A or One With یک
Dari has no word for the; the situation shows which one is meant.
How It Works
یک means a or one. It stands right before the noun and never changes: یک کتاب (a book), یک موتر (a car), یک معلم (a teacher).
When you count food and drink, a measure word comes between یک and the thing: یک پیاله چای (a cup of tea), یک گیلاس آب (a glass of water), یک دانه نان (a piece of bread).
An adjective comes after the noun: یک کتاب نو (a new book). Dari has no word for the. The situation shows which book you mean, and a specific object gets را later in the sentence.
یک is also the number one, so the situation tells you whether it means a or one. Keep the noun singular: یک کتاب, never یک کتاب‌ها.
Examples (5)
- این یک کتاب است.
This is a book.
یک sits before کتاب.
- او یک معلم است.
She is a teacher.
یک معلم names her job. او means he or she.
- این یک پیاله چای است.
This is a cup of tea.
پیاله stands between یک and چای.
- آن یک موتر کلان است.
That is a big car.
The adjective کلان comes after موتر.
- من یک شاگرد استم.
I am a student.
یک شاگرد says what kind of person I am.
Common Mistakes
Using یک with a plural noun.
یک کتابهایک کتابیک means one, so the noun stays singular.
How It Connects
Related Patterns
- The Indefinite Ending ـی
The ending ـی is a second way to say a.
Level 2 - Nouns After Numbers
A number other than یک also takes a singular noun.
Level 2 - دانه و نفرCounting with دانه and نفر
دانه and نفر are the counting words that come after the number.
Level 2 - ـهاPlurals with ـها
ـها makes a noun plural, so it never goes with یک.
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice A or One With یک in Bubblegum
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