C1 Nouns & Pronouns 13 min read Easy

Persian Articles: 'Yek' vs. '-i' (Specific Indefinite)

Use yek to count, -i to classify, and yek ... -i to introduce specific characters in a story.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'yek' for emphasis on quantity (one) and the suffix '-i' for general indefiniteness.

  • Use 'yek' (یک) before a noun to mean exactly 'one': 'yek sib' (one apple).
  • Attach '-i' (ی) to the end of a noun for 'a/an': 'sibi' (an apple).
  • Never use both 'yek' and '-i' on the same noun simultaneously.
Yek + Noun OR Noun + i

Overview

At the C1 level of Persian, you've moved beyond simple transactions and into the realm of nuanced expression. One of the most significant markers of this transition is your handling of indefinite nouns. While you've long known that Persian doesn't have a direct equivalent of "a/an," you've likely relied on yek (یک), the number "one," as a functional substitute.

This habit, while understandable, is one of the clearest tells of a non-native speaker. Saying man yek dars dâram (من یک درس دارم) sounds like you're counting your classes for the day, not simply stating "I have a class."

The true key to native-like indefiniteness lies in a subtle, powerful suffix: -i (ی), known in Persian grammar as the yâ-ye nakare (یای نکره). This suffix shifts the focus from quantity to identity. But the real magic—and the core of this C1-level lesson—happens when yek and -i are combined.

The construction yek...-i doesn't mean "one a thing"; it creates a special category called the Specific Indefinite. This is your primary tool for storytelling, for introducing new but important information, and for signaling to your listener, "Pay attention, this noun is the subject of the story I'm about to tell." Mastering the interplay between yek alone, -i alone, and the yek...-i combination is fundamental to achieving fluency and narrative sophistication in Persian.

How This Grammar Works

To understand Persian articles, you must first grasp a core principle of the language: definiteness is the default. In many contexts, a bare noun is assumed to be definite. If you say ketâb-râ xândam (کتاب را خواندم), it means "I read the book," implying a specific book already known to both speaker and listener.
Therefore, to express indefiniteness, you must actively mark the noun. Persian provides three primary tools for this, each with a distinct function.
  1. 1The Numeral yek (یک): Purely Quantitative
The word yek, and its colloquial form ye (یه), is fundamentally a number. Its primary job is to count. You use it when the singularity of the noun is the most important piece of information. It answers the question "How many?" with "one."
  • Example: Barâye safar faqat yek čamedân dâram. (برای سفر فقط یک چمدان دارم) — "I only have one suitcase for the trip." The focus is on the number.
  1. 1The Suffix -i (ی): Generic Indefiniteness
This suffix, the yâ-ye nakare, marks a noun as an unspecified member of a category. It communicates the idea of "a/an" in the sense of "any one will do." The specific identity of the noun is irrelevant; its category is what matters. It answers the question "What kind of thing?" with "one of that type."
  • Example: Qalam-i dâri? (قلمی داری؟) — "Do you have a pen?" (Any pen will suffice.)
  1. 1The Combination yek...-i: The Specific Indefinite
This is the most nuanced and narratively significant construction. When you combine yek (or ye) with the -i suffix, you create a noun that is specific to the speaker but unknown to the listener. It's a narrative device that flags a noun as a new, but central, element in a story.
It effectively says, "I'm about to tell you about a certain thing that you haven't heard of yet, but you should pay attention to it."
  • Example: Diruz yek mard-i be man zang zad... (دیروز یک مردی به من زنگ زد...) — "Yesterday, a certain man called me..." This immediately signals that the identity and actions of this specific man are the point of the ensuing story.
Think of it like this: yek sib (یک سیب) is "one apple" (counting). sib-i (سیبی) is "an apple" (I'm hungry, any apple will do). But yek sib-i (یک سیبی) is "a certain apple"—perhaps the one that was poisoned in a fairytale or the one that gave you a brilliant idea. It has a story attached.

