יש / אין
Expressing existence and possession with יש and אין
Can express what exists and what someone has using יש and אין
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
יש לי אח.
I have a brother.
אין לנו מזג אוויר טוב היום.
We don't have good weather today.
יש פה בית קפה.
There is a café here.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
יש = there is / there are / someone has
אין = there is not / there are not / someone doesn't have
קיום (existence):
- יש חלב במקרר. (There is milk in the fridge.)
- אין חלב במקרר. (There is no milk in the fridge.)
שייכות (having) — עם ל-:
| חיובי | שלילי |
|---|---|
| יש לי (I have) | אין לי (I don't have) |
| יש לך (you have) | אין לך |
| יש לו (he has) | אין לו |
| יש לה (she has) | אין לה |
| יש לנו (we have) | אין לנו |
| יש להם (they have) | אין להם |
Using יש with a verb (יש is only for nouns/existence). Saying *יש אני (wrong) instead of יש לי. Forgetting ל- when expressing 'having' (יש לי, not *יש אני).
English speakers: 'have' is a separate verb in English but Hebrew uses יש ל- construction. Ru/Cs speakers: similar to у меня есть / mám — familiar concept but different construction.
Common Error Patterns
Used יש before a verb to express ability or action (יש is only for nouns)
יש = there is (existence) or 'to have' with ל-. For ability use יכול (can)
Expressed 'having' without ל- (e.g., *יש אני instead of יש לי)
Always use יש ל- for possession: יש לי, יש לך, יש לו, יש לה, יש לנו, יש להם
יש לי אח.
I have a brother.
יש לי = I have (lit. there-is to-me). Hebrew has no verb 'to have' — uses יש ל- instead.
אין לנו מזג אוויר טוב היום.
We don't have good weather today.
אין לנו = we don't have (lit. there-is-not to-us). Negative of יש לנו.
יש פה בית קפה.
There is a café here.
יש for existence (not possession): there is/are something somewhere. No ל- needed.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises