Never Say I am Agree
This is probably the most common error made by Persians when speaking or writing in English. So common that I decided to start a blog to teach, and learn, English.
"I am Agree" is wrong because Agree is a verb. It's like saying: I am walk! The correct expression is of course "I walk" or "I agree" or if you insist on expressing what you are, you can say "I am agreeable."
The root of this error, I believe, is in the way we say "movafegham" in Persian. We DO NOT use the verb "Agree" which means "Movafeghat Kardan." Instead, we use an adjective (sefat): Movafegh, which means "Agreeable" or "In Agreement," because it's shorter and easier to say "Movafegham" than "Movafeghat minkonam." So the correct translation of "Movafegham" is "I am in Agreement" or "I am Agreeable."
In English, however, the shorter and easier way of saying this is "I Agree" which uses the verb "agree" and is equivalent to the long Persian expression: "Movafeghat mikonam"
So the next time you want to agree with something or somebody in English, remember to "Agree" not to "be Agree." To memorize it, remember "I agree" rhymes with "I see." You never say "I am see" for "mibinam," do you?
I welcome all your English questions and comments and will try to respond to them in my FREE blogs if you promise to do the same and offer some FREE help to another fellow Persian. As a perennial student, and a humble soul, I will also be grateful for any tips, pointers or corrections sent to me.
