The most common Hebrew verb pattern (Pa'al), present tense: 4 forms based on gender and number of subject, not person
Can conjugate common Pa'al verbs in the present tense using all 4 gender/number forms correctly
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
הִיא כּוֹתֶבֶת מִכְתָּב. הוּא כּוֹתֵב מִכְתָּב.
She writes a letter. He writes a letter.
אֲנַחְנוּ אוֹכְלִים. הֵן אוֹכְלוֹת.
We (m/mixed) eat. They (f) eat.
אַתֶּם מְדַבְּרִים עִבְרִית טוֹב מְאוֹד!
You (m.pl) speak Hebrew very well!
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Hebrew verbs are organised in binyanim (patterns). The most common is Pa'al (also called Qal).
Present tense — 4 forms only:
| Form | כ-ת-ב (write) | Suffix |
|---|---|---|
| m.sg | כּוֹתֵב | (none) |
| f.sg | כּוֹתֶבֶת | ֶת |
| m.pl | כּוֹתְבִים | ִים |
| f.pl | כּוֹתְבוֹת | וֹת |
Key insight: Form depends on the GENDER and NUMBER of the subject — NOT on person. אֲנִי, אַתָּה, and הוּא all use the same masculine singular form!
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises
Practice ExercisesTries to conjugate by person (different form for אני vs אתה vs הוא) instead of by gender
In Hebrew present tense, ALL singular masculine subjects use the same form: אֲנִי כּוֹתֵב = אַתָּה כּוֹתֵב = הוּא כּוֹתֵב. Only gender and number matter.
Uses masculine form (כּוֹתֵב) with a feminine subject (היא, את) or vice versa
Match verb form to subject gender: הִיא/אַתְּ → כּוֹתֶבֶת (f.sg). הֵן/אַתֶּן → כּוֹתְבוֹת (f.pl). Always identify subject gender first.
הִיא כּוֹתֶבֶת מִכְתָּב. הוּא כּוֹתֵב מִכְתָּב.
She writes a letter. He writes a letter.
Same root כ-ת-ב, different form by gender: כּוֹתֵב (m.sg), כּוֹתֶבֶת (f.sg, adds ֶת suffix). No conjugation by person — הוא/אתה/אני all use כּוֹתֵב.
אֲנַחְנוּ אוֹכְלִים. הֵן אוֹכְלוֹת.
We (m/mixed) eat. They (f) eat.
Root א-כ-ל: אוֹכְלִים (m.pl, suffix ִים), אוֹכְלוֹת (f.pl, suffix וֹת). We (אֲנַחְנוּ) uses the masculine plural form as default for mixed groups.
אַתֶּם מְדַבְּרִים עִבְרִית טוֹב מְאוֹד!
You (m.pl) speak Hebrew very well!
Root ד-ב-ר, Pa'al present: מְדַבְּרִים (m.pl). Note the dagesh in ב (בּ) indicating the hard b-sound. עִבְרִית = Hebrew language (feminine noun).
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises