In Modern Hebrew, verbs are conjugated to reflect their tense and mood, as well as to agree with their subjects in gender, number, and person. Each verb has an inherent voice, though a verb in one voice typically has counterparts in other voices.
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A root is classified according to the letters that appear in it. Roots that contain certain letters are conjugated differently.
Roots that contain a ו vav or a י yod as the 2nd letters are called hollow roots. The ו vav or the י yod rarely appear in any conjugation though are usually written as part of the root. Examples of hollow roots: שר /ˈʃar/ (sang), גר /ˈɡar/ (lived), דן /ˈdan/ (discussed), דג /ˈdaɡ/ (fished).
Roots that contain at least one of the weak letters, י yod, נ nun, ח het, ע ayin, א alef, and ה hei, are called weak roots. Each weak letter/position pairing results in a slightly different conjugation pattern. The largest group of these are those that end with ה hey. Examples of weak roots: שתה /ʃaˈta/ (drank), עלה /ʕaˈla/ (went up), /jaˈrad/ (went down), נפל /naˈfal/ (fell).
Roots that do not fit into the other two categories are called strong or complete roots.
Hebrew verbs are conjugated according to specific patterns called בניינים (binjaˈnim - "constructions") where vowels and affixes are slotted into the (mostly) three-letter שורשים (shorashim - roots) from which the majority of Hebrew words are built.
There are seven basic binjaˈnim. The traditional demonstration root is פ.ע.ל which has the basic meaning of "action" or "doing":
| active | reflexive | passive | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| פעל paˈʕal |
פיעל piˈʕel |
הפעיל hifˈʕil |
התפעל hitpaˈʕel |
הופעל hufˈʕal |
פועל puˈʕal |
נפעל nifˈʕal |
| causative | ||||||
| intensive | ||||||
| simple | ||||||
This chart's menorah-like shape is sometimes invoked in teaching the binjaˈnim to help students remember which binjaˈnim are active voice (left side) vs. passive voice (right side) and which binjaˈnim are simple (outer-most menorah branches), intensive (second-outer-most) and causative (third-outer-most), and which binˈjan is reflexive (center).
A verb in the present tense (הוֹוֶה, hove) agrees with its subject in gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural), such that each verb has four present-tense forms:
| Form | Root | Singular | Plural | Translation | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M | F | M | F | |||
| paˈʕal | שׁמר | שׁוֹמֵר | שׁוֹמֶ֫רֶת | שׁוֹמְרִים | שׁוֹמְרוֹת | Guards |
| sh-m-r | ʃoˈmer | ʃoˈmeret | ʃomˈrim | ʃomˈrot | ||
| piˈʕel | גדל | מְגַדֵּל | מְגַדֶּ֫לֶת | מְגַדְּלִים | מְגַדְּלוֹת | Raises, grows (something) |
| g-d-l | meɡaˈdel | meɡaˈdelet | meɡadˈlim | meɡadˈlot | ||
| hifˈʕil | קטנ | מַקְטִין | מַקְטִינָה | מַקְטִינִים | מַקְטִינוֹת | Shrinks (something) |
| q-t-n | makˈtin | maktiˈna | maktiˈnim | maktiˈnot | ||
| hitpaˈʕel | בטל | מִתְבַּטֵּל | מִתְבַּטֶּ֫לֶת | מִתְבַּטְּלִים | מִתְבַּטְּלוֹת | Belittles oneself, loafs |
| b-t-l | mitbaˈtel | mitbaˈtelet | mitbatˈlim | mitbatˈlot | ||
| hufˈʕal | קטנ | מוּקְטָן | מוּקְטֶ֫נֶת | מוּקְטָנִים | מוּקְטָנוֹת | Is shrunken by |
| q-t-n | mukˈtan | mukˈtenet | muktaˈnim | muktaˈnot | ||
| puˈʕal | גדל | מְגוּדָּל | מְגוּדֶּ֫לֶת | מְגוּדָּלִים | מְגוּדָּלוֹת | Is raised |
| g-d-l | meɡuˈdal | meɡuˈdelet | meɡudaˈlim | meɡudaˈlot | ||
| nifˈʕal | שׁמר | נִשְׁמָר | נִשְׁמֶ֫רֶת | נִשְׁמָרִים | נִשְמָרוֹת | Is guarded |
| sh-m-r | niʃˈmar | niʃˈmeret | niʃmaˈrim | niʃmaˈrot | ||
The present tense doesn't inflect by first, second, or third person because its use as a present tense is a relatively recent trend, as this form was originally used as the participle. The ancient language didn't have strictly defined past, present, or future tenses, but merely perfective and imperfective aspects, with past, present, or future connotation depending on context. Later the perfective and imperfective aspects were explicitly refashioned as the past and future tenses respectively, with the participle standing in as the present tense. (This also happened to the Aramaic language around the same time.) The modern present tense verb is still used as the present participle; see further down.
