English has no counterpart to the Dari subjunctive in the past. The subjunctive in the past is used to refer to English past indefinite and present perfect when the speaker has no confidence about whether the action expressed by the main verb was committed or not committed.
The subjunctive in the past is formed from the present stem of the verb بودن (باش) "to be" preceded by the past participle of the main verb. The personal endings are added to the present stem of the verb بودن (باش) "to be":
1st pers. sing. آمده باشم "I may have come"
2nd pers. sing. آمده باشی "you may have come"
3rd pers. sing. آمده باشد "he (she) may have come"
1st pers. pl. آمده باشیم "we may have come"
2nd pers. pl. آمده باشید "you may have come"
3rd pers. pl. آمده باشند "they may have come"
The subjunctive in the past may be used in the sentences like the following:
"I think they may have come." فکر می کنم که آنها آمده باشند.
"If he brought it take it." اگر آن را آورده باشد بگیرش.
"He has gone I suppose."به خیالم او رفته باشد.
The negative is formed by adding the prefix نه "not" to the past participle of the main verb:
"He (she) may not have come." او نه آمده باشد
"I think they didn't say." فکر می کنم آنها نگفته باشند.
"If he hasn't gone, invite him." اگر او نرفته باشد دعوتش کن.
See Also: