Present Stems

Level 2

رفتن uses present stem رو, while دیدن uses بین. The infinitive does not supply one dependable spelling rule for every present stem.

How It Works

InfinitivePast stemPresent stem
کردنکردکن
دیدندیدبین
رفتنرفترو
خواندنخواندخوان

The present stem supports several constructions, including ordinary present verbs, subjunctives and commands. In می‌بینم, the stem بین combines with the ordinary present prefix and the first-person ending.

A stem’s actual pronunciation matters. The spelling رو in the written-standard present of رفتن has forms such as می‌روم and می‌روی. Do not treat a stem as a self-pronouncing letter string or impose the spoken می‌رم on formal examples.

Some verbs have prefixed or compound forms. Keep their lexical information together: کمک کردن uses the light verb کردن and its present stem کن.

Learning the pair دیدن / دید / بین gives you reliable forms across constructions. It is more useful than a rule that manufactures unattested stems from a new infinitive.

Examples (4)

  1. کردن: کرد / کن

    to do: past kard / present kon

    The present stem differs from the past stem.

  2. دیدن: دید / بین

    to see: past did / present bin

    بین must be learned as the actual present stem.

  3. می‌بینم.

    I see.

    The present verb uses بین, not دید.

  4. کمک می‌کنم.

    I help.

    The compound keeps کمک and conjugates the light verb with کن.

How It Connects

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

Present StemsLevel 2

Learn This First

Store the infinitive, past stem and attested present stem together; use the right stem for the construction.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.