'your'.

Possession

Indicating ownership of an object.

“دوستم (dust-am) - My friend”

“ماشینت (māšin-at) - Your car”

Reference Table

Reference table for Possessive Suffixes: My, Your, His (-am, -at, -aš)
Form	Structure	Example
Affirmative	Noun + Suffix	ketābam (my book)
Negative	Noun + Suffix + nist	ketābam nist (my book is not here)
Question	Noun + Suffix + ? (rising intonation)	ketābat? (your book?)
Vowel-ending	Noun + y + Suffix	pāyam (my foot)

Formality Spectrum

Formal

کتاب من (ketāb-e man)

کتاب من (ketāb-e man) (General)

Neutral

کتابم (ketābam)

کتابم (ketābam) (General)

Informal

کتابم (ketābam)

کتابم (ketābam) (General)

Slang

کتابم (ketābam)

کتابم (ketābam) (General)

Possessive Suffix Map

Noun

My

-am Suffix

Your

-at Suffix

His/Her

-aš Suffix

Examples by Level

کتابم روی میز است.

My book is on the table.

دوستت کجاست؟

Where is your friend?

خانه‌اش بزرگ است.

His house is big.

ماشینم آبی است.

My car is blue.

آیا برادرت در خانه است؟

Is your brother at home?

این کیفم است.

This is my bag.

مادرم مهربان است.

My mother is kind.

اسم‌اش چیست؟

What is his/her name?

برنامه‌ام برای فردا تغییر کرد.

My plan for tomorrow changed.

نظرش خیلی جالب بود.

His/her opinion was very interesting.

آیا کلیدت را گم کردی؟

Did you lose your key?

پدرم در تهران کار می‌کند.

My father works in Tehran.

پیشنهادم این است که زودتر برویم.

My suggestion is that we go earlier.

آیا از نتیجه‌اش راضی هستی؟

Are you satisfied with its result?

او به حرفم گوش نداد.

He didn't listen to my words.

این تصمیمت خیلی مهم است.

This decision of yours is very important.

تلاشش برای موفقیت ستودنی است.

His effort for success is commendable.

باورم نمی‌شود که او این کار را کرد.

I cannot believe he did this.

سفرش به اروپا طولانی بود.

His trip to Europe was long.

آیا از دیدگاهت مطمئنی؟

Are you sure about your perspective?

استدلالش بر پایه منطق است.

His argument is based on logic.

این دستاوردت مایه افتخار است.

This achievement of yours is a source of pride.

احساسم به این موضوع تغییر کرده است.

My feeling about this matter has changed.

او از رفتارش پشیمان است.

He is regretful of his behavior.

Easily Confused

Possessive Suffixes: My, Your, His (-am, -at, -aš) vs Ezāfe vs. Suffixes

Learners often use Ezāfe when they should use a suffix.

Possessive Suffixes: My, Your, His (-am, -at, -aš) vs Suffixes vs. Independent Pronouns

Learners try to use 'man' (I) instead of '-am' (my).

Possessive Suffixes: My, Your, His (-am, -at, -aš) vs Vowel-ending nouns

Forgetting the 'y' connector.

Common Mistakes

✗

man ketāb

✓

ketābam

You cannot use the independent pronoun 'man' before the noun.

✗

ketāb-am-man

✓

ketābam

Don't double up the pronoun and the suffix.

✗

bābāam

✓

bābāyam

Missing the 'y' connector after a vowel.

✗

ketāb-aš-man

✓

ketābaš

Incorrectly adding the pronoun after the suffix.

✗

dust-at-to

✓

dustat

Redundant pronoun usage.

✗

pā-am

✓

pāyam

Vowel collision.

✗

māšin-am-e-Ali

✓

māšin-e-Ali

Mixing suffix and ezāfe.

✗

ketāb-am-e-man

✓

ketābam

Over-specifying the possessor.

✗

xāne-am

✓

xāne-yam

Incorrect vowel handling.

✗

dust-aš-e-u

✓

dustaš

Redundant pronoun.

✗

ketāb-am-i

✓

ketābam

Adding unnecessary markers.

✗

dust-am-e-man

✓

dustam

Redundant.

✗

pā-am

✓

pāyam

Phonological error.

