Persian tenses are simpler than English in some ways. no "I have been going" nonsense. but they still trip learners up. The main issue isn’t understanding each tense in isolation. It’s choosing the right one when you’re in the middle of a sentence, in real time, with context clues flying past.
These 50 fill-in-the-blank sentences force you to read the context and pick the correct tense. We cover five core tenses: present simple, past simple, present perfect, present continuous, and future. Each sentence gives you the infinitive. you conjugate it in the right tense based on the clues.
If you need a refresher on how each tense works before starting, read my Farsi verb conjugation guide, my past tense breakdown, or my present tense guide. And for more targeted verb practice, try my verb conjugation exercises.
The Five Tenses You Need
Quick reference before you start:
1. Present Simple. می + present stem + personal ending
میخورم (mikhoram). I eat (habitually)
2. Past Simple. past stem + personal ending
خوردم (khordam). I ate
3. Present Perfect. past participle + بودن conjugation
خوردهام (khorde-am). I have eaten
4. Present Continuous (Progressive). دارم + present simple
دارم میخورم (dâram mikhoram). I am eating (right now)
5. Future. میخواهم + subjunctive (or خواهم + past participle in very formal)
میخواهم بخورم (mikhâham bekhoram). I will eat / I’m going to eat
In spoken Persian, future is almost always میخوام (mikhâm) + subjunctive: میخوام بخورم (mikhâm bekhoram).
Section 1: Present Simple vs. Past Simple (Exercises 1–15)
Fill in the blank with the correct tense of the verb in parentheses. Context clues tell you which tense.
Exercise 1: من هر روز صبح چای . (خوردن)
*man har ruz sobh châi .* (to drink)
Clue: "every morning" = habitual
Exercise 2: دیروز ما به سینما . (رفتن)
*diruz mâ be sinamâ .* (to go)
Clue: "yesterday" = completed past
Exercise 3: مریم هر شب کتاب . (خواندن)
*Maryam har shab ketâb .* (to read)
Clue: "every night" = habitual
Exercise 4: پارسال ما خانه جدید . (خریدن)
*pârsâl mâ khâne-ye jadid .* (to buy)
Clue: "last year" = completed past
Exercise 5: او در دانشگاه تهران درس . (خواندن)
*u dar dâneshgâh-e Tehrân dars .* (to study)
Clue: present context, currently studying
Exercise 6: بچهها دیشب زود . (خوابیدن)
*bachche-hâ dishab zud .* (to sleep)
Clue: "last night" = completed past
Exercise 7: پدرم هر روز روزنامه . (خواندن)
*pedaram har ruz ruznâme .* (to read)
Clue: "every day" = habitual
Exercise 8: من هفته پیش نامه . (نوشتن)
*man hafte-ye pish nâme .* (to write)
Clue: "last week" = completed past
Exercise 9: آنها فارسی . (فهمیدن)
*ânhâ fârsi .* (to understand)
Clue: general ability, present
Exercise 10: من صبح ساعت شش . (بیدار شدن)
*man sobh sâ’at-e shesh .* (to wake up)
Clue: daily routine = habitual present
Exercise 11: علی دو سال پیش به ایران . (برگشتن)
*Ali do sâl-e pish be Irân .* (to return)
Clue: "two years ago" = completed past
Exercise 12: مادرم خیلی خوب غذا . (پختن)
*mâdaram kheyli khub ghazâ .* (to cook)
Clue: general ability = present
Exercise 13: ما دیروز کلی . (خندیدن)
*mâ diruz kolli .* (to laugh)
Clue: "yesterday" = completed past
Exercise 14: او در یک شرکت بزرگ . (کار کردن)
*u dar yek sherkat-e bozorg .* (to work)
Clue: current employment = present
Exercise 15: من دیشب تا دیر وقت . (بیدار بودن)
*man dishab tâ dir vaght .* (to be awake)
Clue: "last night" = past
Answer Key: Exercises 1–15
| # | Tense | Formal (ketâbi) | Spoken (Tehrani) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Present Simple | میخورم. mikhoram | میخورم. mikhoram |
| 2 | Past Simple | رفتیم. raftim | رفتیم. raftim |
| 3 | Present Simple | میخواند. mikhânad | میخونه. mikhune |
| 4 | Past Simple | خریدیم. kharidim | خریدیم. kharidim |
| 5 | Present Simple | میخواند. mikhânad | میخونه. mikhune |
| 6 | Past Simple | خوابیدند. khâbidand | خوابیدن. khâbidan |
| 7 | Present Simple | میخواند. mikhânad | میخونه. mikhune |
| 8 | Past Simple | نوشتم. neveshtam | نوشتم. neveshtam |
| 9 | Present Simple | میفهمند. mifahmand | میفهمن. mifahman |
| 10 | Present Simple | بیدار میشوم. bidâr mishavam | بیدار میشم. bidâr misham |
| 11 | Past Simple | برگشت. bargasht | برگشت. bargasht |
| 12 | Present Simple | میپزد. mipazad | میپزه. mipaze |
| 13 | Past Simple | خندیدیم. khandidim | خندیدیم. khandidim |
| 14 | Present Simple | کار میکند. kâr mikonad | کار میکنه. kâr mikone |
| 15 | Past Simple | بیدار بودم. bidâr budam | بیدار بودم. bidâr budam |
Section 2: Present Perfect (Exercises 16–25)
Present perfect in Persian = past participle + conjugated بودن (budan). It describes actions that started in the past and have relevance now, or recently completed actions.
