The future tense
Prefixes for each person.
The future tense puts a prefix before the stem, and in some forms an ending after it as well.
| Pa'al | Pi'el | Hif'il | Be | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| אֲנִי | אֶכְתֹּב ekhtov | אֲדַבֵּר adaber | אַזְמִין azmin | אֶהְיֶה ehye |
| אַתָּה | תִּכְתֹּב tikhtov | תְּדַבֵּר tedaber | תַּזְמִין tazmin | תִּהְיֶה tihye |
| אַתְּ | תִּכְתְּבִי tikhtevi | תְּדַבְּרִי tedabri | תַּזְמִינִי tazmini | תִּהְיִי tihyi |
| הוּא | יִכְתֹּב yikhtov | יְדַבֵּר yedaber | יַזְמִין yazmin | יִהְיֶה yihye |
| הִיא | תִּכְתֹּב tikhtov | תְּדַבֵּר tedaber | תַּזְמִין tazmin | תִּהְיֶה tihye |
| אֲנַחְנוּ | נִכְתֹּב nikhtov | נְדַבֵּר nedaber | נַזְמִין nazmin | נִהְיֶה nihye |
| אַתֶּם, אַתֶּן | תִּכְתְּבוּ tikhtevu | תְּדַבְּרוּ tedabru | תַּזְמִינוּ tazminu | תִּהְיוּ tihyu |
| הֵם, הֵן | יִכְתְּבוּ yikhtevu | יְדַבְּרוּ yedabru | יַזְמִינוּ yazminu | יִהְיוּ yihyu |
The prefixes are א for "I", נ for "we", י for "he" and "they", and ת for "you" and "she". "You" to a man and "she" share one form.
As in the past, "I", "you" and "we" are often left out.
- makhar ekhtov lekhaI'll write to you tomorrow.to a man
- hi tedaber itoShe'll talk to him.
- ma tazminu?What will you order?to a group
- nitra'e makharSee you tomorrow.
Requests
The future is the everyday way to ask someone to do something, and with a question mark it makes a polite request. See Infinitives and commands.
- ta'avir li et hamelakh?Could you pass me the salt?to a man
Cards from this guide
9 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 Verbs cards.
Which letter is the future-tense prefix for 'I'?
א, as in אֶכְתֹּב (ekhtov).
Which letter is the future-tense prefix for 'we'?
נ, as in נִכְתֹּב (nikhtov).
Which letter is the future-tense prefix for 'he' and 'they'?
י, as in יִכְתֹּב (yikhtov) and יִכְתְּבוּ (yikhtevu).
Which two persons share one future form, such as תִּכְתֹּב (tikhtov)?
'You' said to a man, and 'she'.
How do you say 'you will write' to a woman?
תִּכְתְּבִי (tikhtevi).
What ending does the future add for 'you' to a group and for 'they'?
-וּ (-u).
What's the future of 'be' for 'I'?
אֶהְיֶה (ehye).
What verb form makes an everyday polite request, such as asking someone to pass the salt?
The future tense, said as a question.
How do you say 'see you tomorrow'?
נִתְרָאֶה מָחָר (nitra'e makhar).