Sentence Patterns

___ من است.

آیا ___ را دیدی؟

___ خیلی بزرگ است.

نظر ___ چیست؟

Real World Usage

Texting constant

کجایی؟ (Where are you?)

Social Media very common

عکس‌ام (My photo)

Job Interview common

برنامه‌ام (My plan)

Travel common

چمدانم (My suitcase)

Food Delivery common

غذایم (My food)

Classroom constant

دفترم (My notebook)

💡

The 'y' rule

Always add a 'y' if the word ends in a vowel. It makes it sound much better!

⚠️

Don't double up

Don't use the independent pronoun AND the suffix together.

🎯

Listen for the 'sh'

The 'sh' sound in -aš is very common in spoken Persian.

💬

Keep it natural

In casual speech, people often drop the final 'h' in -aš.

Smart Tips

Don't think of 'my' as a word; think of it as a sound you glue to the end.

man ketāb → ketābam

Add a 'y' to make it flow.

bābāam → bābāyam

You can drop the 'a' in '-aš' to just '-sh'.

ketābaš → ketāb-sh

If it's a pronoun (my/your/his), use the suffix.

ketāb-e-man → ketābam

Pronunciation

ke-TĀ-bam

Suffix stress

The stress usually falls on the syllable before the suffix.

Question

ketābat? ↑

Rising intonation indicates a question.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Remember 'A-T-SH' (At-sh): Am, At, Ash. It sounds like 'At-sh' (a sneeze)!

Visual Association

Imagine a book with a sticky note on it. The note says 'am' for me, 'at' for you, and 'ash' for him.

Rhyme

My is am, your is at, his is ash, that is that!

Story

Ali has a book. He writes 'ketābam' (my book) on it. Then he gives it to you, so it becomes 'ketābat' (your book). Finally, he gives it to his friend, and it becomes 'ketābaš' (his book).

Word Web

The suffix for 'my' is -am.

Which is correct for 'your car'? Multiple Choice

Choose the correct form:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ماشینت

The suffix for 'your' is -at.

Correct the mistake. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

man ketāb

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ketābam

Use the suffix, not the pronoun.

Change 'my' to 'your'. Sentence Transformation

کتابم (my book) -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: کتابت

Change -am to -at.

Is this rule true? True False Rule

Do you add 'y' after a vowel?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: True

Yes, it's necessary for pronunciation.

Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Where is your bag? B: ___ (My bag is here).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: کیفم اینجاست

Use -am for 'my'.

Build the sentence. Sentence Building

my + friend + is + here

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: دوستم اینجاست

Use -am for 'my'.

Match the suffix to the meaning. Match Pairs

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

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: my, your, his

Correct order.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises

Fill in the blank for 'my book'.

کتاب___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: am

The suffix for 'my' is -am.

Which is correct for 'your car'? Multiple Choice

Choose the correct form:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ماشینت

The suffix for 'your' is -at.

Correct the mistake. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

man ketāb

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ketābam

Use the suffix, not the pronoun.

Change 'my' to 'your'. Sentence Transformation

کتابم (my book) -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: کتابت

Change -am to -at.

Is this rule true? True False Rule

Do you add 'y' after a vowel?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: True

Yes, it's necessary for pronunciation.

Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Where is your bag? B: ___ (My bag is here).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: کیفم اینجاست

Use -am for 'my'.

Build the sentence. Sentence Building

my + friend + is + here

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: دوستم اینجاست

Use -am for 'my'.

Match the suffix to the meaning. Match Pairs

Match: -am, -at, -aš

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: my, your, his

Correct order.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

11 exercises

Complete the sentence: 'Our car is new.' Fill in the Blank

ماشین___ جدید است. (mâšin-___ jadid ast.)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ـمان (-emân)

Find and correct the error for 'their room'. Error Correction

اتاقشان آنها کجاست؟ (otâq-ešân ânhâ kojâst?)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: اتاقشان کجاست؟ (otâq-ešân kojâst?)

How do you say 'my university'? Multiple Choice

The word for university is 'dânešgâh' (دانشگاه).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: دانشگاهم (dânešgâh-am)

Translate this sentence into Persian. Translation

His phone is on the chair.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: تلفنش روی صندلی است.

Put the words in the correct order to say 'Your (formal) handwriting is beautiful.' Sentence Reorder

زیباست / دست‌خطتان / خیلی

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: دست‌خطتان خیلی زیباست.

