Hebrew Verbs

Learning Hebrew, an ancient language that has been revived as the official language of Israel, involves understanding its complex verb system. Hebrew verbs are characterized by their root and pattern system, reflecting tense, mood, binyan (verb structure), voice, and gender. This guide will delve into the intricacies of Hebrew verbs, providing a comprehensive overview of their grammatical rules, including transliteration for pronunciation help.

Introduction to the Hebrew Verb System

Hebrew verbs are based on roots, usually consisting of three consonants, which are placed into different patterns or binyanim to express various nuances of voice and aspect. There are seven standard binyanim: Pa’al (פָּעַל), Pi’el (פִּעֵל), Hif’il (הִפְעִיל), Nif’al (נִפְעַל), Pu’al (פֻּעַל), Huf’al (הֻפְעַל), and Hitpa’el (הִתְפַּעֵל).

Verb Conjugation Overview

Present Tense

The present tense in Hebrew is not marked for time but rather for state or condition and is the same as the participle form. It is marked for gender and number.

Pa’al Pattern for “לִכְתּוֹב” (likhtov – to write):
- Ani kotev (אני כותב) – I write (male)
- Ani kotevet (אני כותבת) – I write (female)

Past Tense

The past tense is marked for person, gender, and number, and it indicates completed actions.

Pa’al Pattern for “לִכְתּוֹב”:
- Ani katavti (אני כתבתי) – I wrote (female)
- Ani katav (אני כתב) – I wrote (male)

Future Tense

The future tense is also marked for person, gender, and number, indicating actions that will happen.

Pa’al Pattern for “לִכְתּוֹב”:
- Ani ektov (אני אכתוב) – I will write (male)
- Ani ektov (אני אכתוב) – I will write (female)

Binyanim (Verb Structures)

Each binyan conveys different nuances of voice and aspect:

Pa’al (פָּעַל): Simple action, active voice
Nif’al (נִפְעַל): Passive or reflexive of Pa’al
Pi’el (פִּעֵל): Intensive or causative action, active voice
Pu’al (פֻּעַל): Intensive or causative action, passive voice
Hif’il (הִפְעִיל): Causative action, active voice
Huf’al (הֻפְעַל): Causative action, passive voice
Hitpa’el (הִתְפַּעֵל): Reflexive or reciprocal action

Negative Form

To form the negative in Hebrew, “לא” (lo) is placed before the verb.

Example: אני לא כותב (Ani lo kotev) – I do not write

Imperative Mood

The imperative mood is used for commands, existing only in the second person. It is formed differently in each binyan.

Pi’el Pattern for “לִכְתּוֹב”:
- כְּתוֹב (Ktov) – Write! (male, singular)
- כְּתְבִי (Ktvi) – Write! (female, singular)

Infinitive Form

The infinitive form in Hebrew often serves as the noun form of the verb, used after prepositions or to express purpose.

Example: לִכְתּוֹב (Liktov) – to write

Participles

Participles in Hebrew serve as present tense verbs, adjectives, and nouns. They are conjugated for gender and number.

Pa’al Pattern for “לִכְתּוֹב”:
- Kotev (כותב) – Writing (male, singular)
- Kotvim (כותבים) – Writing (male, plural)

Voice: Active and Passive

The active and passive voices are expressed through different binyanim. For example, a verb in Pa’al (active) will have its passive counterpart in Nif’al.

Active: Ani kotev (אני כותב) – I write
Passive: Hasefer nekhtav (הספר נכתב) – The book is written

Practice Exercises

Conjugate in Present Tense: Use “לִרְאוֹת” (lir’ot – to see) in the Pa’al pattern for all persons and genders.
Form Negative Sentences: Create negative sentences using “לָלֶכֶת” (lalekhet – to go) in the future tense.
Imperative Mood Practice: Provide imperative forms for “לְהַקְשִׁיב” (lehaqshiv – to listen) in the Pi’el pattern.
Use of Participle Forms: Construct sentences employing the participle form of “לְהַשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ” (lehashtamesh – to use) as adjectives.

Conclusion

Understanding Hebrew verbs involves mastering their conjugation patterns across different binyanim, tense, mood, aspect, and voice. Regular practice, along with active engagement in listening, speaking, reading, and writing exercises, will significantly enhance your proficiency in Hebrew. The richness of the Hebrew verb system allows for precise expression of action, mood, and aspect, making it a key component of effective communication in this ancient yet vibrant language.