Subjunctive Exercises: When to Use Beram vs Miravam

Here’s the moment every Farsi learner dreads: you want to say "I should go" and your brain freezes. Is it می‌روم (miravam) or بروم (beravam)? One has the می- prefix, the other has ب-. Pick the wrong one and you’ve said a fact when you meant a wish. or vice versa.

The Persian subjunctive mood is the grammar point that separates A2 from B1. You can avoid it for a while, but eventually every sentence with "should," "might," "want to," or "hope" forces you into subjunctive territory. These persian subjunctive practice exercises give you 25 sentence pairs (indicative vs. subjunctive) and 15 translations that require the subjunctive in Farsi even when English doesn’t signal it.

Full answer keys with explanations. No ambiguity.

The می- vs ب- Distinction: A Quick Refresher

The core mechanic is simple:

Indicative (می- prefix): States facts, habits, ongoing actions.
می‌روم. miravam. "I go / I am going" (it’s happening, it’s real)

Subjunctive (ب- prefix): Wishes, doubts, obligations, possibilities, purposes.
بروم. beravam. "that I go / I should go" (it’s desired, possible, or uncertain)

FORMAL: می‌روم (miravam) → بروم (beravam)
COLLOQUIAL: میرم (miram) → برم (beram)

The subjunctive almost never stands alone. It shows up after trigger words:

• باید (bâyad). must/should
• شاید (shâyad). maybe
• می‌خواهم که (mikhâham ke). I want that…
• امیدوارم (omidvâram). I hope
• لازم است که (lâzem ast ke). it’s necessary that
• قبل از اینکه (ghabl az inke). before
• بدون اینکه (bedun-e inke). without
• اگر (agar). if (in some conditional types)

If you see one of these triggers, the verb that follows takes ب-, not می-. That’s the rule. Now practice it.

For the full grammar breakdown, read the Farsi subjunctive mood guide.

Section 1: Choose Indicative or Subjunctive (25 Sentences)

For each sentence, pick the correct verb form. Both options are given.

After باید (must/should)

1. من باید زود .
   *man bâyad zud .
   "I should ___ early."
   a) می‌رسم (miresam) b) برسم (beresam*)

2. تو باید بیشتر .
   *to bâyad bishtar .
   "You should ___ more."
   a) می‌خوانی (mikhâni) b) بخوانی (bekhâni*)

3. ما باید فردا .
   *mâ bâyad fardâ .
   "We should ___ tomorrow."
   a) می‌رویم (miravim) b) برویم (beravim*)

4. آن‌ها باید حقیقت را .
   *ânhâ bâyad haghighat râ .
   "They should ___ the truth."
   a) می‌گویند (miguyand) b) بگویند (beguyand*)

5. شما باید این دارو را .
   *shomâ bâyad in dâru râ .
   "You should ___ this medicine."
   a) می‌خورید (mikhorid) b) بخورید (bekhorid*)

After می‌خواهم که / می‌خوام (I want)

6. می‌خواهم که او .
   *mikhâham ke u .
   "I want him/her to ___."
   a) می‌آید (miâyad) b) بیاید (biâyad*)

7. مادرم می‌خواهد که من .
   *mâdaram mikhâhad ke man .
   "My mother wants me to ___."
   a) درس می‌خوانم (dars mikhânam) b) درس بخوانم (dars bekhânam*)

8. می‌خواهم .
   *mikhâham .
   "I want to ___."
   a) می‌خوابم (mikhâbam) b) بخوابم (bekhâbam*)

9. نمی‌خواهد که ما .
   *nemikhâhad ke mâ .
   "He/she doesn’t want us to ___."
   a) می‌رویم (miravim) b) برویم (beravim*)

10. آن‌ها می‌خواهند .
    *ânhâ mikhâhand .
    "They want to ___."
    a) می‌مانند (mimânand) b) بمانند (bemânand*)

After شاید (maybe)

