Positive Commands

Level 3

With کردن the command is usually just کن, as in کمک کن (help), and a verb with the prefix بر adds no second ب.

How It Works

Use the short form with a friend, a brother or sister, or a child. Use the ـید form for several people, and for an older person, a guest or a stranger.

VerbTo one close personTo several people, or with respect
رفتن (to go)بروبروید
آمدن (to come)بیابیایید
خوردن (to eat)بخوربخورید
نشستن (to sit)بنشینبنشینید
گفتن (to say)بگوبگویید
کمک کردن (to help)کمک کنکمک کنید

Two small rules. With کردن the command is usually just کن, as in کار کن (work) and صبر کن (wait). A verb with the prefix بر, such as برگشتن (to come back), takes no second ب: برگرد.

For a polite request, add لطفاً or switch to بفرمایید.

Examples (5)

  1. فرید جان، زود بیا!

    Farid, come quickly!

    بیا is the command for one close person, and جان makes it warm.

  2. کتابت را باز کن و صفحهٔ پنج را بخوان.

    Open your book and read page five.

    باز کن has no ب, and بخوان has one.

  3. بنشینید و کمی چای بخورید.

    Sit down and have a little tea.

    The ـید ending is polite and fits a guest or a group.

  4. نان را از دکان بخر و زود برگرد.

    Buy the bread at the shop and come back soon.

    بخر has ب, and برگرد takes no second ب.

  5. مادر جان، به من کمک کن.

    Mother, help me.

    کمک کن is the short command for کمک کردن.

Common Mistakes

  • Giving a command to several people in the short form.

    بچه‌ها، بنشین!
    بچه‌ها، بنشینید!

    Add ـید for more than one person.

  • Leaving out the ب.

    چای خور!
    چای بخور!

    A command usually needs بـ before the present stem. With کردن and with a prefix like بر, you do not add it.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Positive CommandsLevel 3

Learn This First

A command is بـ plus the present stem.