Formation Pattern

1
Applying the indefinite suffix -i requires careful attention to the phonology of the noun or adjective it attaches to. The rule is consistent: the suffix always appears at the very end of the entire noun phrase.
2
Rule 1: Attaching the -i Suffix
3
The form of the suffix changes to maintain smooth pronunciation depending on the final sound of the word.
4
| Word Ends In... | Suffix to Add | Base Word (Persian) | Result (Persian) | Pronunciation |
5
|---|---|---|---|---|
6
| Consonant | -i (ی) | ketâb (کتاب) | ketâbi (کتابی) | ke-tâ-bi |
7
| Silent h (-e) | -’i (ه‌ای) | xâne (خانه) | xâne’i (خانه‌ای) | khâ-ne-i |
8
| Vowel â (ا) | -yi (ـی‌ای) | âqâ (آقا) | âqâyi (آقایی) | â-ghâ-yi |
9
| Vowel u (و) | -yi (ـی‌ای) | dânešju (دانشجو) | dânešjuyi (دانشجویی) | dâ-nesh-joo-yi |
10
Note on the silent h: Nouns ending in the letter ه (h) that is pronounced as a short -e vowel (like xâne or nâme) use a hamze on a ye carrier (ئ) to attach the suffix in writing (-ه‌ای). This visually represents the seamless vowel transition.
11
Rule 2: Position with Adjectives (The ezâfe Construction)
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This is a critical rule that learners often get wrong. When a noun is modified by one or more adjectives using the ezâfe (-e or -ye), the indefinite suffix always moves to the end of the final adjective. It never stays on the noun itself.
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Formula: (yek) + Noun + -e + Adjective + -i
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Base Phrase: mard-e xub (مردِ خوب) — "good man"
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Correct Indefinite: mard-e xub-i (مردِ خوبی) — "a good man"
16
Incorrect: mard-i-ye xub
17
This rule holds true for multiple adjectives. The -i latches onto the very last word in the chain:
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xâne-ye bozorg-e qadim-i (خانه‌ی بزرگ قدیمی) — "a big, old house"
19
yek doxtar-e dânešju-ye javan-i (یک دختر دانشجوی جوانی) — "a certain young, female university student"

Gender & Agreement

One of the most elegant simplicities of the Persian language is its complete absence of grammatical gender. Nouns are not classified as masculine, feminine, or neuter. This has a direct and welcome consequence for adjective agreement and, of course, for articles.
The indefinite markers yek and -i are universal and do not change based on the natural gender of the noun they refer to. The same form is used for a boy, a girl, a book, or a pen.
  • pesar-i (پسری) — "a boy"
  • doxtar-i (دختری) — "a girl"
  • ketâb-i (کتابی) — "a book"
Likewise, the combination form yek...-i remains constant:
  • yek pesar-i (یک پسری) — "a certain boy"
  • yek doxtar-i (یک دختری) — "a certain girl"
This lack of gender agreement dramatically simplifies sentence construction compared to languages like French, German, or even Arabic. However, it also means that you, the learner, must rely more heavily on context to understand social dynamics and relationships. The grammar won't give you clues about gender; the surrounding narrative and vocabulary will.

When To Use It

Choosing between yek, -i, and yek...-i is a matter of context and intent. Your choice fundamentally alters the nuance of your sentence. Let's break down the specific use cases.
1. Use yek for Quantitative Emphasis
Use yek when the number "one" is the specific information you want to convey. This is common when counting, clarifying, or contrasting with other numbers.
  • Counting: Dar kelâs-e man yek dânešju-ye esfahâni hast. (در کلاس من یک دانشجوی اصفهانی هست.) — "In my class, there is one student from Isfahan." (As opposed to two, or none).
  • Ordering/Requests: Lotfan yek qahve-ye sâde bedahid. (لطفا یک قهوه‌ی ساده بدهید.) — "Please give me one plain coffee." While ye qahve is more common, the formal yek is perfectly correct in a service context.
  • Emphatic Singularity: U yek dust-e samimi bishtar nadârad. (او یک دوست صمیمی بیشتر ندارد.) — "She/he doesn't have more than one close friend."
2. Use -i for Generic, Unspecified Nouns
Use the -i suffix when the noun is a generic example of a category and its specific identity is irrelevant. This is common in questions, negative statements, and general observations.
  • In Questions: So’âl-i dârid? (سؤالی دارید؟) — "Do you have a question?" (Any question at all).
  • In Negative Statements: Dar in مورد ette’lâ’-i nadâram. (در این مورد اطلاعی ندارم.) — "I don't have any information on this matter."
  • General Truths/Proverbs: Âdam-e ‘âqel-i in kâr-râ nemikonad. (آدم عاقلی این کار را نمی‌کند.) — "A wise person does not do this."
3. Use yek...-i to Introduce a Specific, New Element (Storytelling)
This is the quintessential narrative construction. Use yek...-i to put a spotlight on a noun that you are introducing into the conversation for the first time, but which is the specific subject of your anecdote.
  • Setting a Scene: Yek ruz-i dar pârk nešaste budam ke... (یک روزی در پارک نشسته بودم که...) — "One day, I was sitting in the park when..." The yek...-i combination on ruz (day) sets the stage for a story.
  • Introducing a Character: Yek hamsâye-ye jaded-i dârim ke ahle-ye Širâz ast. (یک همسایه‌ی جدیدی داریم که اهل شیراز است.) — "We have a new neighbor who is from Shiraz." This signals you're about to say more about this specific neighbor.
  • Describing a Key Object: Dar muze yek tâblo-ye qadim-i didam ke man-râ be fekr foru bord. (در موزه یک تابلوی قدیمی‌ای دیدم که من را به فکر فرو برد.) — "At the museum, I saw a certain old painting that made me think."
In spoken Persian, yek almost always becomes ye (یه). The pattern ye...-i is extremely common and serves the exact same narrative function: ye mard-i, ye ruz-i, ye ketâb-i.

Common Mistakes

Navigating these three options inevitably leads to common errors, even for advanced learners. Being aware of these patterns is the first step to correcting them.
Mistake 1: Overusing yek as a direct translation of "a/an".
This is the most frequent learner error. In many neutral statements, especially with professions or identities, native speakers use a bare noun.
  • Learner: Man yek mo’allem hastam. (من یک معلم هستم.)
  • Native: Man mo’allem hastam. (من معلم هستم.) — "I am a teacher."
  • Why it's a mistake: Using yek here adds unnecessary numerical emphasis, as if you're clarifying "I am one teacher, not two."
Mistake 2: Attaching -i to the noun instead of the final adjective.
As covered in the formation section, the -i suffix is migratory. It must attach to the end of the noun phrase.
  • Learner: Yek mard-i-ye boland-qad didam.
  • Correct: Yek mard-e boland-qad-i didam. (یک مردِ بلندقدی دیدم.) — "I saw a tall man."
  • Why it's a mistake: It violates the fundamental flow and integrity of the ezâfe construction.
Mistake 3: Confusing the Indefinite -i with the Relative -i.
Persian uses a homophonic suffix -i to connect a noun to a relative clause starting with ke (که, "that/which/who"). This -i is a definitizer, not an indefinitizer.
| Type | Suffix | Meaning | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indefinite | -i | a/an (any) | Ketâb-i mixânam. (کتابی می‌خوانم.) | I am reading a book. |
| Relative | -i | the...that | Ketâb-i ke mixânam... (کتابی که می‌خوانم...) | The book that I am reading... |
  • Why it's a mistake: Confusing them leads to fundamental misunderstandings. The indefinite -i introduces something new and non-specific, while the relative -i points to a specific noun that is being further defined by the ke clause.
Mistake 4: Forgetting the phonological buffer (y or ’) with vowel-ending nouns.
Pronunciation and spelling matter. Forgetting the glide y or the hamze carrier results in an awkward, ungrammatical form.
  • Learner: dânešju-i or xâne-i
  • Correct: dânešjuyi (دانشجویی), xâne’i (خانه‌ای)
  • Why it's a mistake: It's the equivalent of saying "a apple" instead of "an apple" in English; it breaks the natural phonological flow of the language.

