Hebrew verb conjugation

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Main article: Hebrew grammar

In Hebrew, verbs are conjugated to reflect their tense and mood, as well as to agree with their subjects in gender, number, and person. Each verb has an inherent voice, though a verb in one voice typically has counterparts in other voices.

Contents 1 Classification of roots 2 Present tense 3 Past tense 4 Future tense 5 Imperative 6 Participles 7 Infinitives 8 Gerunds

[edit] Classification of roots

A root is classified according to the letters that appear in it. Roots that contain certain letters are conjugated differently.

Roots that contain a ו vav or a י yod as the 2nd letters are called hollow roots. The ו vav or the י yod rarely appear in any conjugation though are usually written as part of the root. Examples of hollow roots: שר shar (sang), גר gar (lived), דן dan (discussed), דג dag (fished).

Roots that contain at least one of the weak letters, י yod, נ nun, ח khet, ע ayin, א alef, and ה hei, are called weak roots. Each weak letter/position pairing results in a slightly different conjugation pattern. The largest group of these are those that end with י yod. Examples of weak roots: שתה shata (drank), עלה ala (went up), ירד yarad (went down), נפל nafal (fell).

Roots that do no fit into the other 2 categories are called strong or complete roots.

[edit] Present tense

A verb in the present tense (הוֹוֶה hove) agrees with its subject in gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural), such that each verb has four present-tense forms:

Example conjugations in the present tense.

Form	Root	Singular		Plural		Translation
		M	F	M	F
Pa'al	שמר	שׁוֹמֵר	שׁוֹמֶרֶת	שׁוֹמְרִים	שׁוֹמְרוֹת	Guards
	sh-m-r	shomer	shomeret	shomrim	shomrot
Nif'al	שמר	נִשְׁמָר	נִשְׁמֶרֶת	נִשְׁמָרִים	נִשְמָרוֹת	Is guarded
	sh-m-r	nishmar	nishmeret	nishmarim	nishmarot
Hif'il	קטנ	מַקְטִין	מַקְטִינָה	מַקְטִינִים	מַקְטִינוֹת	Shrinks (something)
	k-t-n	maktin	maktina	maktinim	maktinot
Huf'al	קטנ	מֻקְטָן	מֻקְטֶנֶת	מֻקְטָנִים	מֻקְטָנוֹת	Is shrunken by
	k-t-n	muktan	muktenet	muktanim	muktanot
Pi'el	גדל	מְגַדֵּל	מְגַדֶּלֶת	מְגַדְּלִים	מְגַדְּלוֹת	Raises, grows (something)
	g-d-l	m'gadel	m'gadelet	m'gadlim	m'gadlot
Pu'al	גדל	מְגוּדָּל	מְגוּדֶּלֶת	מְגוּדָּלִים	מְגוּדָּלוֹת	Is raised
	g-d-l	m'gudal	m'gudelet	m'gudalim	m'gudalot
Hitpa'el	בטל	מִתְבַּטֵּל	מִתְבַּטֶּלֶת	מִתְבַּטְּלִים	מִתְבַּטְּלוֹת	Belittles oneself, loafs
	b-t-l	mitbatel	mitbatelet	mitbatlim	mitbatlot

[edit] Past tense

A verb in the past tense (עָבָר avar) agrees with its subject in person (first, second, or third) and number, and in the second-person singular and plural and third-person singular, gender.

Example conjugations in the past tense.

