Learn Farsi: دخترها در پارک بازی می‌کنند و من تماشا می‌کنم.

دخترها در پارک بازی می‌کنند و من تماشا می‌کنم.dokhtarhâ dar pârk bâzi mikonand va man tamâshâ mikonam.

The girls play in the park and I watch.

Breakdown of دخترها در پارک بازی می‌کنند و من تماشا می‌کنم.

Questions & Answers about دخترها در پارک بازی می‌کنند و من تماشا می‌کنم.

Why is the verb for play written as two words, بازی می‌کنند?

This is a compound verb, which is how Farsi creates most of its verbs! Instead of one unique word for play, Farsi pairs the noun بازی (game or play) with the helper verb کردن (to do or to make). Literally, the sentence is saying the girls are doing a game.

How do we conjugate a compound verb like تماشا می‌کنم for different people?

Only the second part of the compound verb changes! The first word, تماشا (watching), stays exactly the same. You only conjugate the helper verb کردن (to do). For I watch, it becomes می‌کنم with the م ending for I. If you wanted to say they watch, it would be تماشا می‌کنند.

What does the می prefix do in می‌کنند and می‌کنم?

The prefix می shows that the verb is in the present indicative tense. This means the action is happening right now or happens as a regular habit. You attach it directly to the present stem of the verb, which is کن for the verb کردن (to do).

Could I leave out the word من before تماشا می‌کنم?

Yes, you absolutely can. In Farsi, the verb ending already tells us who is doing the action, so subject pronouns are optional. The pronoun من (I) is included here mostly for contrast, to emphasize what you are doing compared to what the girls are doing.