The present tense
Four forms, by gender and number.
The present tense has four forms. They agree with the subject in gender and number, but not in person, so the same form serves "I", "you" and "he". One form covers both "I write" and "I am writing".
| pa'al | pi'el | hif'il | hitpa'el | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| m. sg. | כּוֹתֵב kotev | מְדַבֵּר medaber | מַזְמִין mazmin | מִתְלַבֵּשׁ mitlabesh |
| f. sg. | כּוֹתֶבֶת kotevet | מְדַבֶּרֶת medaberet | מַזְמִינָה mazmina | מִתְלַבֶּשֶׁת mitlabeshet |
| m. pl. | כּוֹתְבִים kotvim | מְדַבְּרִים medabrim | מַזְמִינִים mazminim | מִתְלַבְּשִׁים mitlabshim |
| f. pl. | כּוֹתְבוֹת kotvot | מְדַבְּרוֹת medabrot | מַזְמִינוֹת mazminot | מִתְלַבְּשׁוֹת mitlabshot |
כּוֹתֵב is "writes", מְדַבֵּר "speaks", מַזְמִין "orders, invites" and מִתְלַבֵּשׁ "gets dressed". Pa'al has o-e; pi'el starts with me-, hif'il with ma- and hitpa'el with mit-.
Weak roots change the shape a little: גָּר gar "lives" (f. גָּרָה gara), רוֹצֶה rotse "wants" (f. רוֹצָה rotsa).
The pronoun is needed
Since the form doesn't show the person, always say the subject.
- ani gar betel avivI live in Tel Aviv.a man speaking
- hi medaberet ivrit ve'anglitShe speaks Hebrew and English.
- anakhnu okhlim akhshavWe're eating now.
- hem mazminim pitsaThey're ordering pizza.
- at kotevet mikhtav?Are you writing a letter?to a woman
Verbs as nouns and adjectives
Many present forms also work as nouns or adjectives.
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.
How many forms does a Hebrew verb have in the present tense?
Four: masculine and feminine, singular and plural.
Why must the subject pronoun be said with a present-tense verb?
The verb form doesn't show the person.
How does a man say 'I'm writing', as opposed to 'I write'?
The same way: אֲנִי כּוֹתֵב (ani kotev).
What's the feminine singular present of כָּתַב (write)?
כּוֹתֶבֶת (kotevet).
Which endings mark the masculine and feminine plural of a present-tense verb?
-ים (-im) for masculine, -וֹת (-ot) for feminine.
What's the present of דִּבֵּר (speak) for 'she'?
מְדַבֶּרֶת (medaberet).
What prefix starts the present of a hif'il verb like הִזְמִין (order)?
מַ- (ma-), as in מַזְמִין (mazmin).
What's the masculine plural present of הִתְלַבֵּשׁ (get dressed)?
מִתְלַבְּשִׁים (mitlabshim).
What's the present of גָּר (live) for 'she'?
גָּרָה (gara).
Besides 'makes laugh', what does the present form מַצְחִיק (matskhik) mean?
Funny.