11. شاید فردا باران .
    *shâyad fardâ bârân .
    "Maybe it will ___ tomorrow."
    a) می‌بارد (mibârad) b) ببارد (bebârad*)

12. شاید او .
    *shâyad u .
    "Maybe he/she will ___."
    a) می‌آید (miâyad) b) بیاید (biâyad*)

13. شاید من هم .
    *shâyad man ham .
    "Maybe I’ll ___ too."
    a) می‌روم (miravam) b) بروم (beravam*)

14. شاید این مشکل .
    *shâyad in moshkel .
    "Maybe this problem will ___."
    a) حل می‌شود (hal mishavad) b) حل بشود (hal beshavad*)

15. شاید ما دیر .
    *shâyad mâ dir .
    "Maybe we’ll ___ late."
    a) می‌رسیم (miresim) b) برسیم (beresim*)

After امیدوارم (I hope)

16. امیدوارم که خوب .
    *omidvâram ke khub .
    "I hope you ___ well."
    a) می‌شوی (mishavi) b) بشوی (beshavi*)

17. امیدوارم که قبول .
    *omidvâram ke ghabul .
    "I hope that I ___ (get accepted)."
    a) می‌شوم (mishavam) b) بشوم (beshovam*)

18. امیدوارم دوباره همدیگر را .
    *omidvâram dobâre hamdigar râ .
    "I hope we ___ each other again."
    a) می‌بینیم (mibinim) b) ببینیم (bebinim*)

After other triggers

19. قبل از اینکه ، زنگ بزن.
    *ghabl az inke , zang bezan.
    "Before you ___, call me."
    a) می‌روی (miravi) b) بروی (beravi*)

20. بدون اینکه چیزی ، رفت.
    *bedun-e inke chizi , raft.
    "Without ___ anything, he/she left."
    a) می‌گوید (miguyad) b) بگوید (beguyad*)

21. لازم است که همه .
    *lâzem ast ke hame .
    "It’s necessary that everyone ___."
    a) می‌دانند (midânand) b) بدانند (bedânand*)

22. هر جا که ، من هم می‌آیم.
    *har jâ ke , man ham miâyam.
    "Wherever you ___, I’ll come too."
    a) می‌روی (miravi) b) بروی (beravi*)

Tricky contrasts

23. هر روز ساعت هفت . (fact/habit)
    *har ruz sâ’at-e haft .
    "Every day at seven I ___."
    a) می‌روم (miravam) b) بروم (beravam*)

24. فردا ساعت هفت باید . (obligation)
    *fardâ sâ’at-e haft bâyad .
    "Tomorrow at seven I should ___."
    a) می‌روم (miravam) b) بروم (beravam*)

25. نمی‌دانم کجا . (uncertainty)
    *nemidânam kojâ .
    "I don’t know where to ___."
    a) می‌روم (miravam) b) بروم (beravam*)

Answer Key: Indicative vs. Subjunctive

1. b) برسم (beresam). باید triggers subjunctive. Always.
2. b) بخوانی (bekhâni). باید + subjunctive.
3. b) برویم (beravim). باید + subjunctive.
4. b) بگویند (beguyand). باید + subjunctive.
5. b) بخورید (bekhorid). باید + subjunctive.
6. b) بیاید (biâyad). می‌خواهم که + subjunctive. Note: آمدن takes بی- not بِ- because the stem starts with a vowel.
7. b) درس بخوانم (dars bekhânam). Mother wants = subjunctive for the desired action.
8. b) بخوابم (bekhâbam). می‌خواهم + subjunctive. Even without که, the verb after "want" is subjunctive.
9. b) برویم (beravim). Negative want still triggers subjunctive.
10. b) بمانند (bemânand). Want + subjunctive.
11. b) ببارد (bebârad). شاید = uncertainty = subjunctive.
12. b) بیاید (biâyad). شاید + subjunctive.
13. b) بروم (beravam). شاید + subjunctive.
14. b) حل بشود (hal beshavad). شاید + compound verb in subjunctive.
15. b) برسیم (beresim). شاید + subjunctive.
16. b) بشوی (beshavi). امیدوارم + subjunctive.
17. b) بشوم (beshavam). امیدوارم + subjunctive.
18. b) ببینیم (bebinim). امیدوارم + subjunctive.
19. b) بروی (beravi). قبل از اینکه + subjunctive. Time clauses with اینکه always take subjunctive.
20. b) بگوید (beguyad). بدون اینکه + subjunctive.
21. b) بدانند (bedânand). لازم است که + subjunctive.
22. b) بروی (beravi). هر جا که + subjunctive (indefinite "wherever").
23. a) می‌روم (miravam). Habitual fact = indicative. No trigger word. هر روز describes a routine.
24. b) بروم (beravam). باید makes it obligation = subjunctive. Same "go at seven" but different mood.
25. b) بروم (beravam). Embedded question with uncertainty = subjunctive. "I don’t know where I should go."

