Language/Iranian-persian/Grammar/Lesson-14:-Past-tense-of-regular-verbs

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Iranian Persian Grammar → Unit 7: Past tense and regular verbs conjugation → Lesson 14: Past tense of regular verbs

Welcome to Unit 7, Lesson 14 of the Complete 0 to A1 Iranian Persian Course. In this lesson, we will focus on the past tense of regular verbs.

Don't miss the chance to check out these pages as you wrap up this lesson: Lesson 5: Present tense conjugation of regular verbs & Turn.

Past tense in Iranian Persian

In Persian, the past tense is formed by adding a suffix to the verb stem. For regular verbs, this suffix is "-id" or "-ist" depending on the person and number of the subject.

Here is the pattern for the past tense suffixes:

• -id for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd person singular
• -im for 1st person plural
• -idim for 2nd person plural
• -and for 3rd person plural

So, to conjugate a regular verb in the past tense, you simply need to add the appropriate suffix to the verb stem.

For example, let's take the verb "khandidan," which means "to laugh":

• Khandidam (I laughed)
• Khandidi (You laughed)
• Khandid (He/She/It laughed)
• Khandidim (We laughed)
• Khandidid (You (all) laughed)
• Khandidand (They laughed)

Note that the suffix "-id" is used for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd person singular, which makes it easier to remember than other languages where the suffixes for each person and number may differ.

Here are some more examples of regular verbs in the past tense:

Iranian Persian	Pronunciation	English Translation
neveshtidam	neveštidæm	I wrote
kharidim	χaridim	we bought
shodid	ʃodid	they became
khabid	χæbid	you slept

Exceptions to regular verbs

While most verbs in Persian follow the regular pattern for forming the past tense, there are some verbs that have irregular conjugation. Here are some examples:

• Bordan (to go) - رفتن - raftan
• Kardan (to do) - کردن - kardan
• Khoordan (to eat) - خوردن - khordan

It's important to memorize the past tense forms of these irregular verbs since they do not follow the regular pattern.

Cultural tips

In Iranian culture, it is common to use the past tense when talking about a future plan, especially if it is uncertain or dependent on other factors. This is because the past tense in Persian also has a subjunctive mood, which can express doubt, hesitation, or contingency. For example, instead of saying "I will take the bus to Tehran tomorrow," a native speaker might say "I took the bus to Tehran tomorrow," using the past tense to indicate a possibility instead of a certainty.

Another interesting aspect of Persian grammar is the use of participles. In Persian, participles are formed by adding the suffix "-ande" to the verb stem. Participles can be used to form compound verbs, adjectives, or adverbs, and to express complex actions or states.

Practice

Now it's time to practice what you've learned! Here are some exercises to help you master the past tense of regular verbs:

1. Conjugate the verb "neveshtan" (to write) in the past tense for all persons and numbers. 2. Change the following sentence to the past tense: "Man sa'at hafta daneshgah ra mi boram" (I go to university at 7 o'clock). 3. Create a sentence in the past tense using the verb "raftan" (to go).

Sources

• Persian grammar
• Persian verbs

Table of Contents - Iranian Persian Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

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Unit 1: Basic greetings and introductions

• Lesson 1: Saying "Hello" and "Goodbye"
• Lesson 2: Introducing yourself and others

  ---

Unit 2: Sentence structure and basic verb conjugation

• Lesson 3: Word order in Persian sentences
• Lesson 4: Present tense conjugation of the verb "to be"
• Lesson 5: Present tense conjugation of regular verbs

  ---

Unit 3: Talking about daily routines

• Lesson 6: Talking about your daily routine
• Lesson 7: Talking about others' daily routines

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Unit 4: Object pronouns and possessive pronouns

• Lesson 8: Direct object pronouns
• Lesson 9: Possessive pronouns

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Unit 5: Persian culture and customs

• Lesson 10: Persian etiquette and hospitality
• Lesson 11: Persian holidays and celebrations

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Unit 6: Food and drink

• Lesson 12: Ordering food and drink
• Lesson 13: Talking about food and drink

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Unit 7: Past tense and regular verbs conjugation

• Lesson 14: Past tense of regular verbs
• Lesson 15: Word order in past tense sentences

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Unit 8: Persian literature and arts

• Lesson 16: Persian poetry and classical literature
• Lesson 17: Persian cinema and music

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Unit 9: Travel and transportation

• Lesson 18: Means of transportation
• Lesson 19: Travel preparations and bookings

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Unit 10: Imperative mood, infinitives and complex sentences

• Lesson 20: Using the imperative mood
• Lesson 21: Using infinitives
• Lesson 22: Complex sentences and conjunctions

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Unit 11: Persian history and geography

• Lesson 23: Persian civilization and ancient history
• Lesson 24: Modern history and contemporary issues

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Unit 12: Leisure and entertainment

• Lesson 25: Sports and active recreation
• Lesson 26: Entertainment and leisure activities

Other Lessons

• Conditional Mood
• Most commonly used Adjective
• Feasible
• Come
• Present Tense
• Lesson 22: Complex sentences and conjunctions
• How to Use Have
• Plural
• Lesson 4: Present tense conjugation of the verb to be
• Future Tense

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