Verbs: Present Reflexive
Grammar Notes
Hitpa'el verbs tend to refer to reflexive actions such as shaving; that is, things that you do to yourself. They can also refer to processes, many of which are translated into English with the verbs "to get X" and "to become X". Some of them fit into neither of these groups, but they conjugate the same way (maybe they had that meaning in the past and now they don't).
A hitpa'el verb will look like this for the most part: ///. The conjugation of hitpa'el verbs looks like this:
| Masculine | Feminine | |
|---|---|---|
| Singular | ||
| Plural |
There are exceptions to the above pattern: if the three-letter pattern that follows the begins with a ///, then the will switch places with that letter and, in case of and , the will turn into a or a respectively.
Lessons
Lesson 1
- – to use
- – to shave
- – to shower
- – to get a haircut
- – to call
- – to look at
Lesson 2
- – to train
- – to get stronger
- – to get closer
- – to beg
- – to get educated
- – to overcome
Lesson 3
- – to end
- – to get older
- – to get cold
- – to get hot/warm
- – to miss
- – to turn around
Lesson 4
- – to hide
- – to change
- – each other
- – to get drunk
- – to recover
Lesson 5
- – to join
- – to connect
- – to unite
- – to consult
- – to prepare
- – to disconnect
Lesson 6
- – to ignore
- – to pray
- – to see each other/date
- – to apologize
- – to exercise
- – to cope
- – to get confused
📋 From my grammar sheet tables · exercises
The hitpa'el pattern on the root פ־ע־ל.
hitpa'el (הִתְפַּעֵל) · present
| m. singular | f. singular | m. plural | f. plural |
|---|---|---|---|
hitpa'el (הִתְפַּעֵל) · past and future
| Person | past | future |
|---|---|---|
| I | ||
| you (m) | ||
| you (f) | ||
| he | ||
| she | ||
| we | ||
| you (m pl) | ||
| you (f pl) | ||
| they (m) | ||
| they (f) |
Exercises
📖 Story: Ron gets ready 8 sentences · 3 questions
Ron gets ready
- Every morning Ron trains in the park.
- Then he showers and shaves.
- Today he also gets a haircut, because in the evening he and Michal are meeting.
- He prepares all day.
- At seven Michal calls: "I'm sorry, I can't come."
- Ron gets confused and doesn't know what to do.
- In the end he looks at the dog and says:
- "So we are going out tonight."
Questions
What does Ron do every morning?
Why does Michal call?
Who does Ron spend the evening with?
Practice
The rule
Hitpa'el verbs (infinitive לְהִתְ־) are often reflexive ("oneself"). Present tense starts with מִתְ־.
| infinitive | masc. | fem. | pl. masc. | pl. fem. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
With ס / ש / צ the ת swaps places: , , .
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
- – I shower in the morning · להתקלח → מתקלח
- – He shaves every day · להתגלח → מתגלח
- – I miss you · להתגעגע → מתגעגע
- – She is looking at the sea · ס: מתסכלת → מסתכלת
- – We are preparing for the exam · plural → −ים
- – They use the computer · ש: מתשמשים → משתמשים
- – She gets dressed quickly · fem. → −ת
- – I am sorry · צ: מתצער → מצטער