Being Able to Do Something
The negative is نمی‌توانم, and both verbs keep the same person.
How It Works
| Person | Dari | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| من | می‌توانم بیایم | I can come |
| تو | می‌توانی بیایی | you can come |
| او | می‌تواند بیاید | he or she can come |
| ما | می‌توانیم بیاییم | we can come |
| شما | می‌توانید بیایید | you can come |
| آنها | میتوانند بیایند | they can come |
To say you cannot, use نمی‌توانم: فردا نمی‌توانم بیایم (I can't come tomorrow).
It also asks for permission and help: می‌توانم بنشینم؟ (May I sit?) and می‌توانید لطفاً کمک کنید؟ (Can you help, please?)
می‌توانم is for being able to, because of time, health or permission. For knowing how to do a skill, Dari also uses بلد, and it has its own entry.
To say what you could or couldn't do in the past, see Wanting and Being Able in the Past.
Examples (5)
- شما می‌توانید اینجا بنشینید.
You can sit here.
می‌توانید and بنشینید both end in ـید.
- او می‌تواند خوب آشپزی کند.
She can cook well.
می‌تواند کند: both verbs agree with او.
- فردا نمی‌توانم به مکتب بروم.
I can't go to school tomorrow.
نمی‌توانم is the negative, and بروم follows it.
- می‌توانی با من گپ بزنی؟
Can you talk with me?
می‌توانی بزنی: both verbs agree with تو.
- ما می‌توانیم تا ساعت پنج بجه بمانیم.
We can stay until five o'clock.
می‌توانیم بمانیم: both verbs agree with ما.
Common Mistakes
Using an infinitive after می‌توانم.
می‌توانم رفتن.می‌توانم بروم.The second verb is the subjunctive, with the person ending.
Using different persons for the two verbs.
ما می‌توانیم بروم.ما می‌توانیم برویم.Both verbs agree with the same person.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The verb after می‌توانم takes the subjunctive.
Related Patterns
- Wanting to Do Something
می‌خواهم uses the subjunctive in the same way.
Level 3 - می‌خواستم و توانستمWanting and Being Able in the Past
This entry gives the past of the same pattern.
Level 3 - بلد بودنKnowing How with بلد
بلد says you know how to do something.
Level 3 - می‌شود و نمی‌شودCan and Can't with می‌شود
می‌شود says that something is possible or allowed.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice Being Able to Do Something in Bubblegum
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