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. In transliterations below, vowels are in Latin and consonants are in English.

Contents 1 Classification of roots 2 Present tense 3 Past tense 4 Future tense 5 Imperative 6 Participles 7 Prospectives (Infinitives) 8 Gerunds 9 See also

[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 (talked), דג dag (fished).

Roots that contain at least one of the weak letters, י yod, נ nun, ח ħet, ע 'áyin, א álef, 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 not fit into the other two 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	שׁמר	שׁוֹמֵר	שׁוֹמֶ֫רֶת	שׁוֹמְרִים	שׁוֹמְרוֹת	Guards
	sh-m-r	shomer	shoméret	shomərim	shomərot
Nif'al	שׁמר	נִשְׁמָר	נִשְׁמֶ֫רֶת	נִשְׁמָרִים	נִשְמָרוֹת	Is guarded
	sh-m-r	nishmar	nishméret	nishmarim	nishmarot
Hif'il	קטנ	מַקְטִין	מַקְטִינָה	מַקְטִינִים	מַקְטִינוֹת	Shrinks (something)
	q-t-n	maqtin	maqtina	maqtinim	maqtinot
Huf'al	קטנ	מוּקְטָן	מוּקְטֶ֫נֶת	מוּקְטָנִים	מוּקְטָנוֹת	Is shrunken by
	q-t-n	muqtan	muqténet	muqtanim	muqtanot
Pi'el	גדל	מְגַדֵּל	מְגַדֶּ֫לֶת	מְגַדְּלִים	מְגַדְּלוֹת	Raises, grows (something)
	g-d-l	məgaddel	məgaddélet	məgaddəlim	məgaddəlot
Pu'al	גדל	מְגוּדָּל	מְגוּדֶּ֫לֶת	מְגוּדָּלִים	מְגוּדָּלוֹת	Is raised
	g-d-l	məguddal	məguddélet	məguddalim	məguddalot
Hitpa'el	בטל	מִתְבַּטֵּל	מִתְבַּטֶּ֫לֶת	מִתְבַּטְּלִים	מִתְבַּטְּלוֹת	Belittles oneself, loafs
	b-t-l	mitbattel	mitbattélet	mitbattəlim	mitbattəlot

[edit] Past tense

A verb in the past tense (עָבַר '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
		He	She	Thou		I	They	Ye		We
				M	F			M	F
Pa'al	שׁמר	שָׁמַר	שָֽׁמְרָה	שָׁמַ֫רְתָּ	שָׁמַרְתְּ	שָׁמַ֫רְתִּי	שָֽׁמְרוּ	שְׁמַרְתֶּם	שְׁמַרְתֶּן	שָׁמַ֫רְנוּ
	sh-m-r	shamar	shaməra	shamárta	shamart	shamárti	shaməru	shəmartem	shəmarten	shamárnu
Nif'al	שׁמר	נִשְׁמַר	נִשְׁמְרָה	נִשְׁמַ֫רְתָּ	נִשְׁמַרְתְּ	נִשְׁמַ֫רְתִּי	נִשְׁמְרוּ	נִשְׁמַרְתֶּם	נִשְׁמַרְתֶּן	נִשְׁמַ֫רְנוּ
	sh-m-r	nishmar	nishməra	nishmárta	nishmart	nishmárti	nishməru	nishmartem	nishmarten	nishmárnu
Hif'il	קטנ	הִקְטִין	הִקְטִינָה	הִקְטַ֫נְתָּ	הִקְטַנְתְּ	הִקְטַ֫נְתִּי	הִקְטִינוּ	הִקְטַנְתֶּם	הִקְטַנְתֶּן	הִקְטַ֫נּוּ
	q-t-n	hiqtin	hiqtina	hiqtánta	hiqtant	hiqtánti	hiqtinu	hiqtantem	hiqtanten	hiqtánnu
Huf'al	קטנ	הוּקְטַן	הוּקְטְנָה	הוּקְטַ֫נְתָּ	הוּקְטַנְתְּ	הוּקְטַ֫נְתִּי	הוּקְטְנוּ	הוּקְטַנְתֶּם	הוּקְטַנְתֶּן	הוּקְטַ֫נּוּ
	q-t-n	huqtan	huqtəna	huqtánta	huqtant	huqtánti	huqtənu	huqtantem	huqtanten	huqtánnu
Pi'el	גדל	גִּידֵּל	גִּידְּלָה	גִּידַּ֫לְתָּ	גִּידַּלְתְּ	גִּידַּ֫לְתִּי	גִּידְּלוּ	גִּידַּלְתֶּם	גִּידַּלְתֶּן	גִּידַּ֫לְנוּ
	g-d-l	giddel	giddəla	giddálta	giddalt	giddálti	giddəlu	giddaltem	giddalten	giddálnu
Pu'al	גדל	גּוּדַּל	גּוּדְּלָה	גּוּדַּ֫לְתָּ	גּוּדַּלְתְּ	גּוּדַּ֫לְתִּי	גּוּדְּלוּ	גּוּדַּלְתֶּם	גּוּדַּלְתֶּן	גּוּדַּ֫לְנוּ
	g-d-l	guddal	guddəla	guddálta	guddalt	guddálti	guddəlu	guddaltem	guddalten	guddálnu
Hitpa'el	בטל	הִתְבַּטֵּל	הִתְבַּטְּלָה	הִתְבַּטַּ֫לְתָּ	הִתְבַּטַּלְתְּ	הִתְבַּטַּ֫לְתִּי	הִתְבַּטְּלוּ	הִתְבַּטַּלְתֶּם	הִתְבַּטַּלְתֶּן	הִתְבַּטַּ֫לְנוּ
	b-t-l	hitbattel	hitbattəla	hitbattálta	hitbattalt	hitbattálti	hitbattəlu	hitbattaltem	hitbattalten	hitbattálnu

