Joining a Noun and an Adjective
The adjective stays the same when the noun is plural, and the link is not written after a consonant.
How It Works
| Dari | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| چای سبز | chāy-i sabz | green tea |
| نان گرم | nān-i garm | warm bread |
| کتاب خوب | kitāb-i khūb | a good book |
| شهر کلان | shahr-i kalān | a big city |
The noun comes first, then the adjective. You say -i between them, and after a consonant you do not write it.
When the adjective alone tells about the subject, there is no link: چای گرم است. A noun with its adjective keeps the link between them: او معلم خوب است. چای گرم (chāy-i garm) is hot tea, and چای گرم است (chāy garm ast) means the tea is hot.
The adjective stays the same when the noun is plural. After ا, و or a silent ه, the link is written.
Examples (5)
- چای سبز آنجا است.
The green tea is there.
سبز comes after چای, joined by the unwritten -i.
- نان گرم اینجا است.
The warm bread is here.
گرم comes after نان.
- کابل شهر کلان است.
Kabul is a big city.
کلان comes after شهر.
- او معلم خوب است.
She is a good teacher.
خوب comes after معلم.
- این چای سیاه است.
This is black tea.
سیاه comes after چای.
Common Mistakes
Putting the adjective first, as English does.
سبز چای خوب است.چای سبز خوب است.A plain adjective comes after the noun in Dari.
How It Connects
Related Patterns
- Joining a Noun and Its Owner
The same link joins a noun to its owner.
Level 1 - Ezafe After a Vowel
After ا, و or a silent ه, the link is written.
Level 2 - Adjectives Stay the Same
The adjective stays the same for one noun or many.
Level 2 - The Indefinite Ending ـی
ـی at the end of a noun means a, and is not the link.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice Joining a Noun and an Adjective in Bubblegum
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