Section 2: Translation Exercises (15 Sentences)

Translate into Farsi. Every single one requires subjunctive in Persian, even though the English doesn’t scream "subjunctive." Write both formal and colloquial versions.

1. "I have to leave now."
2. "Maybe she knows the answer."
3. "I want to sleep."
4. "He told me to wait."
5. "I hope the weather is good."
6. "It’s better that you don’t come."
7. "I don’t know what to say."
8. "Let me think."
9. "Can I sit here?"
10. "Before I forget. call your mother."
11. "No matter what happens, I’m staying."
12. "I came so that you wouldn’t be alone."
13. "If you see Ali, tell him."
14. "It’s possible that they arrive late."
15. "I’m looking for someone who speaks English."

Answer Key: Translations

1. FORMAL: باید الان بروم.. bâyad alân beravam.
   COLLOQUIAL: باید الان برم.. bâyad alân beram.
   Trigger: باید → subjunctive بروم. English "have to leave" hides the subjunctive.

2. FORMAL: شاید او جواب را بداند.. shâyad u javâb râ bedânad.
   COLLOQUIAL: شاید اون جوابو بدونه.. shâyad un javâbo bedune.
   Trigger: شاید → subjunctive بداند. English "maybe she knows" uses plain indicative.

3. FORMAL: می‌خواهم بخوابم.. mikhâham bekhâbam.
   COLLOQUIAL: می‌خوام بخوابم.. mikhâm bekhâbam.
   Trigger: می‌خواهم → subjunctive بخوابم. English "want to sleep" uses infinitive, not subjunctive.

4. FORMAL: به من گفت که صبر کنم.. be man goft ke sabr konam.
   COLLOQUIAL: بهم گفت صبر کنم.. behem goft sabr konam.
   Trigger: گفت که → subjunctive کنم. English uses infinitive "told me to wait."

5. FORMAL: امیدوارم هوا خوب باشد.. omidvâram havâ khub bâshad.
   COLLOQUIAL: امیدوارم هوا خوب باشه.. omidvâram havâ khub bâshe.
   Trigger: امیدوارم → subjunctive باشد. Note: بودن in subjunctive = باشد, not ببود.

6. FORMAL: بهتر است که نیایی.. behtar ast ke nayâyi.
   COLLOQUIAL: بهتره نیای.. behtare nayây.
   Trigger: بهتر است که → subjunctive. Negative subjunctive: ن- replaces ب-. So بیایی → نیایی.

7. FORMAL: نمی‌دانم چه بگویم.. nemidânam che beguyam.
   COLLOQUIAL: نمی‌دونم چی بگم.. nemidunam chi begam.
   Trigger: embedded question → subjunctive بگویم. English "what to say" uses infinitive.

8. FORMAL: بگذارید فکر کنم.. bogzârid fekr konam.
   COLLOQUIAL: بذار فکر کنم.. bezâr fekr konam.
   Trigger: بگذارید (let) → subjunctive کنم. "Let me" in English doesn’t signal subjunctive.

