Learning adjectives in Hebrew, a Semitic language spoken primarily in Israel, is essential for effective communication. Hebrew adjectives describe or modify nouns and pronouns, providing information about qualities such as size, color, age, etc. Here’s a detailed lesson on Hebrew adjectives and their grammatical rules, including transliterations for pronunciation help:

Understanding Hebrew Adjectives

Hebrew adjectives (תוארים – to’arim) modify nouns to give more information about them. Examples include:

• גדול (gadol – big, masculine)
• קטנה (ktanah – small, feminine)
• יפה (yafeh – beautiful, masculine)

Gender Agreement

Hebrew adjectives agree with the gender of the noun they modify:

• Masculine: כלב גדול (kelev gadol – a big dog)
• Feminine: חתולה קטנה (khatulah ktanah – a small cat)

Number Agreement

Adjectives in Hebrew also agree with the noun in number (singular or plural):

• Singular: ספר יפה (sefer yafeh – a beautiful book)
• Plural: ספרים יפים (sefarim yafim – beautiful books)

Case Agreement

Hebrew, unlike many Indo-European languages, does not have a case system for nouns or adjectives.

Position of Adjectives

In Hebrew, adjectives typically follow the noun they modify:

• עץ גבוה (etz gavoha – a tall tree)

Comparative and Superlative Forms

Comparative and superlative forms in Hebrew are generally formed using the words יותר (yoter – more) for comparative and הכי (hakhi – the most) for superlative:

• Comparative: גדול יותר (gadol yoter – bigger)
• Superlative: הגדול ביותר (hagadol beyoter – the biggest)

Adjective Negation

To negate an adjective in Hebrew, “לא” (lo) is used:

• לא גדול (lo gadol – not big)

Construct State

In Hebrew, when an adjective modifies a noun in a construct state (smikhut), the adjective agrees in gender and number with the absolute noun:

• בית ספר גדול (beit sefer gadol – a big school, where “beit sefer” is the construct state)

Practice and Usage

Practice forming sentences using adjectives, paying attention to their correct gender, number, and placement after the noun.

Common Mistakes

• Reversing the order of the adjective and the noun.
• Misapplying gender or number agreement.

Further Resources

For more comprehensive learning, consider Hebrew language textbooks, online resources, language learning apps, and practice with native speakers.

Understanding and correctly using Hebrew adjectives will greatly enhance your ability to communicate effectively in Hebrew. Regular practice and attention to grammatical rules are key to mastering this aspect of the language. בהצלחה (Behatzlacha – Good luck)!