A verb in the past tense (עָבַר ʕaˈvar) agrees with its subject in person (first, second, or third) and number, and in the second-person singular and plural and third-person singular, gender.
Note that the past/perfect and the present/participle inflections of the third-person singular nifˈʕal were historically pronounced with different vowels in the final syllable—the past/perfect with a paˈtaħ ɡaˈdol ( ַ = /ɐː/), and the present/participle with a kaˈmat͡s ɡaˈdol ( ָ = /ɔː/). In Modern Hebrew, both of these vowels have merged to /a/, and the two verb forms now are pronounced the same. For example, the past tense נִשְׁמַר niʃˈmar means "he was guarded" (or in old-fashioned perfective "he is/was guarded"), whereas the present tense נִשְׁמָר niʃˈmar means "he is being guarded".
| Form | Root | Singular | Plural | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| He | She | Thou (or You in Modern English) | I | They | Ye (or You in Modern English) | We | ||||
| M | F | M | F | |||||||
| paˈʕal | שׁמר | שָׁמַר | שָֽׁמְרָה | שָׁמַ֫רְתָּ | שָׁמַרְתְּ | שָׁמַ֫רְתִּי | שָֽׁמְרוּ | שְׁמַרְתֶּם | שְׁמַרְתֶּן | שָׁמַ֫רְנוּ |
| sh-m-r | ʃaˈmar | ʃamˈra | ʃaˈmarta | ʃaˈmart | ʃaˈmarti | ʃamˈru | ʃmarˈtem | ʃmarˈten | ʃaˈmarnu | |
| piˈʕel | גדל | גִּידֵּל | גִּידְּלָה | גִּידַּ֫לְתָּ | גִּידַּלְתְּ | גִּידַּ֫לְתִּי | גִּידְּלוּ | גִּידַּלְתֶּם | גִּידַּלְתֶּן | גִּידַּ֫לְנוּ |
| g-d-l | ɡiˈdel | ɡidˈla | ɡiˈdalta | ɡiˈdalt | ɡiˈdalti | ɡidˈlu | ɡidalˈtem | ɡidalˈten | ɡiˈdalnu | |
| hifˈʕil | קטנ | הִקְטִין | הִקְטִי֫נָה | הִקְטַ֫נְתָּ | הִקְטַנְתְּ | הִקְטַ֫נְתִּי | הִקְטִ֫ינוּ | הִקְטַנְתֶּם | הִקְטַנְתֶּן | הִקְטַ֫נּוּ |
| q-t-n | hikˈtin | hiktiˈna | hikˈtanta | hikˈtant | hikˈtanti | hikˈtinu | hiktanˈtem | hiktanˈten | hikˈtanu | |
| hitpaˈʕel | בטל | הִתְבַּטֵּל | הִתְבַּטְּלָה | הִתְבַּטַּ֫לְתָּ | הִתְבַּטַּלְתְּ | הִתְבַּטַּ֫לְתִּי | הִתְבַּטְּלוּ | הִתְבַּטַּלְתֶּם | הִתְבַּטַּלְתֶּן | הִתְבַּטַּ֫לְנוּ |
| b-t-l | hitbaˈtel | hitbatˈla | hitbaˈtalta | hitbaˈtalt | hitbaˈtalti | hitbatˈlu | hitbatalˈtem | hitbatalˈten | hitbaˈtalnu | |
| hufˈʕal | קטנ | הוּקְטַן | הוּקְטְנָה | הוּקְטַ֫נְתָּ | הוּקְטַנְתְּ | הוּקְטַ֫נְתִּי | הוּקְטְנוּ | הוּקְטַנְתֶּם | הוּקְטַנְתֶּן | הוּקְטַ֫נּוּ |
| q-t-n | hukˈtan | hukteˈna | hukˈtanta | hukˈtant | hukˈtanti | hukteˈnu | huktanˈtem | huktanˈten | hukˈtanu | |
| puˈʕal | גדל | גּוּדַּל | גּוּדְּלָה | גּוּדַּ֫לְתָּ | גּוּדַּלְתְּ | גּוּדַּ֫לְתִּי | גּוּדְּלוּ | גּוּדַּלְתֶּם | גּוּדַּלְתֶּן | גּוּדַּ֫לְנוּ |
| g-d-l | ɡuˈdal | ɡudˈla | ɡuˈdalta | ɡuˈdalt | ɡuˈdalti | ɡudˈlu | ɡudalˈtem | ɡudalˈten | ɡuˈdalnu | |
| nifˈʕal | שׁמר | נִשְׁמַר | נִשְׁמְרָה | נִשְׁמַ֫רְתָּ | נִשְׁמַרְתְּ | נִשְׁמַ֫רְתִּי | נִשְׁמְרוּ | נִשְׁמַרְתֶּם | נִשְׁמַרְתֶּן | נִשְׁמַ֫רְנוּ |
| sh-m-r | niʃˈmar | niʃmeˈra | niʃˈmarta | niʃˈmart | niʃˈmarti | niʃmeˈru | niʃmarˈtem | niʃmarˈten | niʃˈmarnu | |
A verb in the future tense (עָתִיד ʕaˈtid) agrees with its subject in person and number, and in the second- and third-person singular, gender. The second-person singular masculine and third-person singular feminine forms are identical for all verbs in the future tense. Historically, there have been separate feminine forms for the second- and third-person plural (shown in parentheses on the table). These are still occasionally used today (most often in formal settings), and could be seen as the 'correct' forms; however in everyday speech, most Israelis use the historically male form for both genders.