Form	Root	Singular					Plural
		I	You		He	She	We	You		They
			M	F				M	F
Pa'al	שמר	שָׁמַרְתִּי	שָׁמַרְתָּ	שׁמַרתְּ	שָׁמַר	שָׁמְרָה	שָׁמַרְנוּ	שְׁמַרתֶּם	שְׁמַרתֶּן	שָׁמְרוּ
	sh-m-r	shamarti	shamarta	shamart	shamar	shamra	shamarnu	shmartem	shmarten	shamru
Nif'al	שמר	נִשְׁמַרְתִּי	נִשְׁמַרְתָּ	נִשְׁמַרְתְּ	נִשְׁמַר	נִשְׁמְרָה	נִשְׁמַרְנוּ	נִשְׁמַרְתֶּם	נִשְׁמַרְתֶּן	נִשְׁמְרוּ
	sh-m-r	nishmarti	nishmarta	nishmart	nishmar	nishm'ra	nishmarnu	nishmartem	nishmarten	nishm'ru
Hif'il	קטנ	הִקְטַנְתִּי	הִקְטַנְתָּ	הִקְטַנְתְּ	הִקְטִין	הִקְטִינָה	הִקְטַנּוּ	הִקְטַנְתֶּם	הִקְטַנְתֶּן	הִקְטִינוּ
	k-t-n	hiktanti	hiktanta	hiktant	hiktin	hiktina	hiktanu	hiktantem	hiktanten	hiktinu
Huf'al	קטנ	הֻקְטַנְתִּי	הֻקְטַנְתָּ	הֻקְטַנְתְּ	הֻקְטַן	הֻקְטְנָה	הֻקְטַנּוּ	הֻקְטַנְתֶּם	הֻקְטַנְתֶּן	הֻקְטְנוּ
	k-t-n	huktanti	huktanta	huktant	huktan	hukt'na	huktanu	huktantem	huktanten	hukt'nu
Pi'el	גדל	גִּדַּלְתִּי	גִּדַּלְתָּ	גִּדַּלְתְּ	גִּדֵּל	גִּדְּלָה	גִּדַּלְנוּ	גִּדַּלְתֶּם	גִּדַּלְתֶּן	גִּדְּלוּ
	g-d-l	gidalti	gidalta	gidalt	gidel	gidla	gidalnu	gidaltem	gidalten	gidlu
Pu'al	גדל	גֻּדַּלְתִּי	גֻּדַּלְתָּ	גֻּדַּלְתְּ	גֻּדַּל	גֻּדְּלָה	גֻּדַּלְנוּ	גֻּדַּלְתֶּם	גֻּדַּלְתֶּן	גֻּדְּלוּ
	g-d-l	gudalti	gudalta	gudalt	gudal	gudla	gudalnu	gudaltem	gudalten	gudlu
Hitpa'el	בטל	הִתְבַּטַּלְתִּי	הִתְבַּטַּלְתָּ	הִתְבַּטַּלְתְּ	הִתְבַּטֵּל	הִתְבַּטְּלָה	הִתְבַּטַּלְנוּ	הִתְבַּטַּלְתֶּם	הִתְבַּטַּלְתֶּן	הִתְבַּטְּלוּ
	b-t-l	hitbatalti	hitbatalta	hitbatalt	hitbatel	hitbatla	hitbatalnu	hitbataltem	hitbatalten	hitbatlu

[edit] Future tense

A verb in the future tense (עָתִיד atid) agrees with its subject in person and number, and in the second- and third-person singular, gender. The second-person singular masculine and third-person singular feminine forms are identical for all verbs in the future tense. Historically, there have been separate feminine forms for the second- and third-person plural (shown in parentheses on the table). These are still occasionally used today (most often in formal settings), and could be seen as the 'correct' forms; however in everyday speech, most Israelis use the historically male form for both genders.

Example conjugations in the future tense.

Form	Root	Singular					Plural
		I	You		He	She	We	You		They
			M	F				M	(F)	M	(F)
Pa'al	שמר	אֶשְׁמוֹר	תִּשְׁמוֹר	תִּשְׁמְרִי	יִשְׁמוֹר	תִּשְׁמוֹר	נִשְׁמוֹר	תִּשְׁמְרוּ	תִּשְׁמוֹרנָה	יִשְׁמְרוּ	תִּשְׁמוֹרנָה
	sh-m-r	eshmor	tishmor	tishm'ri	yishmor	tishmor	nishmor	tishm'ru	tishmorna	yishm'ru	tishmorna
Nif'al	שמר	אֶשָּׁמֵר	תִּישָּׁמֵר	תִּישָּׁמְרִי	יִישָּׁמֵר	תִּישָּׁמֵר	נִישָּׁמֵר	תִּישָּׁמְרוּ	תְּשַׁמֵּרְנָה	יִישָּׁמְרוּ	תְּשַׁמֵּרְנָה
	sh-m-r	eshamer	tishamer	tishamri	yishamer	tishamer	nishamer	tishamru	tishamerna	yishamru	tishamerna
Hif'il	קטנ	אַקְטִין	תַּקְטִין	תַּקְטִינִי	יַקְטִין	תַּקְטִין	נַקְטִין	תַּקְטִינוּ	תַּקְטֶינָה	יַקְטִינוּ	תַּקְטֶינָה
	k-t-n	aktin	taktin	taktini	yaktin	taktin	naktin	taktinu	taktenna	yaktinu	taktenna
Huf'al	קטנ	אוּקְטַן	תּוּקְטַן	תּוּקְטְנִי	יוּקְטַן	תּוּקְטַן	נוּקְטַן	תּוּקְטְנוּ	תּוּקְטַנָה	יוּקְטְנוּ	תּוּקְטַנָה
	k-t-n	uktan	tuktan	tukteni	yuktan	tuktan	nuktan	tuktenu	tuktanna	yuktenu	tuktanna
Pi'el	גדל	אֲגַדֵּל	תְּגַדֵּל	תְּגַדֵּלִי	יְגַדֵּל	תְּגַדֵּל	נְגַדֵּל	תְּגַדְּלוּ	תִּגְדַּלְנָה	יְגַדְּלוּ	תִּגְדַּלְנָה
	g-d-l	agadel	t'gadel	t'gadli	y'gadel	t'gadel	n'gadel	t'gadlu	tigdalnah	y'gadlu	tigdalnah
Pu'al	גדל	אֲגוּדַּל	תְּגוּדַּל	תְּגוּדְּלִי	יְגוּדַּל	תְּגוּדַּל	נְגוּדַּל	תְּגוּדְּלוּ	תְּגוּדַּלְנָה	יְגוּדְּלוּ	תְּגוּדַּלְנָה
	g-d-l	agudal	t'gudal	t'gudli	y'gudal	t'gudal	n'gudal	t'gudlu	t'gudalna	y'gudlu	t'gudalna
Hitpa'el	בטל	אֶתְבַּטֵּל	תִּתְבַּטֵּל	תִּתְבַּטְּלִי	יִתְבַּטֵּל	תִּתְבַּטֵּל	נִתְבַּטֵּל	תִּתְבַּטְּלוּ	תִּתְבַּטֵּלנָה	יִתְבַּטְּלוּ	תִּתְבַּטֵּלנָה
	b-t-l	etbatel	titbatel	titbatli	yitbatel	titbatel	nitbatel	titbatlu	titbatelna	yitbatlu	titbatelna

