The Present Tense
Write می joined to the verb with a half-space, and add a time word such as هر روز or حالا to show which meaning you want.
How It Works
The present tense has three parts: می, the present stem and the person ending.
| Person | Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| من | می‌خورم | I eat |
| تو | می‌خوری | you eat |
| او | می‌خورد | he or she eats |
| ما | می‌خوریم | we eat |
| شما | می‌خورید | you eat |
| آن‌ها | می‌خورند | they eat |
One form covers two meanings. می‌خورم means I eat (a habit) and I am eating (right now). A time word such as هر روز (every day) or حالا (now) shows which one is meant.
Do not add دارم to say what is happening now. Dari says می‌روم for I am going. Formal writing can say در حال رفتن استم.
A short answer repeats the verb: چای می‌خوری؟ بلی، می‌خورم. With a word like فردا the same form also tells a plan, which has its own entry.
Two common verbs take no می: the verb to be (استم) and داشتن, to have (دارم).
Examples (5)
- هر صبح نان تنوری می‌خوریم.
We eat tandoor bread every morning.
With هر صبح the present tense tells a habit.
- او حالا به مکتب می‌رود.
He is going to school now.
With حالا the same form tells what is happening now.
- تو هر روز چای سبز می‌نوشی؟
Do you drink green tea every day?
The ending ـی shows تو, and هر روز shows a habit.
- پدرم در دکان کار می‌کند.
My father works in a shop.
می‌کند is the present of کار کردن (to work).
- بچه‌ها در باغ بازی می‌کنند.
The children are playing in the garden.
The ending ـند shows many people, and the simple present means they are playing now.
Common Mistakes
Adding دارم to say what is happening now.
من حالا دارم به بازار می‌روم.من حالا به بازار می‌روم.Written Dari does not put دارم before می‌روم. The simple present already means I am going.
Leaving out می in a habit.
من هر روز چای بخورم.من هر روز چای می‌خورم.بخورم is the subjunctive, used for wishes. A habit needs می.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The present tense is می plus the stem and a person ending.
Related Patterns
- Saying No in the Present
نمی makes the same verb negative.
Level 2 - Everyday Kabul Speech: He or She Goes
In everyday Kabul speech the he and she ending sounds different.
Level 3 - فردا می‌رومPlans with the Present Tense
With a time word like فردا, the same form tells a plan.
Level 2 - در حالIn the Middle of Doing with در حال
Formal writing can use در حال for something happening right now.
Level 4
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice The Present Tense in Bubblegum
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