🔤 Grammar
Subject pronouns & the verb 'to be' (بودن)
Dari sentences usually end with a form of بودن (to be). The verb changes ending based on who the subject is. The subject pronoun is often dropped because the ending already shows it.
Formal vs. informal 'you'
تو (tū) is the informal 'you' — used with close friends, children, and family. شما (shumā) is the formal or plural 'you' — used with elders, strangers, and in polite settings. When in doubt, use شما.
Dropping the pronoun
Because verb endings already carry the subject, native speakers often drop the pronoun. «من خوب هستم» and «خوب هستم» both mean 'I am well'. The dropped form sounds more natural in conversation.
Conjugation tables
| Pronoun | Dari | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| من (I) | هستم | hastam | I am |
| تو (you, informal) | هستی | hastī | you are |
| او (he/she) | است | ast | he/she is |
| ما (we) | هستیم | hastēm | we are |
| شما (you, formal/plural) | هستید | hastēd | you are |
| آنها (they) | هستند | hastand | they are |
Examples
- من از کابل هستم.man az Kābul hastam.I am from Kabul.
- شما چطور هستید؟shumā chetōr hastēd?How are you (formal)?
- او معلم است.ō muʿallim ast.He/she is a teacher.
- ما خوشحال هستیم.mā khōshḥāl hastēm.We are happy.
Practice
Match each pronoun to the correct form of بودن.
Tap a verb below, then tap the pronoun it belongs to — or drag it.
Match the greeting to its meaning.
Tap a english below, then tap the dari it belongs to — or drag it.