If
אִם for what may happen, and הָיָה with the present for what isn't so.
"If" is אִם im. For something that may happen, the if-clause takes the tense it means; for the future, both halves take the future, unlike English. אָז az "then" may start the second half.
- im yered geshem, nisha'er babayitIf it rains, we'll stay home.
- im tirtsi, nelekh layamIf you like, we'll go to the beach.to a woman
- im ata ayef, lekh lishonIf you're tired, go to sleep.to a man
What isn't so
For something that isn't so, or wasn't, both halves take a past form of הָיָה and a present form: הָיִיתִי קוֹנֶה hayiti kone "I would buy, I would have bought". The same words serve for now and for the past.
| Would come | |
|---|---|
| אֲנִי | הָיִיתִי בָּא hayiti ba |
| אַתָּה | הָיִיתָ בָּא hayita ba |
| הוּא | הָיָה בָּא haya ba |
| הִיא | הָיְתָה בָּאָה hayta ba'a |
| אֲנַחְנוּ | הָיִינוּ בָּאִים hayinu ba'im |
- im haya li kesef, hayiti kone diraIf I had money, I'd buy an apartment.a man speaking
- im hayita ba, hayita neheneIf you had come, you'd have enjoyed it.to a man
Formal Hebrew uses אִלּוּ ilu or לוּ lu for this "if".
I would like
הָיִיתִי רוֹצֶה hayiti rotse, or רוֹצָה rotsa for a woman, is a polite "I'd like".
- hayiti rotsa lehazmin shulkhan lishnayimI'd like to book a table for two.a woman speaking
Whether, even if, unless
אִם also means "whether": אֲנִי לֹא יוֹדֵעַ אִם הוּא יָבוֹא "I don't know if he'll come". אֲפִלּוּ אִם afilu im is "even if", and אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן ela im ken "unless".
- netse, afilu im yered geshemWe'll go out even if it rains.
Cards from this guide
8 cardsEach card asks about one thing this guide teaches, and its back gives the answer with why and an example. They're reviewed with the rest of the Joining sentences cards.
How do you say 'if'?
אִם (im).
What tense goes after אִם for the future, as in 'if it rains tomorrow'?
The future: אִם יֵרֵד גֶּשֶׁם מָחָר (im yered geshem makhar).
How does a man say 'I would buy'?
הָיִיתִי קוֹנֶה (hayiti kone).
How do you say 'if I had time', when you don't?
אִם הָיָה לִי זְמַן (im haya li zman).
Does הָיִיתָ בָּא (hayita ba) mean 'you would come' or 'you would have come'?
Either: one form serves for now and for the past.
How does a woman say 'I'd like ...' politely?
הָיִיתִי רוֹצָה (hayiti rotsa).
What does אִם mean after 'I don't know' or 'I asked'?
'Whether', 'if'.
How do you say 'even if'?
אֲפִלּוּ אִם (afilu im).