[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
		He	She	Thou		I	They		Ye		We
				M	F		M	(F)	M	(F)
Pa'al	שׁמר	יִשְׁמוֹר	תִּשְׁמוֹר	תִּשְׁמוֹר	תִּשְׁמְרִי	אֶשְׁמוֹר	יִשְׁמְרוּ	תִּשְׁמוֹ֫רנָה	תִּשְׁמְרוּ	תִּשְׁמוֹ֫רנָה	נִשְׁמוֹר
	sh-m-r	yishmor	tishmor	tishmor	tishməri	eshmor	yishməru	tishmórna	tishməru	tishmórna	nishmor
Nif'al	שׁמר	יִישָּׁמֵר	תִּישָּׁמֵר	תִּישָּׁמֵר	תִּישָּׁמְרִי	אֶשָּׁמֵר	יִישָּׁמְרוּ	תְּשַׁמֵּ֫רְנָה	תִּישָּׁמְרוּ	תְּשַׁמֵּ֫רְנָה	נִישָּׁמֵר
	sh-m-r	yishshamer	tishshamer	tishshamer	tishshaməri	eshshamer	yishshaməru	təshammérna	tishshaməru	təshammérna	nishshamer
Hif'il	קטנ	יַקְטִין	תַּקְטִין	תַּקְטִין	תַּקְטִינִי	אַקְטִין	יַקְטִינוּ	תַּקְטֶי֫נָה	תַּקְטִינוּ	תַּקְטֶי֫נָה	נַקְטִין
	q-t-n	yaqtin	taqtin	taqtin	taqtini	aqtin	yaqtinu	taqtéyna	taqtinu	taqtéyna	naqtin
Huf'al	קטנ	יוּקְטַן	תּוּקְטַן	תּוּקְטַן	תּוּקְטְנִי	אוּקְטַן	יוּקְטְנוּ	תּוּקְטַ֫נָּה	תּוּקְטְנוּ	תּוּקְטַ֫נָּה	נוּקְטַן
	q-t-n	yuqtan	tuqtan	tuqtan	tuqtəni	uqtan	yuqtənu	tuqtánna	tuqtənu	tuqtánna	nuqtan
Pi'el	גדל	יְגַדֵּל	תְּגַדֵּל	תְּגַדֵּל	תְּגַדְּלִי	אֲגַדֵּל	יְגַדְּלוּ	תִּגְדַּ֫לְנָה	תְּגַדְּלוּ	תִּגְדַּ֫לְנָה	נְגַדֵּל
	g-d-l	yəgaddel	təgaddel	təgaddel	təgaddəli	agaddel	yəgaddəlu	tigdálna	təgaddəlu	tigdálna	nəgaddel
Pu'al	גדל	יְגוּדַּל	תְּגוּדַּל	תְּגוּדַּל	תְּגוּדְּלִי	אֲגוּדַּל	יְגוּדְּלוּ	תְּגוּדַּ֫לְנָה	תְּגוּדְּלוּ	תְּגוּדַּ֫לְנָה	נְגוּדַּל
	g-d-l	yəguddal	təguddal	təguddal	təguddəli	aguddal	yəguddəlu	təguddálna	təguddəlu	təguddálna	nəguddal
Hitpa'el	בטל	יִתְבַּטֵּל	תִּתְבַּטֵּל	תִּתְבַּטֵּל	תִּתְבַּטְּלִי	אֶתְבַּטֵּל	יִתְבַּטְּלוּ	תִּתְבַּטֵּ֫לְנָה	תִּתְבַּטְּלוּ	תִּתְבַּטֵּ֫לְנָה	נִתְבַּטֵּל
	b-t-l	yitbattel	titbattel	titbattel	titbattəli	etbattel	yitbattəlu	titbattélna	titbattəlu	titbattélna	nitbattel

