Subjunctive Mood

Overview of the Subjunctive Mood in Persian

The subjunctive mood in Persian is used to talk about what is not a simple, clear fact in the present or the past. It often expresses wishes, hopes, orders, doubts, possibilities, and unreal situations. In English we mostly use modal verbs such as “may,” “might,” “should,” or set phrases like “I want you to…”. In Persian, this meaning is usually carried by a specific verb form called the subjunctive.

In this chapter you will learn how the subjunctive is formed, where it typically appears, and how it behaves with common verbs and expressions. You have already met present and past tenses. Now you will see how those forms combine with the subjunctive to create more complex and natural sentences.

Present Subjunctive: Formation

The most common and productive form is the present subjunctive. It is used very frequently and is essential for fluent speech.

To form the present subjunctive, you normally start from the present stem of the verb and then add a special set of endings. For many verbs, you also use the prefix «بـ» at the beginning.

Take the verb «خواندن» “to read, to sing.” Its present stem is «خوان». The present subjunctive is:

بخوانم I (that I) read
بخوانی you (singular) read
بخواند he / she read
بخوانیم we read
بخوانید you (plural / formal) read
بخوانند they read

So «بخوانم» does not mean simply “I read” as a fact. It means something like “that I read,” “I should read,” “I may read,” depending on context.

Personal endings are the same as in the simple present. The special sign of the subjunctive is the combination of «بـ» with the present stem in a context where the verb is not a bare factual statement.

Verbs with and without the Prefix «بـ»

In modern standard spoken Persian, most verbs take «بـ» in the subjunctive. Some very frequent verbs, especially «خواستن» (to want), «توانستن» (to be able, can), and «بایستن» (to must) already have a modal or auxiliary role and are often followed by a second verb in the subjunctive.

Main verb in subjunctive with «بـ»:
«می‌خواهم فارسی بخوانم.»
I want to study Persian.
Literally “I want that I read Persian.”

Some verbs in some registers can appear without «بـ» in spoken language, especially after the particle «که» when speech is very informal. For B2 level and for clear, standard style, it is better to keep «بـ» in the subjunctive of ordinary verbs:

«امیدوارم که موفق بشوی.»
I hope that you succeed.

Very informal spoken speech may drop «بـ» or shorten the form, but that belongs more to colloquial phonetics and is not the focus of this chapter.

Typical Contexts: “That”-Clauses after Verbs

The subjunctive is very common in subordinate clauses introduced by «که» after verbs that express desire, hope, fear, intention, or mental attitude. These verbs usually appear in the main clause, and the second verb in the «که»-clause appears in the subjunctive.

Common verbs that are often followed by subjunctive in a «که»-clause:

«خواستن» to want
«دوست داشتن» to like, to want
«امیدوار بودن» to be hopeful
«ترسیدن» to be afraid
«باور کردن / داشتن» to believe
«فکر کردن» to think (sometimes indicative, sometimes subjunctive, depending on certainty)

Examples:

«می‌خواهم که فارسی را خوب یاد بگیرم.»
I want to learn Persian well.

«دوست دارم که تو را ببینم.»
I would like to see you.

«امیدوارم که امتحان را قبول شوی.»
I hope that you pass the exam.

The clause with «که» and a subjunctive verb carries a meaning like “that you may pass,” “that you should pass,” not a simple statement of fact.

Note that Persian often omits «که» in speech, especially after very common verbs like «می‌خوام» or «دوست دارم». The subjunctive form stays:

«می‌خوام فارسی بخونم.»
I want to study Persian.

Orders, Suggestions, and Third-Person Commands

Persian uses the subjunctive to express commands and suggestions, especially in the first and third person, where there is no direct imperative form.

For second person, you already know the imperative:
«برو!» Go!
«بخور!» Eat!

For first person plural, Persian uses the subjunctive to create “let’s …”:

«برویم.» or colloquial «بریم.»
Let’s go.

«شروع کنیم.»
Let’s start.

For third person, subjunctive can sound like “let him/her/them …” or “they should …”:

«او بیاید.»
Let him come. / He should come.

«بچه‌ها زودتر بخوابند.»
The children should go to bed earlier.

In writing, there is often no additional word. In speech, speakers often use particles like «بذار» (let) or «بذارید» to support this structure, but the core verb itself stands in the subjunctive.

Subjunctive with Conjunctions of Purpose and Condition

Many conjunctions that express purpose, result, or condition trigger the subjunctive in the following clause. Here you see only the relationship with the subjunctive. The detailed use of conjunctions themselves is treated elsewhere.

A frequent purpose conjunction is «تا» meaning “so that” or “in order to.” It is usually followed by a verb in the subjunctive:

«زود می‌روم تا به‌موقع برسم.»
I leave early so that I arrive on time.

«درس می‌خوانم تا در امتحان قبول شوم.»
I study so that I pass the exam.

Another very important particle is «اگر» “if.” In many present or future conditional sentences, the verb in the «اگر»-clause can be in subjunctive, especially when the condition is less factual or more hypothetical:

«اگر باران ببارد، نمی‌رویم.»
If it rains, we will not go.

The distinction between subjunctive and indicative inside conditional sentences will be more fully developed in the chapter on conditional sentences, but at this stage, it is important to recognize that «اگر» often combines with the present subjunctive, particularly when the speaker is thinking about a possible or future situation, not a simple general fact.

Subjunctive of the Verb “to be”

The verb «بودن» (to be) is irregular in the present indicative, but in the subjunctive it uses a regular set of forms obtained from the present stem «باش».

The present subjunctive of “to be” is:

باشم that I be
باشی that you (singular) be
باشد that he / she be
باشیم that we be
باشید that you (plural / formal) be
باشند that they be

Examples:

«مهم است که صبور باشی.»
It is important that you be patient. / It is important that you are patient.

«امیدوارم همیشه سالم باشی.»
I hope you are always healthy.

«نمی‌خواهم عضو این گروه باشم.»
I do not want to be a member of this group.

Here the verb after «که» appears in the subjunctive because it expresses a desired or evaluated state, not a simple factual description.

Subjunctive in Expressions of Necessity and Obligation

Persian has several expressions that express necessity, obligation, or requirement, and they usually connect to another verb in the subjunctive. These expressions can be formed with the verbs «باید» (must), «لازم است» (it is necessary), «ممکن است» (it is possible), «شاید» (maybe), and similar predicates.

With «باید» the next verb usually appears in the subjunctive form without «که»:

«باید بیشتر تمرین کنم.»
I must practice more.

«باید فارسی صحبت کنی.»
You must speak Persian.

With «لازم است که» the clause is clearly a subjunctive clause:

«لازم است که زودتر برسیم.»
It is necessary that we arrive earlier.

With «ممکن است که» and «شاید» there is an interesting border area between indicative and subjunctive. In many contemporary uses, you can hear both patterns, but the subjunctive is very common and carries a sense of uncertainty:

«شاید فردا باران ببارد.»
Maybe it will rain tomorrow.

Here «ببارد» is subjunctive of «باریدن» “to rain”. It expresses a possible event that is not yet factual.

Subjunctive vs Indicative: Certainty vs Non‑factual

At B2 level, it is important not only to form the subjunctive correctly, but also to choose between indicative and subjunctive, especially in embedded clauses. The choice often reflects how certain, real, or objective the speaker considers the situation.

Compare:

«می‌دانم که او می‌آید.»
I know that he is coming.
Here «می‌آید» is indicative. The speaker treats his coming as a fact.

«امیدوارم که او بیاید.»
I hope that he comes.
Here «بیاید» is subjunctive. His coming is not a fact but a desired event.

Another pair:

«مطمئنم که او درست می‌گوید.»
I am sure that he is right.
Fact, so indicative.

«ممکن است که او درست بگوید.»
He may be right.
Possibility, so subjunctive.

Persian does not follow an absolute rule that all such verbs must take subjunctive. For some verbs of thinking or saying such as «فکر کردن» or «گفتن», the choice can depend on whether the speaker presents the content as fact or as an opinion or doubt. For your active production at this level, it is safer to use:

Indicative after verbs of certainty:
«می‌دانم که …», «مطمئنم که …», «واضح است که …»

Subjunctive after verbs and expressions of desire, wish, fear, doubt, or evaluation:
«می‌خواهم که …», «امیدوارم که …», «می‌ترسم که …», «ممکن است که …», «لازم است که …»

Subjunctive in Negative and Interrogative Sentences

Negation of the present subjunctive is formed with the negative prefix «نـ» instead of «بـ». The negative marker and the subjunctive marker do not appear together. You say:

بخوانم “that I read”
نخوانم “that I not read”

So the pattern is:

«نـ» + present stem + personal ending

Examples:

«نمی‌خواهم دیر کنم.»
I do not want to be late.
Here «کنم» is subjunctive, and the negation belongs to «می‌خواهم».

