Formal
Grammar Notes
Formal Question Words
Formal registers of Hebrew use a few different question words than the more colloquial Hebrew taught in the rest of the course. They are:
| English | Colloquial | Formal |
|---|---|---|
| Why | ||
| How | ||
| Where | ||
| From where |
For questions that don't use question words, formal Hebrew can also use a - in front of the first word of a sentence to indicate that it is a question, like: ? – Did you know?
You may also see contractions using followed by a pronoun beginning with - (such as being contracted to ).
"Please" using /
These two do not replace , as they are only used in front of imperatives or infinitives to indicate that one should do something: – Please pay here.
Inflection of
is not used in formal Hebrew, instead the word is inflected for gender and number like a verb:
| Colloquial | Formal Equivalent |
|---|---|
| / | |
| / | |
| / | |
For the variants that use the double nun in the singular, they are also used to replace "(I am/she is/he is) gone/not here/not there" but are otherwise interchangeable.
Other Considerations
In addition, formal Hebrew will do some of the following modifications:
- will replace ;
- or - will replace - for relative clauses (i.e. someone that does X);
- replaces - when the clause following it is an indirect quotation instead of just for direct quotations (i.e. "he said that he..."); and
- - will disappear from both words when using "this X/that X."
Lessons
Lesson 1
- – where
- – why
- – how
- – now
- – from where
- – please
- – madam, ma'am
- – sir, mister
- contractions
Lesson 2
- – that
- – let's
- – please
- – than
- - inflections
- using - for questions and relative clauses
- as "that" instead of "because"
📖 Story: At the station 7 sentences · 3 questions
At the station
- An old woman stands at the station and asks a policeman:
- "Excuse me, sir, where is the train to Jerusalem?"
- "The train that goes to Jerusalem has already left, madam."
- "Why? It is only eight o'clock now!"
- Your watch is slow, madam.
- "How will I get to Jerusalem now?"
- "Please sit down. The next train will come in ten minutes."
Questions
Where does the woman want to go?
Why did she miss the train?
When will the next train come?
Practice
The rule
Formal or written Hebrew uses different words for everyday ones:
| everyday | formal | |
|---|---|---|
| where | ||
| why | ||
| how | ||
| now | ||
| / | please | |
| ש־ | that, which |
Each sentence shows the rule. Listen, say it after the voice, then tap the grey bar for the meaning and a note on the rule. The pattern quiz blanks out the key form.
Sentences
- – Excuse me, sir, where is the station? · איפה → היכן
- – Please sit · בבקשה → נא
- – Why are you here? · למה → מדוע
- – How can I help, madam? · איך → כיצד
- – Let's go · בואו → הבה
- – The man whom I saw · ש־ → אשר
- – Now we are beginning · עכשיו → עתה, אנחנו → אנו
- – Where did you come from? · מאיפה → מאין