Elevated Passives: گردیدن and گشتن
In everyday Farsi, the passive voice uses the auxiliary verb شدن (to become). In highly formal writing—like journalism and museum placards—you will frequently see گردیدن or گشتن instead. They are elevated substitutes that carry the exact same meaning.
Using گردیدن
Simply substitute گردیدن wherever you would normally use شدن. For example, instead of the everyday خریداری شد (it was purchased), a formal text uses خریداری گردید.
| The exquisite statue was purchased at the auction today. | مجسمهی نفیس امروز در مزایده خریداری گردید.mojassame-ye nafis emruz dar mazâyede kharidâri gardid. |
To make it negative, attach the standard negative prefix (نـ) to the auxiliary verb.
| Even though the statue is rare, it was not purchased at the auction. | هرچند مجسمه نادر است، در مزایده خریداری نگردید.harchand mojassame nâder ast, dar mazâyede kharidâri nagardid. |
Like any verb, گردیدن conjugates into different tenses and moods, such as the present (میگردد) or subjunctive (گردد).
| He announced that these findings will be unveiled tomorrow. | وی اعلام کرد که فردا از این یافتهها رونمایی میگردد.vey e'lâm kard ke fardâ az in yâfte-hâ ronamâyi migardad. |
| The professor stated that these rare findings must be protected. | استاد بیان کرد که از این یافتههای نادر باید حفاظت گردد.ostâd bayân kard ke az in yâfte-hâye nâder bâyad hefâzat gardad |
Using گشتن
The verb گشتن functions exactly the same way. It is just another formal alternative to شدن.
| The rare crown was completely restored. | تاج نادر کاملاً مرمت گشت.tâj-e nâder kâmelan marammat gasht. |
| Both the ancient sword and the pottery artifact were restored. | هم شمشیر باستانی و هم سفالینه مرمت گشت.ham shamshir-e bâstâni o ham sofâline marammat gasht. |
Stylistic Variation
To avoid repetition in complex sentences, writers often mix the standard passive شدن in one clause with the formal گردیدن or گشتن in the next.
| After this pottery artifact was discovered, it was immediately restored. | بعد از اینکه این سفالینه کشف شد، فوراً مرمت گردید.ba'd az inke in sofâline kashf shod, fowran marammat gardid. |
