The imperfective present perfect indicative tense describes a continuing, repetitive or habitual occurrence (→ imperfective aspect) in the past that has relevance to present time (→ perfect aspect) and is based on the known state of affairs (→ indicative mood). It combines the meanings expressed by imperfective past and present perfect. This tense does not have an equivalent in English and has to be be translated with different English tenses depending on the context. When it refers to a habitual or repeated occurrence, the present perfect tense or “used to” structure can be used. When it refers to a continuing or an ongoing occurrence, the present perfect progressive tense can be used.
Formation
The imperfective present perfect tense is formed according to the following pattern:
| می (mi-) | past participle | secondary ending |
Conjugation
Simple verbs
- Verb: رفتن (“raftan”; to go)
- Past participle: رفته (“rafte”; gone)
| 1S | می‌رفته‌ام
mirafteam I have used to go I have been going |
|---|---|
| 2S | می‌رفته‌ای
miraftei You have used to go You have been going |
| 3S | می‌رفته
mirafte He/She/It has used to go He/She/It has been going |
| 1P | می‌رفته‌ایم
mirafteim We have used to go We have been going |
| 2P | می‌رفته‌اید
mirafteid You have used to go You have been going |
| 3P | می‌رفته‌اند
mirafteand They have used to go They have been going |
Compound verbs
- Verb: کار کردن (“kâr kardan”; to work)
- Preverb: کار (“kâr”)
- Past participle: کرده (“karde”)
| 1S | کار می‌کرده‌ام
kâr mikardeam I have used to work I have been working |
|---|---|
| 2S | کار می‌کرده‌ای
kâr mikardei You have used to work You have been working |
| 3S | کار می‌کرده
kâr mikarde He/She/It has used to work He/She/It has been working |
| 1P | کار می‌کرده‌ایم
kâr mikardeim We have used to work We have been working |
| 2P | کار می‌کرده‌اید
kâr mikardeid You have used to work You have been working |
| 3P | کار می‌کرده‌اند
kâr mikardeand They have used to work They have been working |
Negative conjugation
The negative form of the imperfective present perfect tense is constructed by adding ن (“ne-”) before می (“mi-”). In the presence of the imperfective particle “mi”, the negation particle “na” is pronounced “ne”.
| 1S | نمی‌رفته‌ام
nemirafteam I have not used to go I have not been going |
|---|---|
| 2S | نمی‌رفته‌ای
nemiraftei You have not used to go You have not been going |
| 3S | نمی‌رفته
nemirafte He/She/It has not used to go He/She/It has not been going |
| 1P | نمی‌رفته‌ایم
nemirafteim We have not used to go We have not been going |
| 2P | نمی‌رفته‌اید
nemirafteid You have not used to go You have not been going |
| 3P | نمی‌رفته‌اند
nemirafteand They have not used to go They have not been going |
| 1S | کار نمی‌کرده‌ام
kâr nemikardeam I have not used to work I have not been working |
|---|---|
| 2S | کار نمی‌کرده‌ای
kâr nemikardei You have not used to work You have not been working |
| 3S | کار نمی‌کرده
kâr nemikarde He/She/It has not used to work He/She/It has not been working |
| 1P | کار نمی‌کرده‌ایم
kâr nemikardeim We have not used to work We have not been working |
| 2P | کار نمی‌کرده‌اید
kâr nemikardeid You have not used to work You have not been working |
| 3P | کار نمی‌کرده‌اند
kâr nemikardeand They have not used to work They have not been working |
Examples
| این اواخر، دیر به سر کار می‌آمده
In avâxer, dir be sar-e kâr miâmade He has been late for work recently |
| انگلیسی می‌خوانده؟
Engelisi mixwânde? Has she been studying English? |
| سالها آنجا درس می‌داده
Sâlhâ ânjâ dars midâde She has been teaching there many years |
| او را از مدتها پیش می‌شناخته‌ام
U râ az moddathâ piš mišenâxteam I have known her a long time |
| چه مدت برای آن شرکت کار می‌کرده‌اید؟
Če moddat barâ-ye ân šerkat kâr mikardeid? How long have you been working for that firm? |