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Common Traps for Persian Speakers

Small mistakes that many Persian speakers make in English — and how to fix them.

How to use this page

Read each question. Choose one answer. Then tap Check to see the correct answer and why it is correct. This page is for practice only — it does not promise any test score.

Set 1 — Word Order Traps

Persian and English put words in a different order. In these questions, pick the sentence with natural English word order.

Exercise 1 — Subject, Verb, Object

In Persian, the verb often comes at the end of the sentence. In English, the verb comes after the subject, and the object comes after the verb: subject — verb — object.

1. Choose the correct sentence.
Answer: B — She speaks English very well.. In Persian the verb can come at the end. In English the order is subject — verb — object: She — speaks — English.
2. Choose the correct sentence.
Answer: A — We watched a good film last night.. In English the verb comes before the object: We — watched — a good film. The time words (last night) come at the end.
3. Choose the correct sentence.
Answer: C — My brother lives in Vancouver.. In Persian the place can come before the verb. In English the verb comes right after the subject: My brother — lives — in Vancouver.
4. Choose the correct sentence.
Answer: A — They play football on Saturdays.. English order is subject — verb — object: They — play — football. Do not put the object before the verb.
5. Choose the correct sentence.
Answer: C — The teacher gave us homework.. In Persian the verb (gave) comes at the end. In English it comes after the subject: The teacher — gave — us — homework.

Exercise 2 — Describing Words Come First

In Persian, the describing word comes after the thing: a car red. In English, the describing word comes before the thing: a red car. With two or more describing words, English uses a fixed order: opinion — size — age — shape — colour — origin — material — purpose.

1. Choose the correct sentence.
Answer: B — She has a red car.. In Persian the describing word comes after the thing. In English it comes before: a red car, not a car red.
2. Choose the correct sentence. (size — colour)
Answer: A — He bought a small black bag.. Both describing words come before the thing, and size comes before colour: a small black bag.
3. Choose the correct sentence. (opinion — size)
Answer: C — They live in a beautiful big house.. Opinion words (beautiful) come before size words (big), and both come before the thing: a beautiful big house.
4. Choose the correct sentence. (age — material)
Answer: A — We sat at an old wooden table.. Age comes before material, and both come before the thing: an old wooden table.
5. Choose the correct sentence. (colour — origin — material)
Answer: B — She wore a blue Iranian silk scarf.. English order is colour — origin — material: a blue Iranian silk scarf. Learn the order as one block.
6. Choose the correct sentence. (size — material — purpose)
Answer: C — I need a small plastic shopping bag.. Size comes before material, and the purpose word comes last, just before the thing: a small plastic shopping bag.

Exercise 3 — Where Small Words Go

Small words like always, often, usually, never and well have a fixed home in English. Words like always go before the main verb, but after the verb be. Words like well go after the object.

1. Choose the correct sentence.
Answer: B — She always helps her mother.. Always goes before the main verb: She always helps her mother. It does not go between the verb and the object.
2. Choose the correct sentence.
Answer: A — He speaks English well.. Well goes after the object, at the end: He speaks English well — not before the object.
3. Choose the correct sentence.
Answer: C — We often go to the park.. Often goes before the main verb: We often go to the park.
4. Choose the correct sentence.
Answer: B — She is always late.. With the verb be, the small word goes after be: She is always late.
5. Choose the correct sentence.
Answer: A — They usually eat lunch at home.. Usually goes before the main verb: They usually eat lunch at home.

Set 2 — Word-for-Word Traps

Some Persian sentences cannot move into English word for word. The words are English, but the sentence sounds wrong. Pick the natural English sentence — the one people in Canada really say.

Exercise 1 — Everyday Actions

In Persian, one word can do the work of many English words. For example, khordan covers eating, drinking and taking medicine. English chooses a different verb for each action.

1. A learner says: "Please give me some water to eat." Choose the natural English.
Answer: B — Please give me some water to drink.. In Persian, khordan is used for water too. In English, you drink water — you only eat food.
2. A learner says: "She eats one tablet every morning." Choose the natural English.
Answer: C — She takes one tablet every morning.. In Persian, you use khordan for medicine. In English, you take medicine — take a tablet, take a pill.
3. A learner says: "Please close the light." Choose the natural English.
Answer: A — Please turn off the light.. In Persian, you open and close the light. In English, you turn a light on and turn it off. You open and close doors and windows.
4. A learner says: "Can you make a photo of us?" Choose the natural English.
Answer: C — Can you take a photo of us?. In English, you take a photo. Make a photo sounds like building a photo with your hands.
5. A learner says: "I have 30 years." Choose the natural English.
Answer: B — I am 30 years old.. In Persian, age uses have: I have 30 years. In English, age uses be: I am 30 years old.
6. On the phone, a learner says: "I cannot talk now. My hand is busy." (dastam band e) Choose the natural English.
Answer: C — I cannot talk now. I am busy.. Dastam band e word for word is my hand is busy. In English, the person is busy, not the hand: I am busy.

Exercise 2 — Body and Feelings

Persian often talks about the body part, or says I have hunger, I have sleep. English talks about the person: I am hungry, I feel sleepy, my head hurts.

1. A learner says: "Please hit a call to me tonight." (from zang zadan) Choose the natural English.
Answer: A — Please call me tonight.. Zang zadan word for word uses hit. In English, you just call a person: Please call me tonight.
2. A learner talks about a friend in Iran and says: "My heart is tight for you." (from delam barat tang shode) Choose the natural English.
Answer: C — I miss you.. Delam tang shode talks about the heart. In English, we say it about the person: I miss you.
3. A learner says: "My head is paining." (from saram dard mikone) Choose the natural English.
Answer: B — My head hurts.. In English, a body part hurts: My head hurts. You can also say: I have a headache.
4. Late at night, a learner says: "Sleep comes to me." (from khabam miad) Choose the natural English.
Answer: C — I feel sleepy.. Khabam miad word for word is sleep comes to me. In English, you feel sleepy: I feel sleepy.
5. Before lunch, a learner says: "I have hunger." (from gorosnam e) Choose the natural English.
Answer: B — I am hungry.. In Persian, hunger is a thing you have. In English, hungry is a describing word with be: I am hungry.

Exercise 3 — Polite Words (Taarof)

Persian polite words (taarof) are warm and kind, but word for word in English they sound strange or too strong. English uses short, simple polite sentences instead.

1. At the table, the host wants to offer more food. Word for word, befarmaid can sound like a command: "Order it!" Choose the natural English.
Answer: B — Please help yourself.. Befarmaid is a polite offer, not a command. At the table in English, say: Please help yourself.
2. A shopkeeper will not take your money and says, word for word: "It has no value." (ghabel nadare) Choose the natural English.
Answer: C — You are welcome — it is nothing.. Ghabel nadare is a polite way to refuse money. In English, say: You are welcome — it is nothing.
3. After a nice dinner without you, a friend says, word for word: "Your place was empty." (jaye shoma khali) Choose the natural English.
Answer: A — We missed you — I wish you were here.. Jaye shoma khali word for word talks about your empty place. In English, say: We missed you — I wish you were here.
4. After a friend helps you, you want to say dastet dard nakone — word for word: "May your hand not hurt." Choose the natural English.
Answer: C — Thank you so much for your help.. Dastet dard nakone is a warm thank-you in Persian. In English, a simple thank you carries the same heart: Thank you so much for your help.
5. A worker finishes a hard job. You want to say khaste nabashid — word for word: "May you not be tired." Choose the natural English.
Answer: C — Thank you for your hard work.. Khaste nabashid thanks a person for hard work. In English, say it plainly: Thank you for your hard work.

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