If the subordinate verb itself is negated:

«می‌خواهم که دیر نکنم.»
I want not to be late. / I want to avoid being late.

«امیدوارم که او اشتباه نکند.»
I hope he does not make a mistake.

For interrogative sentences, the subjunctive form of the verb stays the same. The question is created by intonation or by a question word elsewhere:

«می‌خواهی که من بمانم؟»
Do you want me to stay?

«ممکن است که آن‌جا نرویم؟»
Is it possible that we do not go there?

The important point is that the mood of the verb (subjunctive) is decided by the main verb or expression, not by the fact that the sentence is a question.

Aspect and Subjunctive: Progressive and Perfect

Although the most typical form of the subjunctive is the simple present stem form described above, Persian can also combine subjunctive meaning with aspectual forms, in particular with the perfect. At B2 level, you meet these forms especially in complex sentences where the time relationship is important.

For example:

«امیدوارم که رسیده باشی.»
I hope that you have arrived.

Here «رسیده باشی» combines the past participle «رسیده» with the subjunctive form of “to be” «باشی». The overall sense is similar to English “have arrived” in a non factual or wished context.

«می‌ترسم که فراموش کرده باشند.»
I am afraid they have forgotten.

These combinations help you express subtle time relations within non factual or imagined situations. The formation of present perfect itself is treated elsewhere, but you should be able to recognize and use it with subjunctive auxiliaries like «باشم», «باشی», «باشد» when you express wishes and fears about completed events.

Subjunctive with “Before,” “Until,” and Similar Meanings

Certain temporal conjunctions also often call for subjunctive, especially when the future or a non actual situation is in view. Two important ones are «قبل از این‌که» “before” and «تا وقتی که» “until, as long as.” The detailed system of time expressions appears in other chapters, but here the main point is their relation with the subjunctive.

«قبل از این‌که بروی، با من صحبت کن.»
Before you go, talk to me.

«صبر کن تا او بیاید.»
Wait until he comes.

In these sentences, the actions “go” and “come” are not factual at the moment of speaking. The speaker looks forward to them or conditions another action on them. This non factual orientation encourages the use of subjunctive: «بروی»، «بیاید».

Subjunctive in Fixed Expressions and Polite Phrases

In daily conversations you hear many fixed or semi fixed expressions that contain the subjunctive. Recognizing them helps you feel the mood more naturally.

Examples:

«خدا کند که …» or colloquial «خدا کنه که …»
May God make that … / I hope that …

«خدا کند که همیشه موفق باشی.»
May you always be successful. / I hope you are always successful.

«ان‌شاءالله که …»
God willing that … / I hope that …

«ان‌شاءالله که مشکلی پیش نیاید.»
I hope that no problem occurs.

«ممکنه که …؟» (spoken: «ممکنه که …؟»)
Is it possible that …?

In polite invitations or offers, the subjunctive often appears with verbs like «بفرمایید», «بنشینید», «بفرمایید بنشینید», which historically include subjunctive or imperative structures and serve as softened commands.

At B2 level, you should be able to identify that such expressions are not plain present indicative but belong to the domain of politeness, wish, or soft obligation. They use subjunctive forms to keep the situation open or to show respect.

Summary: Recognizing and Using the Subjunctive

To work productively with the Persian subjunctive at B2, keep the following in mind:

The present subjunctive is built from the present stem, usually with «بـ» and the normal present endings. Negation uses «نـ» instead of «بـ».

It appears after verbs and expressions of desire, hope, fear, doubt, possibility, and necessity, often in «که»-clauses.

It is the normal form for first and third person commands and suggestions, and it is widely used after certain conjunctions of purpose, time, and condition such as «تا», «قبل از این‌که», and sometimes «اگر».

The special subjunctive forms of «بودن» with stem «باش» are extremely frequent in evaluations and wishes.

The choice between indicative and subjunctive often reflects the speaker’s attitude to reality: factual and certain, or wished, possible, feared, or evaluated.

With these points you can begin to read and produce longer, more nuanced sentences, and you will be ready for the deeper treatment of conditionals and other advanced grammatical structures that build directly on the subjunctive.

Vocabulary List for This Chapter