Language/Dari/Grammar/Basic-Prepositions

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Dari → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Prepositions and Conjunctions → Basic Prepositions

Introduction

In this lesson, we will delve into the topic of basic prepositions in the Dari language. Prepositions are essential in any language as they help us express location, time, and direction. Understanding and using prepositions correctly will greatly enhance your ability to communicate effectively in Dari. In this lesson, we will explore the most common prepositions in Dari, their meanings, and how to use them in sentences.

Basic Prepositions in Dari

Dari, one of the official languages of Afghanistan, has a rich variety of prepositions to convey different meanings. Learning these prepositions will allow you to describe the location of objects, express time-related concepts, and indicate directions. Let's explore some of the basic prepositions in Dari along with their usage and examples.

1. برای (barāy) - For

The preposition "برای" (barāy) is used to express the purpose or reason for an action. It can also be translated as "for" in English. Take a look at the following examples:

Dari	Pronunciation	English Translation
من برای تاسو برنامه دارم.	Man barāy tāsū barnāmah dāram.	I have a plan for you.
این هدیه برای تو است.	Īn hadīye barāy tū ast.	This gift is for you.

2. در (dar) - In, At, On

The preposition "در" (dar) is a versatile preposition that can be translated as "in," "at," or "on" in English. Its usage depends on the context and the object it refers to. Here are a few examples:

Dari	Pronunciation	English Translation
من در خانه هستم.	Man dar khāneh hastam.	I am at home.
کتاب روی میز است.	Ketāb rūy-e mīz ast.	The book is on the table.
ما در افغانستان زندگی می‌کنیم.	Mā dar Afghānestān zendegī mīkonim.	We live in Afghanistan.

3. بر (bar) - On, Upon

The preposition "بر" (bar) is used to indicate that something is located on or upon something else. It can be translated as "on" or "upon" in English. Let's look at some examples:

Dari	Pronunciation	English Translation
کاغذ بر میز است.	Kāghaz bar mīz ast.	The paper is on the table.
ما بر کوه قدم می‌زنیم.	Mā bar kūh qadam mīzanīm.	We walk on the mountain.

4. درباره (darbāre) - About

The preposition "درباره" (darbāre) is used to express the subject or topic of a conversation or discussion. It can be translated as "about" in English. Here are a few examples:

Dari	Pronunciation	English Translation
ما درباره فیلم صحبت می‌کنیم.	Mā darbāre film sohbat mīkonim.	We are talking about the movie.
او درباره کتاب می‌نویسد.	Ū darbāre ketāb mīnevīsad.	He/she is writing about the book.

5. بین (bīn) - Between, Among

The preposition "بین" (bīn) is used to indicate a position or relationship between two or more objects or people. It can be translated as "between" or "among" in English. Let's see some examples:

Dari	Pronunciation	English Translation
کتاب بین دو میز است.	Ketāb bīn do mīz ast.	The book is between two tables.
او بین دوستان قرار دارد.	Ū bīn dustān qarār dārad.	He/she is among friends.

6. روی (rūy) - On, Onto

The preposition "روی" (rūy) is used to indicate that something is located on or onto something else. It can be translated as "on" or "onto" in English. Let's look at some examples:

Dari	Pronunciation	English Translation
کاسه روی میز است.	Kāse rūy mīz ast.	The cup is on the table.
او کتاب را روی میز می‌گذارد.	Ū ketāb rā rūy mīz mīgozārad.	He/she puts the book on the table.

7. برای‌رسانی (barāy-rasānī) - To, Towards

The preposition "برای‌رسانی" (barāy-rasānī) is used to indicate movement or direction towards something or someone. It can be translated as "to" or "towards" in English. Here are a few examples:

Dari	Pronunciation	English Translation
من به کتابخانه می‌روم.	Man be ketābkhāneh mīrum.	I am going to the library.
او به من می‌خندد.	Ū be man mīkhandid.	He/she is smiling at me.

8. داخل (dākhel) - Inside, Into

The preposition "داخل" (dākhel) is used to indicate movement or position inside something or somewhere. It can be translated as "inside" or "into" in English. Let's see some examples:

Dari	Pronunciation	English Translation
ما داخل خانه هستیم.	Mā dākhel khāneh hastīm.	We are inside the house.
او کتاب را داخل کیف می‌گذارد.	Ū ketāb rā dākhel kīf mīgozārad.	He/she puts the book into the bag.

9. پشت (posht) - Behind

The preposition "پشت" (posht) is used to indicate the position or location behind something or someone. It can be translated as "behind" in English. Let's look at some examples:

Dari	Pronunciation	English Translation
ما پشت در هستیم.	Mā posht dar hastīm.	We are behind the door.
او پشت کتابخانه است.	Ū posht-e ketābkhāneh ast.	He/she is behind the library.

10. جلو (jelo) - In Front of

The preposition "جلو" (jelo) is used to indicate the position or location in front of something or someone. It can be translated as "in front of" in English. Here are a few examples:

Dari	Pronunciation	English Translation
کتاب جلو میز است.	Ketāb jelo mīz ast.	The book is in front of the table.
او جلو کلاس قرار دارد.	Ū jelo kelās qarār dārad.	He/she is in front of the class.

Cultural Insights

Understanding the cultural context of language is essential for effective communication. In Afghanistan, Dari is spoken by a significant portion of the population and carries cultural nuances specific to the region. Here are some cultural insights related to the use of prepositions in Dari:

1. Social Etiquette: When referring to someone older or in a higher position, it is common to add the preposition "در" (dar) before their name as a sign of respect. For example, "در حاجی صاحب" (dar Hājī Sāheb) means "Mr. Hājī" or "Hājī Sir."

2. Religious References: Dari, being one of the official languages of Afghanistan, carries religious significance as well. Prepositions such as "به" (be) meaning "to" or "towards" are often used to express devotion or reverence towards God or religious figures.

3. Traditional Practices: In traditional Afghan culture, it is customary to welcome guests with warm hospitality. The preposition "به" (be) is used when inviting someone into your home, as in "به خانه ما خوش آمدید" (be khāne-ye mā khosh āmaded), meaning "Welcome to our home."

4. Historical Influences: Afghanistan has a rich history with various cultural influences from neighboring countries. For instance, the preposition "به‌سوی" (be-suī) meaning "towards" is derived from Persian and reflects the historical and cultural connections between the two languages.

Practice Exercises

Now that we have explored the basic prepositions in Dari, it's time to practice using them in sentences. Complete the following exercises by filling in the blanks with the appropriate prepositions:

1. من برای تو __ نامه نوشتم. (barāy) 2. کتاب __ روی میز است. (در) 3. ما بین __ میز نشسته‌ایم. (دو) 4. او درباره فیلم __ صحبت می‌کند. (در) 5. کاغذ __ میز است. (بر) 6. من به کتابخانه __ می‌روم. (برای‌رسانی) 7. او کتاب را __ کیف می‌گذارد. (داخل) 8. ما پشت __ در هستیم. (جلو) 9. کتاب __ جلو میز است. (در) 10. او __ کلاس قرار دارد. (پشت)

Solutions

Here are the solutions to the practice exercises:

1. من برای تو نامه نوشتم. (barāy) 2. کتاب در روی میز است. (در) 3. ما بین دو میز نشسته‌ایم. (دو) 4. او درباره فیلم صحبت می‌کند. (در) 5. کاغذ بر میز است. (بر) 6. من به کتابخانه می‌روم. (برای‌رسانی) 7. او کتاب را داخل کیف می‌گذارد. (داخل) 8. ما پشت در جلو هستیم. (جلو) 9. کتاب در جلو میز است. (در) 10. او پشت کلاس قرار دارد. (پشت)

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have completed the lesson on basic prepositions in Dari. Prepositions are an essential part of any language, allowing us to express location, time, and direction. By mastering the usage of prepositions in Dari, you will be able to communicate more effectively and confidently. Keep practicing and exploring the nuances of the Dari language to further enhance your language skills.

Table of Contents - Dari Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Basic Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Pronouns and Verbs

• Personal Pronouns
• Basic Verb Conjugation

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-20
• Telling Time

  ---

Nouns and Articles

• Noun Gender and Plurals
• Definite and Indefinite Articles

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Relationships

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Describing People and Things
• Comparatives and Superlatives
• Adverbs

  ---

Food and Dining

• Common Food Items
• Eating Out

  ---

Prepositions and Conjunctions

• Basic Prepositions
• Conjunctions

  ---

Dari-speaking Countries and Traditions

• Afghanistan and Iran
• Holidays and Celebrations

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Travel-related Vocabulary

  ---

Questions and Negations

• Asking Questions
• Negation

  ---

Weather and Seasons

• Weather Vocabulary
• Seasons

  ---

Past and Future Tenses

• Past Tense
• Future Tense

  ---

Dari Literature and Media

• Famous Dari Writers
• Dari Media

Sources

• Dari Prepositions
• A Learner's Grammar of Dari
• Dari Grammar | LEARN101.ORG

Other Lessons

• Personal Pronouns
• Noun Gender and Plurals
• Future Tense
• Plurals
• Negation
• Asking Questions
• Past Tense
• Basic Verb Conjugation
• Pronouns
• Questions

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