Hebrew 1 - Lesson 10

Lesson 10 introduces the concept of Verbs conjugation:
Purpose:
  • Integral part of Hebrew grammar.
  • Reduces the # of words to memorize. The Hebrew word "Omer" translates to "say" (m/s). Yhough one might need to memorize this piece of information, he/she does not need to memorize the translation of: "Omeret", "Omrim" "Omrot" etc'
  • Enables to read and sound correctly, un-voweled words (verbs). Introducing a sentence with a new verb such as (He dances): Knowing conjugated rules enables one to tell that the vowelling pattern of the root (R.K.D) is "Roked" (not Rukad nor Rukid).

    Verbs classification: Verbs are classified in two categories: Logical classification (structures)and composition (what they are composed of) classification. Composition classification:

    Each verb is composed of 3 root letters. The root letters appear in nouns too. Words that share root letters are related in their meaning. For example The Hebrew equivalent of the following words Student , Learn, Teach, Studies, Being studied, Knowlageble, (all related.), all share the root letters "Lamed", "Mem" and "Dalet".


    Verb, roots, and root letters When we comunicate about the root letters we treat them the same way variables (radicals) are treated in Algebra: X, Y, Z. X can be any number, Y, can be any number and so can Z. However, we use different terms than X,Y,Z. We use:
    We use the terms:.
    (Pay of the verb)"Pay Ha Po Al"
    (Ayin of the verb)"Ayin Ha Po Al"
    (Lamed of the verb)"Lamed Ha Po Al"


    Each verb in Hebrew has root letters. Example: "Dalet" is P' Hapoal in the verb "Medaberet" "Bet" is A' Hapoal in it and "Raish" is L' Hapoal in it.

    The Shlemim class: A verb is classified in the group Shlemim when it doesn't have any of the letters: Alef, Hay, Vav, Yod Nun ("Ahoyn") in its root. A verb in the group/class Shlemim keeps all its root letters in all forms (past, present, future, masculine, feminine, singular, plural, infinitive, all (as in all)). The Shlemim class is the most promenant classes. However, other classes have many verbs classified in them too. Verbs that are classified in Shlemim class include the Hebrew equivalent of: Write, study, meet, sell, think, check, dance, finish, remember, relay, shut, send, open, laugh and more.

    The L"H class : A verb is classified in the L"H class when it has the consonant "H" in its L' Hapoal. This is the second promenent class. See special conjugating rules for the L"H class later in the text. Verbs that are classified in L"H class include the Hebrew equivalent of: Want, see, do, drink, buy, answer, turn, build, go up (make Aliah (imigrate to Israel)), and more.

    The "A"V" class : A verb is classified in the A"V class when it has the letter Vav in its A' Hapoal. This is the third prominent class. See special conjugating rules for the L"H class later in the text. Verbs that are classified in L"H class include the Hebrew equivalent of: Live, come, get up, fly, rest, move, run, (sing (A"Y) put (A"Y) too).

    Paal/Piel In addition to root classification, verbs are classified in structures. There are 3 active voice structures in Hebrew. Right now we work with two only. Though originally there was a logical difference between activities that their verbs were classified in the different structures, with contemporary/modern Hebrew, such classification is almost arbitrary. Verbs can be classified in more than one structure. They don't have to though. We are going to work with the Paal and Piel structures. Among the structures, Paal is the most promenent one. Structures are divided to classes. So Paal structure includes all the three classes that have been listed above. By the way!!!!! there are more classes than the 3 listed above but they have less verbs classified in them and right now we aregoing to ignor them!!!! Since structure classification decision is almost arbitraryl, the student does not bear the burden of making Paal/Piel classification. Piel structure is divided into the same above classes. However!!!!!, again due to low volume of examples we are not going to deal with L"H and A"V classes in the Piel structure. Example for verbs that are classified in Piel structure (complete class) includs the Hebrew equivalent of: Speak, Hike/travel, request, receive,teach, tell a story, visit, play sports, act in a show, play music, pay.

    Infinitive form. All verbs have conjugated forms and an infinitive form. In English infinitive is "to ........." (to study, to write, to do and more). The infinitive form follows a helping verb such as want to, have to, learn to and so forth. Same as in Hebrew. The infinitive form has only one form (for all genders and numbers and past, present, future) and it should not change when the subject changes. I guess that is "good news :)". However it is not really news because also in English you say: I like to study, he/she likes to study. The helping verb "like" changes but the main verb "To study" does not change.

    See conjugating rules of different classes and structures.

    For regular roots:

  • is voweled with a"Vav" (O sound).(see next chart) 
    • Masculine Singular form 
  • is voweled with a"Tzaireh" ("Eh" sound). 
  • is unvoweled. 
    • Feminine Singular form 
  • is voweled with a"Segol" ("Eh" sound). 
  • is voweled with "Segol"too.. 
  • F/s forms of verbs are completed with a suffix "Tav". 
    • Masculine Plural form 
  • is voweled with a"Shva" and it is practically unvoweled. 
  • is voweled with a"Chiric" ("Ee" sound). 
  • M/p forms of verbs are completed with a suffix "Final Mem". 
    • Feminine Plural form 
  • is voweled with a"Shva" and it is practically unvoweled. 
  • is voweled with a"Vav". 
  • F/p forms of verbs are completed with a suffix "Tav". 
    • (F/P)
    ...
     
    (M/P)
    ...
     
    (F/S)
    ...
     
    (S/M)
    ...
     
    (Inf.)
    ...