Common Collocations

Like any language, Persian has common pairings where these indefinite markers feel most natural. Integrating these into your vocabulary will make your speech sound more authentic.
  • yek ruz-i (یک روزی) — "one day," "some day." Used for storytelling about the past or future. Yek ruz-i be tamâm-e ârezuhâyat miresi. (One day you will achieve all your dreams.)
  • yek šab-i (یک شبی) — "one night." Similar to above, sets the scene for a nocturnal event.
  • yek čiz-i (یک چیزی) — "something." A very common phrase. Yek čiz-i mixâhi boxori? (Do you want to eat something?)
  • yek jur-i (یک جوری) or ye jur-i (یه جوری) — "in a way," "somehow," "kind of." Expresses uncertainty or ambiguity. Ye jur-i negarân be nazar miresid. (He looked worried in a way.)
  • yek daf'e (یک دفعه) — "suddenly," "all at once." Often used to introduce a sharp turn in a narrative.
  • yek zamân-i (یک زمانی) — "once upon a time," "at one time." The classic fairy tale and story opener.
  • harf-i nist (حرفی نیست) — "There's nothing to say," "No problem." (Literally: "There isn't a word.")
  • kâr-i nadâri? (کاری نداری؟) — "Do you need anything else?" A common, polite way to signal the end of a conversation. (Literally: "Don't you have a task?")

Real Conversations

Seeing these patterns in authentic contexts demonstrates their versatility across different social registers.

1. Casual Texting (colloquial ye...-i)

```

A

A

slm četri? diruz tu insta ye post-e xeyli jâleb-i didam.

سلام چطوری؟ دیروز تو اینستا یه پست خیلی جالبی دیدم.

(Hey how are you? Yesterday I saw a really interesting post on Instagram.)

B

B

salâm, xubam. چی بود؟ بفرست ببینم.

سلام، خوبم. Chi bud? Befrest bebinam.

(Hi, I'm good. What was it? Send it so I can see.)

```

O

Observation

* The ye...-i construction is perfectly suited for bringing up a new topic in a chat. It's the conversational equivalent of saying, "Oh, guess what I saw..."

2. Storytelling Among Friends (Narrative yek...-i)

```

...goftam emkân nadâre. Vali bad az čand sâniye yek sedâ-ye qeyr-e 'âddi-yi az tu-ye âšpazxune umad. Hame sâket šodim.

...گفتم امکان نداره. ولی بعد از چند ثانیه یک صدای غیر عادی‌ای از توی آشپزخونه اومد. همه ساکت شدیم.

(...I said, "No way." But after a few seconds, a strange sound came from the kitchen. We all went silent.)

```

O

Observation

The speaker uses yek sedâ-ye qeyr-e 'âddi-yi to build suspense. It wasn't just any sound; it was a specific, strange* sound that is central to the story's tension.

3. Formal Work Email (Professional -i)

```

S

Subject

Pišnâhâd-i dar mored-e poroje-ye jadid

پیشنهادی در مورد پروژه‌ی جدید

(A suggestion regarding the new project)

Jenâb-e Mohandes,

Bâ ehtarâm, pišnâhâd-i barâye behtar kardane farâyand-e kâr dâram ke mixâstam مطرح konam.

جناب مهندس،

با احترام، پیشنهادی برای بهتر کردن فرآیند کار دارم که می‌خواستم مطرح کنم.

(Dear Engineer,

Respectfully, I have a suggestion for improving the work process that I wanted to present.)

```

O

Observation

* In this formal context, the simple -i suffix (pišnâhâd-i) is more elegant and concise than yek pišnâhâd-i. It sounds professional and direct.

Quick FAQ

Q: Can I always use ye (colloquial yek) instead of just the -i suffix in conversation?

Very often, yes. In casual speech, saying ye ketâb xaridâm is more common than ketâb-i xaridâm. However, the simple -i suffix holds its ground in questions (chiz-i mikhây? - Want anything?), negative statements (harf-i nadâram - I have nothing to say), and when attached to an adjective (mard-e xub-i). You cannot say ye mard-e xub and have it mean "a good man"; you must use the suffix.

Q: Is the yek...-i construction grammatically required for starting a story?

It's not a strict grammatical requirement, but it's a powerful and deeply ingrained narrative convention. Omitting it can make your story's introduction feel abrupt or flat. Using it signals your narrative intent and helps the listener follow along. It's a key part of the rhythm of Persian storytelling.

Q: What’s the real difference between chiz-i and yek chiz-i?

The difference is subtle and often stylistic. chiz-i (چیزی) tends to feel more abstract or generic, equivalent to "something/anything." For example, chiz-i gofti? (Did you say anything?). yek chiz-i (یک چیزی) often feels slightly more concrete, as in "a certain thing." For example, yek chiz-i be-het migam (I'll tell you a little something). In many positive statements, they are interchangeable, with ye chiz-i being more common in speech.

Q: Can I use the indefinite -i with plural nouns?

No. The yâ-ye nakare (-i) is exclusively a singular indefinite marker. To express indefiniteness with plural nouns, you must use other quantifiers like čand (چند - several), čand-tâ (چندتا - a few), or ba'zi (بعضی - some). For example, čand-tâ ketâb (چندتا کتاب) means "a few books" or "some books."

Indefinite Formation

Type Structure Example Meaning
Numerical
Yek + Noun
Yek ketab
One book
Indefinite
Noun + i
Ketabi
A book
Vowel-ending
Noun + ye + i
Khane-i
A house
Plural
N/A
N/A
N/A

Meanings

These markers indicate that a noun is indefinite, meaning the speaker is referring to an unspecified member of a class.

1

Numerical Indefinite

Emphasizing the quantity of one.

“یک سیب خوردم”

“یک نفر آنجاست”

2

General Indefinite

Referring to an unspecified item.

“کتابی روی میز است”

“دوستی دارم که پزشک است”

3

Specific Indefinite (Some)

Referring to a specific but unnamed item.

“مردی آمد”

“زنی پرسید”

Reference Table

Reference table for Persian Articles: 'Yek' vs. '-i' (Specific Indefinite)
Form Structure Example
Numerical
Yek + Noun
Yek sib
Indefinite
Noun + i
Sibi
Vowel-ending
Noun + ye + i
Khane-i
Negative
Yek + Noun + nist
Yek sib nist
Question
Yek + Noun + hast?
Yek sib hast?
Specific
Noun + i
Mardi

Formality Spectrum

Formal
کتابی خریداری کردم.

کتابی خریداری کردم. (Daily conversation)

Neutral
کتابی خریدم.

کتابی خریدم. (Daily conversation)

Informal
یه کتاب خریدم.

یه کتاب خریدم. (Daily conversation)

Slang
یه کتاب گرفتم.

یه کتاب گرفتم. (Daily conversation)

Indefinite Markers

Indefinite

Numerical

  • یک One

General

  • ی A/An

Yek vs -i

Yek
یک کتاب One book
-i
کتابی A book

Choosing the right marker

1

Is the quantity important?

YES
Use Yek
NO
Use -i
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Examples by Level

1

یک سیب

One apple

2

کتابی

A book

3

یک ماشین

One car

4

دوستی

A friend

1

یک مداد دارم

I have one pencil

2

مدادی روی میز است

There is a pencil on the table

3

یک ساعت صبر کن

Wait one hour

4

ساعتی خریدم

I bought a watch

1

یک نفر در را زد

One person knocked on the door

2

کسی در را زد

Someone knocked on the door

3

یک ایده دارم

I have one idea

4

ایده‌ای دارم

I have an idea

1

یک بار به ایران رفتم

I went to Iran one time

2

روزی به ایران خواهم رفت

One day I will go to Iran

3

یک مشکل بزرگ وجود دارد

There is one big problem

4

مشکلی وجود دارد

There is a problem

1

یک نویسنده مشهور آنجا بود

One famous writer was there

2

نویسنده‌ای مشهور آنجا بود

A famous writer was there

3

یک راه حل پیشنهاد کرد

He proposed one solution

4

راه حلی پیشنهاد کرد

He proposed a solution

1

یک حقیقت تلخ وجود دارد

There is one bitter truth

2

حقیقتی تلخ در میان است

There is a bitter truth involved

3

یک لحظه صبر کن

Wait one moment

4

لحظه‌ای آرامش

A moment of peace

Easily Confused

Persian Articles: 'Yek' vs. '-i' (Specific Indefinite) vs Yeki (Pronoun)

Learners confuse the indefinite marker '-i' with the pronoun 'yeki' (one of them).

