The Present Subjunctive

Level 3

Many helper words call for it: می‌خواهم, می‌توانم, باید and شاید, and each has its own entry.

How It Works

Personرفتنخوردنآمدن
منبرومبخورمبیایم
توبرویبخوریبیایی
اوبرودبخوردبیاید
مابرویمبخوریمبیاییم
شمابرویدبخوریدبیایید
آن‌هابروندبخورندبیایند

The endings are the same as in the present tense. The only change is that بـ takes the place of می‌.

The verb آوردن (to bring) is special: its stem آور becomes بیاور, so it gives بیاورم، بیاوری، بیاورد. Compound verbs with کردن usually leave out the ب: کمک کنم، صبر کنی.

It is called the subjunctive because it names something that is offered, wanted or possible, not something that has happened. On its own it asks what to do: چای بیاورم؟ (Shall I bring tea?), من کجا بنشینم؟ (Where should I sit?). It also follows words such as بگذار (let) and بهتر است (it is better).

To say let's, see Suggesting Something Together.

Examples (5)

  1. چای بیاورم؟

    Shall I bring tea?

    بیاورم is the subjunctive with the ending ـم, and it makes an offer.

  2. من کجا بنشینم؟

    Where should I sit?

    بنشینم asks what to do.

  3. بگذار من کمک کنم.

    Let me help.

    کمک کنم has no ب, as usual for a compound verb with کردن.

  4. بهتر است زود بخوابیم.

    It is better to go to sleep early.

    بهتر است is followed by the subjunctive بخوابیم.

  5. بهتر است امروز به بازار نروی.

    It is better that you don't go to the market today.

    A negative subjunctive uses نـ and no ب.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting بـ and نـ together.

    بهتر است امروز به بازار بنروی.
    بهتر است امروز به بازار نروی.

    نـ takes the place of بـ in the negative.

  • Leaving out the ب.

    من کجا نشینم؟
    من کجا بنشینم؟

    In everyday Dari, the subjunctive of a simple verb takes بـ. Older poetry sometimes leaves it out.

How It Connects

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

The Present SubjunctiveLevel 3

Learn This First

The subjunctive is بـ plus the stem and the person endings.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

And 3 more in the full list.