استم، استی، است، استیم، استید، استند
Present Forms of Be
The form is a separate word, and in a simple sentence it comes last.
How It Works
| Person | Form | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| من | استم | من خوب استم. | I am well. |
| تو | استی | تو خوب استی. | You are well. |
| او | است | او خوب است. | He or she is well. |
| ما | استیم | ما خوب استیم. | We are well. |
| شما | استید | شما خوب استید. | You are well. |
| آنها | استند | آنها خوب استند. | They are well. |
English changes the word: am, is, are. Dari changes the ending: ـم, ـی, ـیم, ـید and ـند, with است alone for او.
Each of these forms is written as a separate word, and in a simple sentence it comes after the rest. A question keeps the form and adds ؟ at the end: شما خوب استید؟
Examples (5)
- من خوب استم.
I am well.
استم matches من.
- تو خسته استی؟
Are you tired?
استی matches تو.
- او در خانه است.
She is at home.
است matches او.
- شما در مکتب استید؟
Are you at school?
استید matches شما.
- آنها معلم استند.
They are teachers.
استند matches آنها.
Common Mistakes
Using the wrong form for the person.
من خوب است.من خوب استم.The form must match the person. است goes with او, and استم goes with من.
Ending with the Iranian speech form ـه.
او خوبه.او خوب است.خوبه is an Iranian speech form. Dari writes خوب است as two words.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Each form of be goes with one pronoun, so the pronouns come first.
Related Patterns
- نیستم، نیستی، نیست، نیستیم، نیستید، نیستندNegative Forms of Be
Use نیست and its person forms to say am not, is not and are not.
Level 1 - هست و نیستThere Is and There Isn't
Use هست to say there is.
Level 1 - Everyday Kabul Speech: How است Sounds
In Kabul speech, است sounds shorter than it is written.
Level 2 - هستم و خستهامOther Written Forms of Be
Written Dari also has هستم and short endings such as خستهام.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
- Leaving Out a Clear PronounLevel 1
- نام من … استSaying Your NameLevel 1
- Yes or No QuestionsLevel 1
- چطور استید؟Asking How Someone IsLevel 1
- چه، کی، کجاWhat, Who and WhereLevel 1
- بودم، بودی، بودPast Forms of BeLevel 2
- Verb Person EndingsLevel 2
- بلد بودنKnowing How with بلدLevel 3
And 1 more in the full list.