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 tiftaħ (singular, masc.) → פתח pətaħ! "open!", תשמרי tishməri (singular, fem.) → שמרי shimri! "guard!"); the fifth, hitpa'el, forms its imperative by replacing this initial ת with ה (hitbattel → titbattel "do nothing!"). (Note that the dropping of the initial ת often results in a change in vocalization, as can be seen in the instance of tishməri/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).

In colloquial speech, the future tense is commonly used for affirmative commands when making requests, so that for example, תפתח tiftaħ can mean either "you will open" or "open" (masculine, singular), but this is considered incorrect usage.

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, נא לא לפתוח na lo liftóaħ means "please do not open".

[edit] Participles

Present participles are identical to present tense forms (the modern present tense actually having been derived from the ancient present participle): נרות בוערים nerot bo'arim (a'burning candles), הילדה מקסימה ha-yalda maqsima (the girl is a'charming).

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

• הספרים כתובים ha-səfarim kətuvim (the books have been written)

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

• הספרים נכתבים ha-səfarim nikhtavim (the books are being written)

The passive participle is commonly used as an adjective, as in הפקודה הכתובה ha-pəquda ha-kətuva (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 האיר he'ir (lit) we get חדר מואר ħeder mu'ar (lit room).

[edit] Prospectives (Infinitives)

Prospectives (shəmot ha-po'al) in Hebrew are primarily formed by adding the letter lamed (ל) to the front of the base form (tsurat ha-maqor). The vowels change systematically according to the binyan.

• כתב katav (wrote, pa'al) → לכתוב likhtov (to write)
• מדבר mədabber (speak, pi'el) → לדבר lədabber (to speak)
• התחיל hitħil (started, hif'il) → להתחיל ləhatħil (to start)
• התפלל hitpallel (prayed, hitpa'el) → להתפלל ləhitpallel (to pray)
• נפגש nifgash (met with, nif'al) → להיפגש ləhippaggesh (to meet with)

Pu'al and huf'al verbs do not have prospectives.

[edit] Gerunds

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

• שמר shamar (guarded — pa'al) → שמירה shəmira (guarding)
  • שב shav (returned — hollow pa'al) → שיבה shiva (returning, a return)
  • שתה shata (drank — weak pa'al) → שתייה shətiya (drinking, a drink)
• נכנס nikhnas (enter — nif'al) → היכנסות hikansut (entering)
• ביקר biqqer (visited — pi'el) → ביקור biqqur (visiting, a visit)
• הפתיע hiftía' (surprised — hif'il) → הפתעה hafte'á (surprising, a surprise)
• התחמם hitħammem (warmed — hitpa'el) → התחממות hitħamməmut (warming)

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

[edit] See also

• Hebrew grammar
• Prefixes and suffixes in Hebrew

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