Exercise 16: من قبلاً این فیلم را . (دیدن)
*man ghablan in film râ .* (to see)
Clue: "already" = present perfect
Exercise 17: او تازه از ایران . (آمدن)
*u tâze az Irân .* (to come)
Clue: "just/recently" = present perfect
Exercise 18: ما هنوز غذا . (نخوردن. negative)
*mâ hanuz ghazâ .* (to not eat)
Clue: "still/yet" = present perfect negative
Exercise 19: شما تا حالا به شیراز ؟ (رفتن)
*shomâ tâ hâlâ be Shirâz ?* (to go)
Clue: "ever/until now" = present perfect question
Exercise 20: من کلیدهایم را . (گم کردن)
*man klidhâyam râ .* (to lose)
Clue: lost them, relevant now = present perfect
Exercise 21: هوا خیلی . (سرد شدن)
*havâ kheyli .* (to become cold)
Clue: result visible now = present perfect
Exercise 22: آنها سه بار به ایران . (رفتن)
*ânhâ se bâr be Irân .* (to go)
Clue: "three times" (lifetime experience) = present perfect
Exercise 23: من این کتاب را . (خواندن)
*man in ketâb râ .* (to read)
Clue: finished reading, discussing it now = present perfect
Exercise 24: او خیلی . (عوض شدن)
*u kheyli .* (to change)
Clue: result visible now = present perfect
Exercise 25: تو تکالیفت را ؟ (نوشتن)
*to takâlifat râ ?* (to write)
Clue: asking if homework is done = present perfect question
Answer Key: Exercises 16–25
| # | Formal (ketâbi) | Spoken (Tehrani) | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | دیدهام. dide-am | دیدم. didam | I’ve already seen this movie. |
| 17 | آمده است. âmade ast | اومده. umade | He/She has just come from Iran. |
| 18 | نخوردهایم. nakhorde-im | نخوردیم. nakhordim | We still haven’t eaten. |
| 19 | رفتهاید. rafte-id | رفتین. raftin | Have you ever been to Shiraz? |
| 20 | گم کردهام. gom karde-am | گم کردم. gom kardam | I’ve lost my keys. |
| 21 | سرد شده است. sard shode ast | سرد شده. sard shode | The weather has gotten very cold. |
| 22 | رفتهاند. rafte-and | رفتن. raftan | They have been to Iran three times. |
| 23 | خواندهام. khânde-am | خوندم. khundam | I’ve read this book. |
| 24 | عوض شده است. avaz shode ast | عوض شده. avaz shode | He/She has changed a lot. |
| 25 | نوشتهای. neveshte-i | نوشتی. neveshti | Have you written your homework? |
Important spoken note: In Tehrani Persian, the present perfect often looks identical to past simple. دیدهام (dide-am) becomes دیدم (didam). same as past simple. Context tells the listener which one you mean. This confuses learners but it’s how native speakers actually talk.
Section 3: Continuous Tense (Exercises 26–35)
The continuous (progressive) uses داشتن (dâshtan. to have) as a helper + the present simple form. It means "right now, at this moment."
