Nif'al verbs
Going in, staying, being born: verbs with ni-, and words like סָגוּר "closed".
Nif'al verbs start with נִ ni- in the past and the present. Many are the passive of a pa'al verb: נִכְתַּב "was written", נִסְגַּר "was closed, closed". Many others are everyday verbs: נִכְנַס "go in", נִשְׁאַר "stay", נִרְדַּם "fall asleep", נִפְגַּשׁ "meet", נוֹלַד "be born".
| Past | Future | |
|---|---|---|
| אֲנִי | נִכְנַסְתִּי nikhnasti | אֶכָּנֵס ekanes |
| אַתָּה | נִכְנַסְתָּ nikhnasta | תִּכָּנֵס tikanes |
| אַתְּ | נִכְנַסְתְּ nikhnast | תִּכָּנְסִי tikansi |
| הוּא | נִכְנַס nikhnas | יִכָּנֵס yikanes |
| הִיא | נִכְנְסָה nikhnesa | תִּכָּנֵס tikanes |
| אֲנַחְנוּ | נִכְנַסְנוּ nikhnasnu | נִכָּנֵס nikanes |
| אַתֶּם, אַתֶּן | נִכְנַסְתֶּם nikhnastem | תִּכָּנְסוּ tikansu |
| הֵם, הֵן | נִכְנְסוּ nikhnesu | יִכָּנְסוּ yikansu |
The present has the usual four forms: נִכְנָס nikhnas, נִכְנֶסֶת nikhneset, נִכְנָסִים nikhnasim, נִכְנָסוֹת nikhnasot. So "he went in" and "he goes in" sound alike, nikhnas; the time words around them tell which.
In the future, the infinitive and commands, the ni- goes, and the first root letter doubles instead: יִכָּנֵס yikanes "he'll go in", לְהִכָּנֵס lehikanes "to go in", הִכָּנֵס hikanes "come in!".
- nikhnasti lakheder vesagarti et hadeletI went into the room and closed the door.
- nisharnu babayit kol hayomWe stayed at home all day.
- hu nirdam mul hatelevizyaHe fell asleep in front of the TV.
- hakhanut nisgeret beshevaThe shop closes at seven.
- nipagesh makhar beveit hakafeWe'll meet tomorrow at the café.
Closed, open, written
A pa'al root in the pattern of סָגוּר sagur "closed" describes the state an action leaves, like an English "-ed" word: פָּתוּחַ patu'akh "open", כָּתוּב katuv "written", שָׁבוּר shavur "broken", עָסוּק asuk "busy". They change like adjectives: סְגוּרָה sgura.
- hakhalon patu'akhThe window is open.
- ani asuka akhshavI'm busy now.a woman speaking
- ma katuv po?What does it say here?literally "what is written here"
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 Verbs cards.
What prefix marks a nif'al verb in the past and the present?
נִ (ni-), as in נִכְנַס (nikhnas), 'went in'.
How do you say 'We stayed at home', with נִשְׁאַר (stay)?
נִשְׁאַרְנוּ בַּבַּיִת (nisharnu babayit).
What's the future of נִכְנַס (go in) for 'he'?
יִכָּנֵס (yikanes).
What's the infinitive of נִשְׁאַר (stay)?
לְהִשָּׁאֵר (lehisha'er).
How do you say 'I was born in Jerusalem'?
נוֹלַדְתִּי בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם (noladti birushalayim).
How do you tell נִכְנַס 'he went in' from נִכְנָס 'he goes in' when they're said?
You can't: both are nikhnas. The time words around them tell which.
How do you say 'The window is open'?
הַחַלּוֹן פָּתוּחַ (hakhalon patu'akh).
What does מָה כָּתוּב פֹּה? (ma katuv po?) ask?
'What does it say here?'