Persian (Farsi-Dari) Grammar and Self-Learner

Learn to speak Persian - in Farsi and Dari - without needing to learn the script.

This comprehensive grammar and self-study guide is designed specifically for English speakers who want to communicate in Persian, whether in Iran, Afghanistan, or with Persian-speaking communities worldwide. Written by Dr Yavar Dehghani, a linguist and experienced teacher of Persian to adult English speakers in Australia, this book takes a unique comparative linguistics approach: rather than teaching rules in isolation, it shows you how Persian differs from English - making every grammatical pattern faster to understand and easier to remember.

What makes this book different:

• No Arabic script required. The entire book uses transliteration in the Roman alphabet. You can start speaking Persian from day one without needing to master a new writing system first.
• Covers both Farsi and Dari. Most Persian learning resources focus only on the Farsi of Iran. This book systematically notes Dari equivalents throughout, making it equally valuable for learners communicating in Afghanistan.
• Practical grammar, not just rules. The grammar section covers the subtleties, exceptions, and traps of literal translation that most textbooks leave out - including compound verbs, the object marker rä, causative verbs, politeness registers, colloquial forms, and much more.
• 20 real-world conversation lessons. Topics include greetings, travel, weather, restaurants, hotels, banking, health, shopping, daily routines, and New Year customs - each built around authentic, usable Persian.
• Comparative linguistics method. Proven through years of classroom teaching, this approach builds on what you already know as an English speaker rather than treating Persian as a system to be memorised from scratch.

Whether you are a complete beginner, a heritage speaker wanting to formalise your knowledge, a student of Iranian or Afghan culture, or a professional working in the Persian-speaking world, this book gives you the grammar, vocabulary, and conversational tools you need - without the barrier of the script.