| Form | Root | Singular | Plural | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| He | She | You | I | They | You | We | |||||
| M | F | M | (F) | M | (F) | ||||||
| paˈʕal | שׁמר | יִשְׁמוֹר | תִּשְׁמוֹר | תִּשְׁמוֹר | תִּשְׁמְרִי | אֶשְׁמוֹר | יִשְׁמְרוּ | תִּשְׁמ֫וֹרנָה | תִּשְׁמְרוּ | תִּשְׁמ֫וֹרנָה | נִשְׁמוֹר |
| sh-m-r | jiʃˈmor | tiʃˈmor | tiʃˈmor | jiʃmeˈri | eʃˈmor | jiʃmeˈru | tiʃˈmorna | tiʃˈmeru | tiʃˈmorna | niʃˈmor | |
| piˈʕel | גדל | יְגַדֵּל | תְּגַדֵּל | תְּגַדֵּל | תְּגַדְּלִי | אֲגַדֵּל | יְגַדְּלוּ | תְּגַדֵּ֫לְנָה | תְּגַדְּלוּ | תְּגַדֵּ֫לְנָה | נְגַדֵּל |
| g-d-l | jeɡaˈdel | teɡaˈdel | teɡaˈdel | jeɡadˈli | aɡaˈdel | jeɡadˈlu | teɡaˈdelna | teɡadˈlu | teɡaˈdelna | neɡaˈdel | |
| hifˈʕil | קטנ | יַקְטִין | תַּקְטִין | תַּקְטִין | תַּקְטִ֫ינִי | אַקְטִין | יַקְטִ֫ינוּ | תַּקְטֶ֫ינָה | תַּקְטִ֫ינוּ | תַּקְטֶ֫ינָה | נַקְטִין |
| q-t-n | jakˈtin | takˈtin | takˈtin | takˈtini | akˈtin | jakˈtinu | takˈtejna | takˈtinu | takˈtejna | nakˈtin | |
| hitpaˈʕel | בטל | יִתְבַּטֵּל | תִּתְבַּטֵּל | תִּתְבַּטֵּל | תִּתְבַּטְּלִי | אֶתְבַּטֵּל | יִתְבַּטְּלוּ | תִּתְבַּטֵּ֫לְנָה | תִּתְבַּטְּלוּ | תִּתְבַּטֵּ֫לְנָה | נִתְבַּטֵּל |
| b-t-l | jitbaˈtel | titbaˈtel | titbaˈtel | jitbatˈli | etbaˈtel | jitbatˈlu | titbaˈtelna | titbatˈlu | titbaˈtelna | nitbaˈtel | |
| hufˈʕal | קטנ | יוּקְטַן | תּוּקְטַן | תּוּקְטַן | תּוּקְטְנִי | אוּקְטַן | יוּקְטְנוּ | תּוּקְטַ֫נָּה | תּוּקְטְנוּ | תּוּקְטַ֫נָּה | נוּקְטַן |
| q-t-n | jukˈtan | tukˈtan | tukˈtan | tukteˈni | ukˈtan | jukteˈnu | tukˈtana | tukteˈnu | tukˈtana | nukˈtan | |
| puˈʕal | גדל | יְגוּדַּל | תְּגוּדַּל | תְּגוּדַּל | תְּגוּדְּלִי | אֲגוּדַּל | יְגוּדְּלוּ | תְּגוּדַּ֫לְנָה | תְּגוּדְּלוּ | תְּגוּדַּ֫לְנָה | נְגוּדַּל |
| g-d-l | jeɡuˈdal | teɡuˈdal | teɡuˈdal | teɡudˈli | aɡuˈdal | jeɡudˈlu | teɡuˈdalna | jeɡudˈlu | teɡuˈdalna | neɡuˈdal | |
| nifˈʕal | שׁמר | יִשָּׁמֵר | תִּשָּׁמֵר | תִּשָּׁמֵר | תִּשָּׁמְרִי | אֶשָּׁמֵר | יִשָּׁמְרוּ | תִּשַּׁמֵּ֫רְנָה | תִּשָּׁמְרוּ | תִּשַּׁמֵּ֫רְנָה | נִשָּׁמֵר |
| sh-m-r | jiʃaˈmer | tiʃaˈmer | tiʃaˈmer | jiʃamˈri | eʃaˈmer | jiʃamˈru | jiʃaˈmerna | tiʃamˈru | jiʃaˈmerna | niʃaˈmer | |
As in the past tense, personal pronouns are not strictly necessary in the future tense, as the verb forms are sufficient to identify the subject, but they are frequently used.