9. FORMAL: می‌توانم اینجا بنشینم؟. mitavânam injâ beneshinam?
   COLLOQUIAL: می‌تونم اینجا بشینم؟. mitunam injâ beshinam?
   Trigger: می‌توانم (can) → subjunctive بنشینم. English "Can I sit" uses infinitive.

10. FORMAL: قبل از اینکه یادم برود. به مادرت زنگ بزن.. ghabl az inke yâdam beravad. be mâdaret zang bezan.
    COLLOQUIAL: قبل از اینکه یادم بره. به مامانت زنگ بزن.. ghabl az inke yâdam bere. be mâmânet zang bezan.
    Trigger: قبل از اینکه → subjunctive برود.

11. FORMAL: هر اتفاقی که بیفتد، من می‌مانم.. har ettefâghi ke bioftad, man mimânam.
    COLLOQUIAL: هر اتفاقی بیفته، من می‌مونم.. har ettefâghi biofte, man mimunam.
    Trigger: هر…که (whatever) → subjunctive بیفتد. The main clause "I’m staying" stays indicative.

12. FORMAL: آمدم تا تنها نباشی.. âmadam tâ tanhâ nabâshi.
    COLLOQUIAL: اومدم که تنها نباشی.. umadam ke tanhâ nabâshi.
    Trigger: تا/که (so that) → subjunctive نباشی. Purpose clauses always take subjunctive.

13. FORMAL: اگر علی را ببینی، به او بگو.. agar Ali râ bebini, be u begu.
    COLLOQUIAL: اگه علی رو ببینی، بهش بگو.. age Ali ro bebini, behesh begu.
    Trigger: اگر (if) in uncertain condition → subjunctive ببینی. Plus imperative بگو.

14. FORMAL: ممکن است که آن‌ها دیر برسند.. momken ast ke ânhâ dir beresand.
    COLLOQUIAL: ممکنه دیر برسن.. momkene dir beresan.
    Trigger: ممکن است که → subjunctive برسند.

15. FORMAL: دنبال کسی می‌گردم که انگلیسی بلد باشد.. donbâl-e kasi migardam ke engelisi balad bâshad.
    COLLOQUIAL: دنبال یکی می‌گردم که انگلیسی بلد باشه.. donbâl-e yeki migardam ke engelisi balad bâshe.
    Trigger: relative clause with indefinite antecedent → subjunctive باشد. "Someone who speaks". English uses indicative, Farsi demands subjunctive because the person is hypothetical.

The Master Rule

If you got most of Section 1 right but struggled with Section 2, that’s normal. Section 1 tests whether you recognize triggers. Section 2 tests whether you can spot when Farsi needs subjunctive even though English doesn’t flag it.

The pattern: any time the action is unreal, uncertain, desired, or hypothetical, Farsi uses subjunctive. English handles these with infinitives ("want to go"), modals ("might go"), or plain indicative ("maybe she knows"). Farsi makes you mark the verb itself.

For more tense and mood practice, try the Persian tense exercises. And if the whole verb system still feels shaky, the grammar exercises hub has drills for every level.

Score Yourself

• Section 1: ___/25
• Section 2: ___/15 (give yourself full marks if both formal and colloquial are correct, half if only one)
• Total: ___/40

35–40: You’ve internalized the subjunctive. Time for conditional sentences and passive voice.
25–34: You know the rules but your instinct isn’t automatic yet. Re-do the exercises in a week without looking at the answers first.
15–24: Focus on the trigger words. Make a flashcard for each one: trigger on front, example subjunctive sentence on back.
Below 15: Go back to the subjunctive guide and re-read the theory section before practicing again.

Building subjunctive instinct takes repetition. ZabanYar generates context-based exercises that force you to choose between می- and ب- in real conversation scenarios. not isolated grammar drills. It’s the difference between knowing the rule and actually using it.

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