Want, can, must
Words that take an infinitive.
These words take an infinitive. Like present-tense verbs, they change for gender and number.
| m. sg. | f. sg. | m. pl. | f. pl. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| want | רוֹצֶה rotse | רוֹצָה rotsa | רוֹצִים rotsim | רוֹצוֹת rotsot |
| can | יָכוֹל yakhol | יְכוֹלָה yekhola | יְכוֹלִים yekholim | יְכוֹלוֹת yekholot |
| need to | צָרִיךְ tsarikh | צְרִיכָה tsrikha | צְרִיכִים tsrikhim | צְרִיכוֹת tsrikhot |
| must | חַיָּב khayav | חַיֶּבֶת khayevet | חַיָּבִים khayavim | חַיָּבוֹת khayavot |
- ani rotse lishtot mayimI want to drink some water.a man speaking
- at yekhola la'azor li?Can you help me?to a woman
- anakhnu tsrikhim lalekhetWe need to go.
- hi khayevet la'avod makharShe has to work tomorrow.
רוֹצֶה also takes a noun: אֲנִי רוֹצֶה קָפֶה ani rotse kafe "I'd like a coffee". For the past of צָרִיךְ and חַיָּב, add הָיָה: הָיִיתִי צָרִיךְ hayiti tsarikh "I had to". רוֹצֶה is a verb with its own past: רָצִיתִי ratsiti "I wanted".
It's possible, it's forbidden
These forms never change. They state what is possible, needed or allowed in general, and the infinitive follows. Add ל for a person: אָסוּר לְךָ asur lekha "you mustn't".
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| אֶפְשָׁר efshar | it's possible, one can |
| אִי אֶפְשָׁר i efshar | it's impossible, one can't |
| צָרִיךְ tsarikh | one has to, one should |
| אָסוּר asur | it's forbidden, one mustn't |
| מֻתָּר mutar | it's allowed, one may |
| כְּדַאי kedai | it's worth it, one should |
- efshar lashevet kan?Can I sit here?
- asur le'ashen kanSmoking isn't allowed here.
- tsarikh lehazmin makomYou need to book a table.
- kedai lavo mukdamIt's worth coming early.
Cards from this guide
10 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.
What verb form follows רוֹצֶה (want), יָכוֹל (can) and צָרִיךְ (need to)?
The infinitive.
What form of יָכוֹל (can) does a woman use to say 'I can'?
יְכוֹלָה (yekhola).
How do you say 'she has to', using חַיָּב (must)?
הִיא חַיֶּבֶת (hi khayevet).
How does a man say 'I had to', using צָרִיךְ (tsarikh, need to)?
הָיִיתִי צָרִיךְ (hayiti tsarikh).
How do you say 'I wanted'?
רָצִיתִי (ratsiti).
What does אֶפְשָׁר (efshar) mean before an infinitive?
'It's possible' or 'one can'.
אָסוּר (asur) or מֻתָּר (mutar): which means 'it's allowed'?
מֻתָּר (mutar).
What does כְּדַאי (kedai) mean before an infinitive?
'It's worth it' or 'one should'.
How do you say 'you mustn't' to a man, using אָסוּר (forbidden)?
אָסוּר לְךָ (asur lekha).
How do you ask 'Could I have a coffee?' using אֶפְשָׁר?
אֶפְשָׁר קָפֶה? (efshar kafe?)