Persian Articles: 'Yek' vs. '-i' (Specific Indefinite) vs Definite Marker (Ra)

Learners try to use '-i' with 'ra'.

Persian Articles: 'Yek' vs. '-i' (Specific Indefinite) vs Pluralization

Learners try to pluralize indefinite nouns.

Common Mistakes

✗

Yek ketabi

✓

Ketabi

Double marking is incorrect.
✗

Ketab

✓

Ketabi

Missing the indefinite marker.
✗

Sibi

✓

Yek sib

Using -i when counting.
✗

Khane-i

✓

Khane-ye-i

Missing the connector.
✗

Yek-i sib

✓

Yek sib

Incorrect suffix placement.
✗

Sib-ye

✓

Sibi

Incorrect connector usage.
✗

Yek-e ketab

✓

Yek ketab

Adding unnecessary connectors.
✗

Yek-i ketab

✓

Yek ketab

Misunderstanding the suffix.
✗

Ketab-i-ye

✓

Ketabi

Redundant suffixing.
✗

Yek-i

✓

Yeki

Confusion with pronoun 'yeki'.
✗

Yek ketab-i

✓

Yek ketab

Advanced learners sometimes over-complicate.
✗

Ketab-i-ha

✓

Ketab-ha

Indefinite pluralization errors.
✗

Yek-i-ha

✓

Yeki-ha

Morphological confusion.
✗

Sib-i-ye

✓

Sibi

Incorrect suffixing.

Sentence Patterns

___ ___ دارم.

___ روی میز است.

___ در خانه هست.

من ___ خریدم.

Real World Usage

Ordering food constant

Yek ghahve lotfan.

Social media very common

Aksi az safar.

Job interview common

Yek sal tajrobe daram.

Travel common

Yek otagh mikham.

Texting constant

Ye ketab daram.

Storytelling common

Mardi bud...

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💡

Vowel endings

Always add 'ye' before '-i' if the word ends in a vowel.
⚠️

No doubling

Never use 'yek' and '-i' together.
🎯

Storytelling

Use '-i' to introduce new characters.
💬

Colloquialism

In speech, 'yek' often becomes 'ye'.

Smart Tips

Use the suffix '-i' to introduce new information.

Ketab ro mibinam. → Ketabi ro mibinam.

Always use 'yek' for precision.

Sib-i daram. → Yek sib daram.

Don't forget the 'ye' connector.

Khane-i. → Khane-ye-i.

Use 'ye' instead of 'yek'.

Yek ketab. → Ye ketab.

Pronunciation

ketab-ee

Suffix -i

Attached to the end of the word, sounds like 'ee'.

khane-yeh-ee

Connector -ye

Used after vowels, sounds like 'yeh'.

Rising

کتابی؟ (Ketabi?)

Questioning existence

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Yek is for counting, -i is for describing.

Visual Association

Imagine holding one apple (Yek) vs. seeing an apple in a basket (Sibi).

Rhyme

Yek for one, -i for a, keep them separate, don't say 'a'!

Story

I bought one apple (Yek sib). I put it in a bag (Sibi). The bag was in a house (Khane-i).

Word Web

YekSibiKetabiMardiZaniKhane-i

Challenge

Write 5 sentences about your room using 'yek' and '-i'.

Cultural Notes

In colloquial Tehrani, 'yek' often becomes 'ye'.

Strict adherence to 'yek' is preferred in writing.

The suffix '-i' is used extensively in poetry.

The suffix '-i' comes from the Middle Persian 'ē', which was a numerical marker.

Conversation Starters

“

یک کتاب داری؟

“

امروز اتفاقی افتاد؟

“

یک ایده برای سفر داری؟

“

یک مشکل در کار پیش آمده؟

Journal Prompts

Describe a book you read.
Describe a dream you had.
Write about a stranger you met.
Discuss a problem you solved.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank with 'yek' or '-i'.

___ کتاب روی میز است.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ی
General indefiniteness.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ketabi
No double marking.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Yek ketabi دارم.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Yek ketab دارم
Remove redundant suffix.
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: یک سیب خوردم
Standard order.
Translate to Persian. Translation

I have a friend.

Answer starts with: دوس...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: دوستی دارم
General indefinite.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

Use 'خانه' (house) and '-i'.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: خانه‌ای
Vowel connector.
Sort into Yek or -i. Grammar Sorting

Sort: 'One car' vs 'A car'.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Yek: one car, -i: a car
Numerical vs Indefinite.
Add -i to these words. Conjugation Drill

Add -i to 'کتاب', 'مداد', 'خانه'.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: کتابی، مدادی، خانه‌ای
Correct suffixing.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank with 'yek' or '-i'.

___ کتاب روی میز است.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ی
General indefiniteness.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ketabi
No double marking.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Yek ketabi دارم.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Yek ketab دارم
Remove redundant suffix.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

سیب / یک / خوردم

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: یک سیب خوردم
Standard order.
Translate to Persian. Translation

I have a friend.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: دوستی دارم
General indefinite.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

Use 'خانه' (house) and '-i'.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: خانه‌ای
Vowel connector.
Sort into Yek or -i. Grammar Sorting

Sort: 'One car' vs 'A car'.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Yek: one car, -i: a car
Numerical vs Indefinite.
Add -i to these words. Conjugation Drill

Add -i to 'کتاب', 'مداد', 'خانه'.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: کتابی، مدادی، خانه‌ای
Correct suffixing.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Select the correct ending. Fill in the Blank

In yek film-e jaleb___ (a interesting film).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: -i
Which is more polite/formal? Multiple Choice

Select the formal version of 'someone':

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Shakhsi
Arrange to mean 'I have a good idea'. Sentence Reorder

fekr-e / dāram / khoob-i / man / yek

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Man yek fekr-e khoob-i dāram.
Fix the 'Exclamation' sentence. Error Correction

Che roz-i ghashang!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Che roz-e ghashang-i!
Match the phrase to its nuance. Match Pairs

Match the Persian to the English nuance.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer:
Translate 'Did you see a car?' (generic) Translation

Did you see a car?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Mashin-i didi?
Choose the correct relative clause starter. Multiple Choice

The man *who* came here...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Mardi ke injā āmad...
Complete the phrase 'Something strange'. Fill in the Blank

Chiz-e ajib-___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: i
Identify the unnatural phrasing. Error Correction

Man yek chāy-i mikhāham. (Ordering in a café)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Man ye chāy mikhāham.
Meaning of 'Hich-vaght goli nakharid'. Multiple Choice

He never bought ___ flower.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a (any)

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

No, that is redundant. Use one or the other.

Add 'ye' before the '-i'. Example: 'khane-ye-i'.

Yes, it marks the noun as indefinite.

Persian doesn't have a direct 'the'. The noun is left bare.

Yes, it emphasizes the quantity of one.

You don't. These markers are for singular nouns.

Yes, both are used in formal and informal contexts.

'Ye' is the colloquial version of 'yek'.

Scaffolded Practice

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2

2

3

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4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

un/una

Persian has a specific suffix for indefiniteness.

French high

un/une

Persian uses a suffix instead of a preceding article.

German moderate

ein/eine

German articles are declinable.

Japanese low

hitotsu/hitari

Persian is more morphologically integrated.

Arabic partial

tanwin

Persian suffix is simpler.

Chinese low

yī + measure word

Persian lacks measure words.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Persian Abstract Nouns: The Beauty of... (khubi-ye)
Next
The Vocative Case in Persian (ey, -â)

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