HEBREW GRAMMAR
Gender and Number
Hebrew is a language where gender and number are not just grammatical features – they shape the entire structure of
The Hebrew Pronoun
Pronouns in Hebrew are essential building blocks of speech. They reflect gender, number, and sometimes person, and they change depending
The Hebrew Noun
Hebrew nouns – shemot etzem – are the backbone of the language. They carry gender, number, and definiteness, and they
“There is/are” and “Have/has” in Hebrew
Hebrew expresses existence and possession differently than English. Instead of using verbs like “to be” or “to have,” Hebrew uses
The Hebrew Adjective
In Hebrew, adjectives (shemot to’ar) describe nouns and must agree with them in gender, number, and definiteness. This means that
The Hebrew Adjective: Comparative and Superlative
Hebrew forms comparative and superlative adjectives not by changing the adjective itself, but by using phrases and prepositions that express
The Hebrew Verb (Present Tense)
In Hebrew, present tense verbs describe actions or states happening now. Unlike English, Hebrew verbs in the present tense are
Introduction to the Hebrew verb system
Hebrew verbs are built on a unique and elegant system that combines roots, patterns, and inflections. Understanding how Hebrew verbs
Introduction to the Hebrew Verb System – Irregular Verbs
While most Hebrew verbs follow predictable patterns based on their root and binyan (verb pattern), there are several groups of
The Meaning of ‘Binyanim’ in Hebrew: The Deeper Meaning of Hebrew Verbs
In Hebrew, verbs are not just words – they are structures. The term binyanim (בניינים), which literally means “buildings” or
The ‘Infinitive’ in Hebrew
In Hebrew, the infinitive form of the verb – known as שם הפועל (shem hapo’al) – is the basic, unconjugated
The ‘Verbal Noun’ in Hebrew
In Hebrew grammar, the verbal noun – known as שם הפעולה (shem ha-pe’ulah) – is a noun form that expresses
Verbal Noun Patterns
In Hebrew, a verbal noun (shem ha-pe’ulah) is a noun that expresses the action or process of a verb. It’s
The Hebrew Adverb
In Hebrew, an adverb (to’ar ha-po’al – תואר הפועל) is a word that describes how, when, where, or to what
Demonstrative Pronoun
Demonstrative pronouns are words like “this” and “these.” In Hebrew, they are used to point to specific nouns and must
The Hebrew Preposition
Prepositions in Hebrew – milot yachas – are small but powerful words that show the relationship between nouns, pronouns, and
Possessive in Hebrew
Hebrew expresses possession in two main ways: using prepositional structures and suffixes. Unlike English, which uses words like “my,” “your,”
Et – Direct object marker
In Hebrew, the word אֶת (et) is a unique grammatical tool. It doesn’t translate directly into English, but it plays a
Prefixes in Hebrew – Moses and Caleb
Hebrew uses a set of seven common prefixes – short letters added to the beginning of words to express grammatical
The Hebrew Verb (Past Tense)
In Hebrew, the past tense is used to describe actions that have already happened. Unlike English, Hebrew verbs in the
Questions in Hebrew
Asking questions is essential to communication, and Hebrew has a rich set of interrogative words (milot she’elah – מילות שאלה)
The numbers in Hebrew – Part 1
In Hebrew, numbers are not just about quantity – they also reflect grammatical gender. Every noun in Hebrew is either
The numbers in Hebrew – Part 2
Hebrew numbers grow in complexity as they increase in size. While single-digit numbers require gender agreement and special forms, large
The Hebrew Verb (Future Tense)
In Hebrew, the future tense (atid) is used to describe actions that will happen. Hebrew verbs in the future tense
The ‘Imperative’ in Hebrew
The imperative form in Hebrew is used to give commands, instructions, or requests – just like “Sit!”, “Write!”, or “Come!”
Imperative by Verb Group
Hebrew verbs are organized into binyanim – verb groups that follow specific patterns. Each binyan has its own way of
Hebrew Dual – Part 1
Hebrew grammar includes a unique number category called the dual (זוגי), used to express exactly two of something. Unlike singular
Hebrew Dual – Part 2
Hebrew grammar includes a fascinating phenomenon known as the pseudo-dual – nouns that appear in the dual form but don’t
The Construct State – Part 1
In Hebrew, Smichut (סְמִיכוּת) is a grammatical structure that links two nouns to express possession or association – like “door
The Construct State – Part 2
In Hebrew, the construct state (Smichut) is a grammatical structure that links two nouns to express possession or association. This
The Hebrew Conjunction
Conjunctions are the connectors of language. In Hebrew, they link words, phrases, and clauses – just like “and,” “but,” or
Hebrew Numerals and Gematria – Part 1
Gematria (גימטריה) is a traditional Hebrew system that assigns numerical values to letters of the alphabet. It functions as a
Hebrew Numerals and Gematria – Part 2
While Gematria is a system of assigning numerical values to Hebrew letters, its practical applications go far beyond arithmetic. In
Hebrew Roots – General Overview
In Hebrew, most words are built from roots, called shoreshim in Hebrew. A root is typically made up of three
Hebrew Patterns
In Hebrew, mishkalim are noun patterns – structured templates that shape how words are formed from roots. Just as binyanim
Hebrew Patterns Examples
In Hebrew, noun and adjective patterns (מִשְׁקָלִים) are structural templates that shape how roots (שׁוֹרָשִׁים) become meaningful words. Each pattern
The Verb in Biblical Hebrew
Biblical Hebrew is a language deeply rooted in action. Verbs are central to its structure, and understanding how they work
The Hebrew Participle
In Hebrew grammar, what linguists call a participle is essentially a noun or adjective that’s built from the present tense
The Pronominal Suffix in Hebrew – Nouns
In Hebrew, instead of using separate words like “his,” “her,” or “their,” pronouns are often attached directly to nouns as
The Pronominal Suffix in Hebrew – Prepositions
In Hebrew, most prepositions can take pronominal suffixes – short endings that attach directly to the preposition to express relationships
The Pronominal Suffix in Hebrew – Verbs
In Hebrew, pronominal suffixes can be attached directly to verbs to express the object of the action –such as “he-saw-me”