Exercise 26: ساکت! من تلفنی حرف . (داشتن + حرف زدن)
sâket! man telefoni harf . (to be talking)
Clue: "Be quiet!" = happening right now
Exercise 27: بچهها در حیاط بازی . (داشتن + بازی کردن)
bachche-hâ dar hayât bâzi . (to be playing)
Exercise 28: وقتی زنگ زدی، من غذا . (داشتن + خوردن. past continuous)
vaghti zang zadi, man ghazâ . (was eating)
Clue: interrupted past action = past continuous
Exercise 29: او نامه . (داشتن + نوشتن)
u nâme . (is writing)
Exercise 30: ما فیلم که برق رفت. (داشتن + دیدن. past continuous)
mâ film ke bargh raft. (were watching)
Clue: interrupted by power outage = past continuous
Exercise 31: مادرم آشپزی . (داشتن + کردن)
mâdaram âshpazi . (is cooking)
Exercise 32: دیشب ساعت ده درس . (داشتن + خواندن. past continuous)
dishab sâ’at-e dah dars . (was studying)
Exercise 33: الان چی ؟ (داشتن + کار کردن)
al’ân chi ? (are doing. right now)
Exercise 34: وقتی رسیدم، آنها . (داشتن + رفتن. past continuous)
vaghti residam, ânhâ . (were leaving)
Exercise 35: صبر کن، من لباس . (داشتن + پوشیدن)
sabr kon, man lebâs . (am getting dressed)
Answer Key: Exercises 26–35
| # | Formal (ketâbi) | Spoken (Tehrani) | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | دارم … حرف میزنم. dâram … harf mizanam | دارم … حرف میزنم. dâram … harf mizanam | I’m talking on the phone! |
| 27 | دارند … بازی میکنند. dârand … bâzi mikonand | دارن … بازی میکنن. dâran … bâzi mikonan | The kids are playing in the yard. |
| 28 | داشتم … میخوردم. dâshtam … mikhordam | داشتم … میخوردم. dâshtam … mikhordam | When you called, I was eating. |
| 29 | دارد … مینویسد. dârad … minevisad | داره … مینویسه. dâre … minevise | He/She is writing a letter. |
| 30 | داشتیم … میدیدیم. dâshtim … mididim | داشتیم … میدیدیم. dâshtim … mididim | We were watching a movie when the power went out. |
| 31 | دارد … آشپزی میکند. dârad … âshpazi mikonad | داره … آشپزی میکنه. dâre … âshpazi mikone | My mother is cooking. |
| 32 | داشتم … درس میخواندم. dâshtam … dars mikhândam | داشتم … درس میخوندم. dâshtam … dars mikhundam | Last night at ten I was studying. |
| 33 | داری … چی کار میکنی. dâri … chi kâr mikoni | داری … چیکار میکنی. dâri … chikâr mikoni | What are you doing right now? |
| 34 | داشتند … میرفتند. dâshtand … miraftand | داشتن … میرفتن. dâshtan … miraftan | When I arrived, they were leaving. |
| 35 | دارم … لباس میپوشم. dâram … lebâs mipusham | دارم … لباس میپوشم. dâram … lebâs mipusham | Wait, I’m getting dressed. |
Section 4: Future Tense (Exercises 36–42)
Persian future = میخواهم (mikhâham) + subjunctive (بـ + present stem). In spoken: میخوام (mikhâm) + subjunctive.
Exercise 36: من فردا به بازار . (رفتن. future)
*man fardâ be bâzâr .* (to go)
Exercise 37: او هفته آینده به ما سر بزند. (خواستن + زدن. future)
*u hafte-ye âyande be mâ sar bezanad.* (will visit)
Exercise 38: ما تابستان به ایران برویم. (خواستن + رفتن. future)
*mâ tâbestân be Irân beravim.* (will go)
Exercise 39: من شب یک فیلم ببینم. (خواستن + دیدن. future)
*man shab yek film bebinam.* (will watch)
Exercise 40: آنها زبان فارسی یاد بگیرند. (خواستن + گرفتن. future)
*ânhâ zabân-e fârsi yâd begirand.* (will learn)
Exercise 41: علی ماشینش را بفروشد. (خواستن + فروختن. future)
*Ali mâshinash râ beforushad.* (will sell)
Exercise 42: من بعد از ناهار درس بخوانم. (خواستن + خواندن. future)
*man ba’d az nâhâr dars bekhânam.* (will study)
Answer Key: Exercises 36–42
| # | Formal (ketâbi) | Spoken (Tehrani) | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | میخواهم بروم. mikhâham beravam | میخوام برم. mikhâm beram | Tomorrow I will go to the bazaar. |
| 37 | میخواهد. mikhâhad | میخواد. mikhâd | Next week he/she will visit us. |
| 38 | میخواهیم. mikhâhim | میخوایم. mikhâyim | This summer we will go to Iran. |
| 39 | میخواهم. mikhâham | میخوام. mikhâm | Tonight I will watch a movie. |
| 40 | میخواهند. mikhâhand | میخوان. mikhân | They will learn Farsi. |
| 41 | میخواهد. mikhâhad | میخواد. mikhâd | Ali will sell his car. |
| 42 | میخواهم. mikhâham | میخوام. mikhâm | After lunch I will study. |
Section 5: Mixed Tense Challenge (Exercises 43–50)
No hints this time. Read the sentence, figure out the tense from context, and conjugate.
Exercise 43: من پنج سال است که در ایتالیا . (زندگی کردن)
*man panj sâl ast ke dar Itâliâ .* (to live)
Exercise 44: وقتی بچه بودم، هر تابستان به شمال . (رفتن)
*vaghti bachche budam, har tâbestân be shomâl .* (to go)
Exercise 45: الان نمیتوانم حرف بزنم، رانندگی . (داشتن + کردن)
al’ân nemitavânam harf bezanam, rânandegi . (to be driving)
Exercise 46: او تا حالا هیچوقت غذای ایرانی . (نخوردن)
*u tâ hâlâ hichvaght ghazâ-ye irâni .* (to never have eaten)
Exercise 47: ما فردا از اینجا . (خواستن + رفتن)
mâ fardâ az injâ . (will leave)
Exercise 48: من هر روز ساعت هفت از خواب . (بیدار شدن)
*man har ruz sâ’at-e haft az khâb .* (to wake up)
Exercise 49: شما قبلاً این کتاب را ؟ (خواندن)
*shomâ ghablan in ketâb râ ?* (to read)
Exercise 50: وقتی ، به من زنگ بزن. (رسیدن)
*vaghti , be man zang bezan.* (to arrive)
Answer Key: Exercises 43–50
| # | Tense | Formal (ketâbi) | Spoken (Tehrani) | English |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43 | Present Simple (duration) | زندگی میکنم. zendegi mikonam | زندگی میکنم. zendegi mikonam | I have been living in Italy for five years. |
| 44 | Past Simple (habitual past) | میرفتیم. miraftim | میرفتیم. miraftim | When I was a kid, we went north every summer. |
| 45 | Present Continuous | دارم … رانندگی میکنم. dâram … rânandegi mikonam | دارم … رانندگی میکنم. dâram … rânandegi mikonam | I can’t talk now, I’m driving. |
| 46 | Present Perfect (negative) | نخورده است. nakhorde ast | نخورده. nakhorde | He/She has never eaten Iranian food. |
| 47 | Future | میخواهیم … برویم. mikhâhim … beravim | میخوایم … بریم. mikhâyim … berim | Tomorrow we will leave here. |
| 48 | Present Simple (routine) | بیدار میشوم. bidâr mishavam | بیدار میشم. bidâr misham | I wake up at seven every day. |
| 49 | Present Perfect (experience) | خواندهاید. khânde-id | خوندین. khundin | Have you read this book before? |
| 50 | Past Simple (in time clause) | رسیدی. residi | رسیدی. residi | When you arrive, call me. |
Exercise 50 note: Persian uses past simple in "when" clauses for future events. just like English uses present simple ("When you arrive…"). This catches many learners off guard.
Tense Decision Cheat Sheet
When you’re stuck choosing a tense, ask yourself:
| Question | Tense |
|---|---|
| Is this a habit, routine, or general truth? | Present Simple |
| Did it happen and finish in the past? | Past Simple |
| Did it happen in the past but is relevant now? | Present Perfect |
| Is it happening right now, at this moment? | Present Continuous |
| Will it happen later? | Future (mikhâham + subjunctive) |
| Was it happening when something else interrupted? | Past Continuous (dâshtam + imperfect) |
Spoken vs. Formal: The Big Differences by Tense
Present Simple: Verb endings shorten. میخورم stays میخورم, but میخورد → میخوره.
Past Simple: Mostly the same in both registers. Third person plural خوردند → خوردن.
Present Perfect: This is where spoken Persian diverges most. The auxiliary drops, making it look identical to past simple: خوردهام → خوردم. Context is everything.
Continuous: Same structure, just shorter endings on داشتن: دارد → داره.
Future: میخواهم → میخوام. The subjunctive verb also shortens: بروم → برم.
What’s Next?
Fifty sentences is a solid workout, but tenses need ongoing practice. especially the present perfect vs. past simple distinction that trips everyone up.
Check the Persian Grammar Exercises hub for more targeted drills on other grammar topics.
If you want daily tense practice that adapts to your weak spots, ZabanYar tracks which tenses you confuse most and generates personalized exercises. It’s the difference between doing a fixed worksheet and having a tutor who knows exactly where you struggle.