Language/Iranian-persian/Grammar/Lesson-21:-Using-infinitives

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Iranian Persian → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Lesson 21: Using infinitives

In the world of language learning, mastering the infinitive form of verbs is like having a reliable compass on a journey — it guides you through the intricacies of expressing purpose, obligation, permission, and possibility in the Persian language. This lesson will empower you to navigate these concepts with confidence, enriching your ability to communicate in everyday situations.

We often find that the infinitive form adds depth to our sentences, allowing us to articulate intentions and desires clearly. By the end of this lesson, you'll not only understand how to use infinitives but also feel comfortable incorporating them into your conversations.

In this lesson, we will cover the following key areas:

Understanding Infinitives in Persian

Infinitives in Persian correspond to the base form of the verb and typically end in “-an”. They serve as the foundation for expressing various grammatical functions. Let's explore how they work.

Infinitives for Purpose

Infinitives can indicate purpose or intention. For instance, if you want to say "to eat" in Persian, the infinitive form is "خوردن" (khordan). This allows you to create sentences that express why you do something.

Infinitives for Obligation

When discussing obligations, infinitives play a crucial role. They help express what one “must” or “should” do. For example, "باید بخوانم" (bāyad bekhānam) translates to "I must read".

Infinitives for Permission

Infinitives can also indicate permission. When you want to say "to be allowed to go," you can use "اجازه دادن" (ejāze dādan). This aspect is particularly useful in everyday conversations regarding activities.

Infinitives for Possibility

Lastly, infinitives can express possibility. For example, "می‌تواند بیاید" (mitavānad biyāyad) means "He/She can come".

Examples of Infinitives in Use

To solidify your understanding, let’s look at some examples. Each table below illustrates how infinitives are utilized in various contexts.

Iranian Persian	Pronunciation	English
خوردن	khordan	to eat
نوشیدن	nushidan	to drink
رفتن	raftan	to go
دیدن	didan	to see
نوشتن	neveshtan	to write
بازی کردن	bāzi kardan	to play
خواندن	khāndan	to read
گوش دادن	gūsh dādan	to listen
یاد گرفتن	yād gereftan	to learn
خریدن	kharidan	to buy

Now, let's explore how these infinitives can be used in sentences expressing purpose, obligation, permission, and possibility.

Infinitives for Purpose

1. من می‌روم تا بخورم.

(man miravam tā bekhoram.)

"I go to eat."

2. او می‌خواند تا یاد بگیرد.

(ū mikhānad tā yād begirad.)

"He/She reads to learn."

3. ما می‌رویم تا بازی کنیم.

(mā miravim tā bāzi konim.)

"We go to play."

4. شما می‌نویسید تا توضیح دهید.

(shomā minevisid tā tozih dahid.)

"You write to explain."

5. آنها می‌خواهند تا سفر کنند.

(ānhā mikhāhand tā safar konand.)

"They want to travel."

Infinitives for Obligation

1. من باید بخوانم.

(man bāyad bekhānam.)

"I must read."

2. او باید به خانه برگردد.

(ū bāyad beh khāneh bargardad.)

"He/She must return home."

3. ما باید زود برویم.

(mā bāyad zood beravim.)

"We must leave early."

4. شما باید تمرین کنید.

(shomā bāyad tamrin konid.)

"You must practice."

5. آنها باید بیاموزند.

(ānhā bāyad biyāmuzand.)

"They must learn."

Infinitives for Permission

1. او اجازه دارد که برود.

(ū ejāze dārad keh beravad.)

"He/She is allowed to go."

2. من اجازه می‌خواهم تا بیایم.

(man ejāze mikhwāham tā biyāyam.)

"I want permission to come."

3. شما اجازه دارید که بازی کنید.

(shomā ejāze dārid keh bāzi konid.)

"You are allowed to play."

4. آنها اجازه می‌دهند که سفر کنیم.

(ānhā ejāze midahand keh safar konim.)

"They allow us to travel."

5. ما اجازه نداریم که دیر بیاییم.

(mā ejāze nadārim keh dir biyāyim.)

"We are not allowed to come late."

Infinitives for Possibility

1. او می‌تواند بیاید.

(ū mitavānad biyāyad.)

"He/She can come."

2. من می‌توانم بخوانم.

(man mitavānam bekhānam.)

"I can read."

3. ما می‌توانیم بازی کنیم.

(mā mitavānim bāzi konim.)

"We can play."

4. شما می‌توانید یاد بگیرید.

(shomā mitavānid yād begirid.)