Except for the strictly passive binyaním (puˈʕal and hufˈʕal), each binˈjan has distinct imperative forms in the second person. This imperative form is only used for affirmative commands. paˈʕal, nifˈʕal, piˈʕel and hifˈʕal form their imperatives by dropping the initial ת tav of the future-tense form (e.g., תפתח /tifˈtaħ/ (singular, masc.) → פתח /ˈptaħ/ "open!", תשמרי /tiʃmeˈri/ (singular, fem.) → שמרי /ʃimˈri/ "guard!"); the fifth, hitpaˈʕel, forms its imperative by replacing this initial ת with ה (/titbaˈtel/ → /hitbaˈtel/ "do nothing!"). (Note that the dropping of the initial ת often results in a change in vocalization, as can be seen in the instance of /tiʃmeˈri/ vs. /ʃimˈri/).
Negative commands use the particle אל /ˈal/ followed by the future-tense form. For example, אל תדאג /ˈal tidˈaɡ/ means "don't worry" (masculine, singular).
In informal speech, the future tense is commonly used for affirmative commands when making requests. Thus for example, תפתח /tifˈtaħ/ can mean either "you will open" or "would you open" (masculine, singular). (Similarly in English one might say "would you open" or "could you open" in lieu of simply "open".) In Hebrew, as in English, the more formal way to avoid the implication of commanding is to use the word "please" (בבקשה /be-vakaʃa/) with the imperative.
The infinitive can be used as a "general imperative" when addressing nobody in particular (e.g. on signs, or when giving general instructions to children or large groups), so that for example, נא לא לפתוח /ˈna ˈlo lifˈtoaħ/ means "please do not open". This might be more literally be rendered as "it is requested that [this] not be opened": avoiding the question of address by using a passive voice.
Present participles are identical to present tense forms (the modern present tense actually having been derived from the ancient present participle): נרות בוערים /neˈrot boʕaˈrim/ (burning candles), הילדה מקסימה /ha-jalˈda maksiˈma/ (the girl is charming).
Only the paˈʕal binˈjan has a true past participle: from כתב k-t-b we have כתוב /kaˈtuv/, (writ, written). This gives Hebrew a limited ability to distinguish between a completed action, e.g.:
And, using the present tense of nifˈʕal, which is often the passive of paˈʕal, a continuing action:
The passive participle is commonly used as an adjective, as in הפקודה הכתובה /ha-pkuˈda ha-ktuˈva/ (the written order).
The present tense of the puˈʕal and hufˈʕal are used as passive participles for the piˈʕel and hifˈʕil respectively, e.g. from hifˈʕil האיר /heˈir/ (lit) we get חדר מואר /ˈħeder muˈar/ (lit room).
Prospectives (ˈʃmot ha-poˈʕal) in Hebrew are primarily formed by adding the letter lamed (ל) to the front of the base form (t͡suˈrat ha-maˈkor). The vowels change systematically according to the binˈjan.
puˈʕal and hufˈʕal verbs do not have prospectives.
Gerunds (ˈʃmot peʕuˈla) are nouns expressing an action. Gerunds are created in Hebrew by putting the root of a verb in a miʃˈkal (see Modern Hebrew grammar#Nouns). Five of the binjaˈnim have gerunds: paˈʕal, piˈʕel, hifˈʕil, hitpaˈʕel, and nifˈʕal. For example:
Note that unlike in English (where gerunds and present participles share the same form), Hebrew gerunds cannot be used as adjectives.
Modern Hebrew has an analytic conditional~past-habitual mood expressed with the auxiliary /haˈja/:
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"אם היה לי זמן, הייתי הולך."
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"אם מישהו היה טורח לספר לי, הייתי יודע."
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"פעם הייתי הולך המון לקולנוע."
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