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Present-tense Verbs

Lesson 06 · פעלים בהווה

In the present tense, a Hebrew verb takes 4 forms based on the subject's gender and number: masculine singular, feminine singular, masculine plural, feminine plural. There are no separate "he/she/they" pronouns built into the verb, the pronoun is often dropped because the verb form already implies it (sort of).

4 present-tense forms, חוֹשֵׁב (choshev, I/you/he think, m.) · חוֹשֶׁבֶת (choshevet, I/you/she think, f.) · חוֹשְׁבִים (choshvim, we/you/they think, m.) · חוֹשְׁבוֹת (choshvot, we/you/they think, f.).
Personal pronouns, אֲנִי (ani, I) · אַתָּה (ata, you m.) · אַתְּ (at, you f.) · הוּא (hu, he) · הִיא (hi, she) · אֲנַחְנוּ (anachnu, we) · אַתֶּם (atem, you m. pl.) · אַתֶּן (aten, you f. pl.) · הֵם (hem, they m.) · הֵן (hen, they f.).

Personal Pronouns

The Verb "to BE": No Copula in Present Tense

In Hebrew, you don't say "I am David", you simply say "I David". The verb "to be" disappears in the present tense.

אֲנִי דָּוִד ani David I am David
הוּא רוֹפֵא hu rofe he is a doctor
הִיא יָפָה hi yafa she is beautiful

10 Essential Verbs: All 4 Forms


Example Sentences