Match the English pronoun to the correct Persian suffix. Match Pairs

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: [{"option_id":"c","question_id":"1"},{"option_id":"a","question_id":"2"},{"option_id":"d","question_id":"3"},{"option_id":"b","question_id":"4"}]

Complete the sentence: 'Their teacher is kind.' Fill in the Blank

معلم___ مهربان است. (mo'allem-___ mehrabân ast.)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ـشان (-ešân)

Which sentence correctly says 'My computer is old'? Multiple Choice

The word for computer is 'kâmpiuter' (کامپیوتر).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: کامپیوترم قدیمی است.

Find and fix the error for 'my brother'. Error Correction

برادر من در شیراز زندگی می‌کند.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: برادرم در شیراز زندگی می‌کند.

How would you write 'your job' (formal)? Translation

The word for job is 'kâr' (کار).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: کارتان (kâr-etân)

Complete the question: 'Where is his/her key?' Fill in the Blank

کلید___ کجاست؟ (kilid-___ kojâst?)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ـش (-aš)

Score: /11

FAQ (8)

No, it is redundant. Just use the suffix.

Add a 'y' before the suffix.

No, they are the same for masculine and feminine.

Add 'nist' after the noun+suffix.

Yes, using the independent pronoun.

Yes, they are standard in all writing.

In fast speech, the 'a' is often dropped.

Use rising intonation at the end of the sentence.

Scaffolded Practice

1

2

3

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

In Other Languages

Spanish low

mi/tu/su

Persian uses suffixes; Spanish uses adjectives.

French low

mon/ton/son

Persian uses suffixes; French uses adjectives.

German low

mein/dein/sein

Persian suffixes are invariant.

Japanese low

Persian uses suffixes; Japanese uses a particle.

Arabic high

Suffixes

Arabic suffixes change based on gender; Persian suffixes do not.

Chinese low

Persian uses suffixes; Chinese uses a particle.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

The Invisible Glue: Linking Words with Ezafe (-e)

Related Grammar Rules

Persian Possession: My, Your, His (-am, -at, -ash)

Overview Imagine you are at a crowded café in Tehran. You see a cool phone case. You want to ask, "Is this your phone?"...

Demonstrative Pronouns: This/That (`این`/`آن`)

Overview Persian, like English, utilizes demonstrative pronouns and adjectives to specify items or individuals based on...

Persian Pronoun Endings: me, you, him (-am, -at, -aš)

Overview Pronominal suffixes are indispensable elements in Persian grammar, crucial for achieving natural and fluent com...

Persian Personal Pronouns: I, You, He/She (man, to, u)

Overview Personal pronouns are fundamental building blocks of any language, and Persian is no exception. They allow you...

Plural Nouns with -hā (-hā)

Overview In Persian, the system for making nouns plural is refreshingly consistent and primarily relies on a single, un...

Was this helpful?

Comments (0)

No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!

Possessive Suffixes: My, Your, His (-am, -at, -aš)

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Overview

How This Grammar Works

Formation Pattern

Gender & Agreement

When To Use It

Common Mistakes

Common Collocations

Real Conversations

Quick FAQ

Possessive Suffixes Table

Meanings

Possession

Reference Table

Formality Spectrum

Possessive Suffix Map

My

Your

His/Her

Examples by Level

Easily Confused

Common Mistakes

Sentence Patterns

Real World Usage

The 'y' rule

Don't double up

Listen for the 'sh'

Keep it natural

Smart Tips

Pronunciation

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Visual Association

Rhyme

Story

Word Web

Challenge

Cultural Notes

Did You Know?

Conversation Starters

Journal Prompts

Common Mistakes

Test Yourself

Practice Exercises

Practice Bank

FAQ (8)

Scaffolded Practice

1

2

3

4

Mastery Progress

In Other Languages

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Related Grammar Rules

Persian Possession: My, Your, His (-am, -at, -ash)

Demonstrative Pronouns: This/That (`این`/`آن`)

Persian Pronoun Endings: me, you, him (-am, -at, -aš)

Persian Personal Pronouns: I, You, He/She (man, to, u)

Plural Nouns with -hā (-hā)

Comments (0)

Explore Our Learning Content

Languages

Vocabulary

Phrases

Grammar Rules

Categories

Install SubLearn

Chat History

SubLearn Assistant