Basic Persian

This fully revised second edition of Basic Persian: A Grammar and Workbook comprises an accessible reference grammar and related exercises in a single volume. This book presents twenty grammar units, covering the core material which students would expect to encounter in their first year of learning Persian. Grammar points are followed by multiple examples and exercises which allow students to reinforce and consolidate their learning. Key features include: . a clear, accessible format . many useful language examples . jargon-free explanations of grammar . abundant exercises with full answer key . a glossary of Persian-English terms . a subject index Rigorous yet engaging, Basic Persian is suitable for both class use and independent study, making it an ideal grammar reference and practice resource for both beginners and students with some knowledge of the language.

Saeed Yousef is Senior Lecturer of Persian at the University of Chicago, USA. He is also a poet and has published books of literary criticism and translations. Hayedeh Torabi was a Lecturer of Persian at the University of Chicago, USA. She is a published writer, essayist and translator.

Contents Introduction Unit 1 The Alphabet Unit 2 Nouns and adjectives Singular and plural The connector ezafe Unit 3 Numbers Demonstrative adjectives Demonstrative pronouns Unit 4 Pronouns Present tense: to be and to have Unit 5 Simple present tense: other verbs Present progressive with dashtan Unit 6 Definite and indefinite (1) Attributive -i suffix Unit 7 Transitive and intransitive Direct and indirect objects Definite and indefinite (2): ra Compound verbs Unit 8 Comparison of adjectives Adjectives as nouns Question words Telling the time Some distributives / quantifiers 'Double negative' Unit 9 Imperative Unit 10 Infinitive - its uses Past and present stems Unit 11 Future tense Unit 12 Simple past tense Past progressive tense Unit 13 Past participle Perfect tenses Unit 14 Subjunctive (Present or simple subjunctive) Unit 15 Perfect (or past) subjunctive Unit 16 Conditionals and wishes. Unit 17 From prepositions to conjunctions Unit 18 Tense in complex sentences: Time clauses Unit 19 Relative clauses Unit 20 Passive Key to exercises Persian-English glossary Index