English language has no short infinitive constructions. The short infinitive constructions of Dari are impersonal ones and used when the action expressed by the main verb has no subject.
The short infinitive constructions are formed from the short infinitive of the main verb (the infinitive without the last letter ن of the word, which has neither person nor number) preceded the following verbal forms:
باید "ought, must" - the 3rd pers. sing. of the verb بایستن"must"
شاید "it's possible, probably"- the 3rd pers. sing. of the verb شایستن "to be splendid"
میتوان "may be" - impersonal present stem of the verb توانستن "may, can" with the prefix می mii
میشود "it's possible, probably" - the 3rd pers. sing. of the verb شدن "to become" with the prefix می mii:
"One must do it without fail (lit. Must do it without fail) " آنرا حتما باید کرد.
"It's possible to say that she is pretty." میشود گفت که او مقبول است.
"It's possible to see strange things." چیزهای عجیبی را میتوان دید.
The negative is formed by adding the prefix نه na "not" to the verbal forms mentioned above:
"It's impossible to give it to him." آن را به او نمیشود داد.
"One must not say that to anybody." این را به هیچ کس نباید گفت.
See Also: