The imperative (امر)

بـ plus the present stem

A command is built on the present stem with the prefix بـ. The singular has no ending; the plural, which is also the polite form, adds ـید.

بیا and بیایید are irregular and very frequent. The prefix is pronounced be-, and usually bo- before a stem whose vowel is o (برو, بخور).

The negative

نـ takes the place of بـ:

• نرو! — Don't go.
• این را نخورید. — Don't eat this.
• نگران نباش. — Don't worry.

Compound verbs

With کردن and شدن the prefix usually disappears; most other light verbs keep it:

• کار کن. — Work.
• صبر کنید. — Wait.
• گوش بده. — Listen.
• تلفن نزن. — Don't call.

Politeness

Use the ـید form with anyone you address as شما; the bare singular sounds blunt to a stranger. لطفاً softens any command: لطفاً در را ببندید. — Please close the door.

بفرمایید is the all-purpose polite form: "go ahead", "come in", "here you are", "please take a seat".

Saying "let's"

Use the subjunctive (lesson 20), on its own or after بیا:

• برویم. — Let's go.
• بیا شام بخوریم. — Let's have dinner.

Watch out as an English speaker

• English uses the bare verb; Persian needs the prefix: ✗ رو! / ✓ برو!
• The negative replaces بـ, it does not stack on it: ✗ نبرو / ✓ نرو.
• Choose the plural for politeness: ✗ (to a stranger) بنشین / ✓ بنشینید.
• A command uses the present stem, not the past: ✗ برفت / ✓ برو.

Example dialogue

ببخشید، در را ببندید لطفاً. — Excuse me, please close the door.
چشم. بفرمایید بنشینید. — Certainly. Please have a seat.
ممنون. نگران نباشید، زود می‌روم. — Thank you. Don't worry, I'll go soon.
عجله نکنید. — Don't rush.