"You can learn."

5. آنها می‌توانند سفر کنند.

(ānhā mitavānad safar konand.)

"They can travel."

Practice Exercises

Now that we've explored how to use infinitives in various contexts, it’s time to practice! Below are some exercises to reinforce what you've learned.

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

Complete the sentences with the correct infinitive form of the verb in parentheses.

1. من می‌روم تا __________ (بازی کردن).

2. او باید __________ (خواندن).

3. ما اجازه داریم که __________ (رفتن).

4. شما می‌توانید __________ (دیدن).

5. آنها باید __________ (نوشیدن).

Exercise 2: Translate the sentences

Translate the following sentences from English to Persian using the correct infinitive form.

1. I must eat.

2. She wants to learn.

3. We can play.

4. You are allowed to go.

5. They need to read.

Exercise 3: Create sentences using infinitives

Using the infinitives provided, create your own sentences expressing purpose, obligation, permission, or possibility.

1. (یاد گرفتن)

2. (نوشتن)

3. (خوردن)

4. (گوش دادن)

5. (بازی کردن)

Exercise 4: Multiple choice

Choose the correct infinitive form to complete the sentence.

1. من می‌خواهم __________ (رفتن / رفتن).

a) رفتن

b) رفتن

2. او باید __________ (نوشید / نوشیدن).

a) نوشید

b) نوشیدن

3. ما می‌توانیم __________ (بازی / بازی کردن).

a) بازی

b) بازی کردن

4. شما اجازه دارید __________ (بیایید / آمدن).

a) بیایید

b) آمدن

5. آنها می‌خواهند __________ (خوردن / خوردن).

a) خوردن

b) خوردن

Exercise 5: Match the verbs

Match the infinitive verbs with their English meanings.

1. خواندن

2. نوشتن

3. خوردن

4. رفتن

5. دیدن

a) to see

b) to eat

c) to write

d) to read

e) to go

Solutions and Explanations

Let's go through the solutions to the exercises together.

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

1. بازی کنم (bāzi konam)

2. بخواند (bekhānad)

3. برویم (beravim)

4. دیدن (didan)

5. نوشید (nushid)

Exercise 2: Translate the sentences

1. من باید بخورم. (man bāyad bekhoram.)

2. او می‌خواهد یاد بگیرد. (ū mikhāhad yād begirad.)

3. ما می‌توانیم بازی کنیم. (mā mitavānim bāzi konim.)

4. شما اجازه دارید که بروید. (shomā ejāze dārid keh beravid.)

5. آنها باید بخوانند. (ānhā bāyad bekhānd.)

Exercise 3: Create sentences using infinitives

1. من می‌خواهم یاد بگیرم. (man mikhwāham yād begiram.)

2. او می‌نویسد. (ū minevisad.)

3. ما باید بخوریم. (mā bāyad bekhorim.)

4. شما گوش می‌دهید. (shomā gūsh midahid.)

5. آنها می‌خواهند بازی کنند. (ānhā mikhāhand bāzi konand.)

Exercise 4: Multiple choice

1. a) رفتن

2. b) نوشیدن

3. b) بازی کردن

4. a) بیایید

5. b) خوردن

Exercise 5: Match the verbs

1. خواندن - d) to read

2. نوشتن - c) to write

3. خوردن - b) to eat

4. رفتن - e) to go

5. دیدن - a) to see

As we wrap up this lesson, remember that infinitives are powerful tools in your linguistic toolkit. They allow you to express intentions, obligations, permissions, and possibilities, making your conversations in Persian much richer and more meaningful. Don't hesitate to practice these concepts regularly!

Table of Contents - Iranian Persian Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

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

  ---

Unit 4: Object pronouns and possessive pronouns

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

  ---

Unit 5: Persian culture and customs

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

  ---

Unit 6: Food and drink

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

  ---

Unit 7: Past tense and regular verbs conjugation

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

  ---

Unit 8: Persian literature and arts

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

  ---

Unit 9: Travel and transportation

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

  ---

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

  ---

Unit 12: Leisure and entertainment

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

Other Lessons

• Give your Opinion
• Turn
• Plural
• Gender
• Lesson 3: Word order in Persian sentences
• Conditional Mood
• Sentense Structure
• Lesson 8: Direct object pronouns
• How to say goodbye
• Lesson 22: Complex sentences and conjunctions

◀️ Lesson 20: Using the imperative mood — Previous Lesson

Next Lesson — Lesson 22: Complex sentences and conjunctions ▶️