Infinitives as Nouns
The verb after an infinitive is singular, even after two infinitives joined by و.
How It Works
An infinitive ends in ـن and names an action. In formal Dari it works as a noun, so a sentence can be about an action itself.
| Role | Dari | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Subject | خواندن برای کودکان مهم است | reading is important for children |
| Object | او نوشتن را دوست دارد | she loves writing |
| After a preposition | بدون تمرین کردن | without practicing |
| With an owner | رفتن او، رفتنش | his going |
The object joins the infinitive with ezafe, and a compound verb stays whole: خواندن کتاب, گپ زدن با دوستان. The owner comes after the infinitive, not before it.
Adding ـی turns an infinitive into an adjective that means worth doing: جاهای دیدنی (places worth seeing), کتاب خواندنی (a book worth reading).
Where to meet it: titles, headlines and school sayings. A book title such as خواندن و نوشتن keeps two actions short. A clause with اینکه does the same job: اینکه هر روز کتاب بخوانی مهم است (that you read a book every day matters).
Examples (5)
- خواندن و نوشتن برای هر انسان ضروری است.
Reading and writing are necessary for every person.
Two infinitives are the subject, and the verb است is singular.
- دویدن هر روز صبح به صحت او کمک کرده است.
Running every morning has helped his health.
دویدن is the subject of the sentence.
- گپ زدن با مادرکلانم را از همه زیادتر دوست دارم.
I like talking with my grandmother more than anything.
The compound infinitive گپ زدن با مادرکلانم is the object, and را follows it.
- دیر آمدن او مهمان‌ها را نگران کرد.
His coming late worried the guests.
The owner او follows the infinitive phrase دیر آمدن.
- بدون تمرین کردن، آدم زبان تازه را یاد نمی‌گیرد.
Without practicing, a person doesn't learn a new language.
After the preposition بدون, the infinitive names the action.
Common Mistakes
Putting the owner before the infinitive, as English does with my going.
من رفتن به کابل ممکن نیست.رفتن من به کابل ممکن نیست.The owner follows the infinitive: رفتن من.
Using the adjective خواندنی where the infinitive is needed.
خواندنی کتاب مهم است.خواندن کتاب مهم است.خواندنی means worth reading. To name the action, use خواندن.
How It Connects
Learn This First
An infinitive acts as a noun, so the infinitive and the phrase به حیث come first.
Related Patterns
- Compound Verbs
Compound verbs keep their parts together as infinitives.
Level 2 - Making Nouns With ـی and ـش
ـش gives a second way to make nouns from actions.
Level 5 - راMarking a Specific Object with را
را marks the infinitive as a specific object.
Level 2 - بدون اینکهWithout Doing
It says without with a full clause, where the infinitive says it with a noun.
Level 4
Practice Infinitives as Nouns in Bubblegum
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