As in the past tense, personal pronouns are not strictly necessary in the future tense, as the verb forms are sufficient to identify the subject, but colloquially they are frequently used.

[edit] Imperative

Except for the strictly passive binyanim (pu'al and huf'al), each binyan has distinct imperative forms in the second person. This imperative form is only used for affirmative commands. Pa'al, nif'al, pi'el, and hif'il form their imperatives by dropping the initial ת of the future-tense form (e.g., תפתח tiftakh (singular, masc.) → פתח ptakh! "open!", תשמרי tishm'ri (singular, fem.) → שמרי shimri! "guard!"); the fifth, hitpa'el, forms its imperative by replacing this initial ת with ה (titbatel → hitbatel "do nothing!"). (Note that the dropping of the initial ת often results in a change in vowelization, as can be seen in the instance of tishm'ri/shimri).

Negative commands use the particle אל al followed by the future-tense form. For example, al tid'ag means "don't worry" (masculine, singular).

The future tense is commonly used for affirmative commands when making requests, so that for example, tiftakh can mean either "you will open" or "open" (masculine, singular). It is used because the true imperative mood can be considered rude.

The infinitive can be used as a "general imperative" when addressing nobody in particular (e.g. on signs, or when giving general instructions to children or large groups), so that for example, lo liftoakh can mean either "not to open" or "no opening," "no one open."

[edit] Participles

Present participles are identical to present tense forms: nerot bo'arim (burning candles), ha-yalda hi maksima (the girl is charming).

Only the pa'al binyan has a true past participle: from k-t-v we have katuv, (written). This gives Hebrew a limited ability to distinguish between a completed action, e.g.:

• ha-sfarim ketuvim (the books have been written)

And, using the present tense of nif'al, which is often the passive of pa'al, a continuing action:

• ha-sfarim nikhtavim (the books are being written)

The passive participle is commonly used as an adjective, as in ha-p'kuda ha-katuva (the written order).

The present tense of the pu'al and huf'al are used as passive participles for the pi'el and hif'il respectively, e.g. from hif'il he'ir (light up) we get kheder mu'ar (illuminated room).

[edit] Infinitives

Infinitives (sh'mot hapo'al) in Hebrew are primarily formed by adding the letter lamed (ל) to the front of the word. The vowels change systematically according to the binyan.

• כתב katav (wrote, pa'al) → לכתוב likhtov (to write)
• מדבר m'daber (speak, pi'el) → לדבר l'daber (to speak)
• התחיל hitkhil (start, hif'il) → להתחיל l'hatkhil (to start)
• התפלל hitpalel (pray, hit'pael) → להתפלל l'hitpalel (to pray)
• נפגש nifgash (meet with, nif'al) → להיפגש l'hipagesh (to meet with)

There is no infinitive for Pu'al or Huf'al verbs.

[edit] Gerunds

Gerunds (shmot pe'ula) are nouns expressing an action. Gerunds are created in Hebrew by putting the root of a verb in a "mishkal" (see Hebrew grammar#Nouns). Four of the binyanim have gerunds: pa'al, pi'el, hif'il, and hitpa'el. For example:

• שמר shamar (to guard — pa'al) → שמירה sh'mira (guarding)
  • שב shav (to return — hollow pa'al) → שיבה shiva (returning, a return)
  • שתה shata (to drink — weak pa'al) → שתייה sh'tiya (drinking, a drink)
• נכנס nikhnas (to enter — nif'al) → הכנסות hikansut (entering)
• ביקר biker (to visit — pi'el) → ביקור bikur (visiting, a visit)
• הפתיע hiftia (to surprise — hif'il) → הפתעה hafta'a (surprising, a surprise)
• התחמם hitkhamem (to warm up — hitpa'el) → התחממות hitkham'mut (warming)

Note that unlike in English (where gerunds and present participles have the same form), Hebrew gerunds cannot be used as adjectives.