Lesson 21: Future Tense in Pa'al, Pi'el, Hif'il — Prefix-Suffix Conjugation
Vocabulary: future markers (machar, shavua haba, beod, achar kakh), verbs of plans and intentions in three binyanim
How to work with this lesson
- Read the main point — the future in Hebrew is built a third way, neither like the present nor like the past. You need to grasp this before memorizing the forms.
- Run the paradigm — every root through 10 persons (ani → ata → at → hu → hi → anachnu → atem → aten → hem → hen). Out loud, several times.
- Compare three tenses of one root — look at ק-ת-ב in present (L8), past (L12) and future (this lesson) side by side. Contrast is the most efficient teacher.
- Link it to the imperative — Hebrew often says "you will write" instead of "write." This isn't a mistake, it's the norm of speech.
Understanding the three conjugation systems = 10%. Training your speech apparatus on the prefixes = 90%. This lesson is a pivot point of the course. Before it, you built two systems (present and past). After it, you hold a full verb in your hands: three tenses × several binyanim.
Part 1: The main point — Hebrew conjugates the verb in THREE different ways
By this lesson you have two ways of conjugating a verb in your head:
Present (L8) — this is a participle, agreeing only in gender and number: 4 forms.
| Person | m.sg. | f.sg. | m.pl. | f.pl. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All persons | כּוֹתֵב kotev | כּוֹתֶבֶת kotevet | כּוֹתְבִים kotvim | כּוֹתְבוֹת kotvot |
Notice: ani kotev, ata kotev, hu kotev — the same form for three different persons. The present doesn't distinguish "I / you / he" — only gender and number.
Past (L12) — this is a SUFFIX conjugation, 10 forms:
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| ani | כָּתַבְתִּי katavti |
| ata | כָּתַבְתָּ katavta |
| at | כָּתַבְתְּ katavt |
| hu | כָּתַב katav |
| hi | כָּתְבָה katva |
| anachnu | כָּתַבְנוּ katavnu |
| atem | כְּתַבְתֶּם ktavtem |
| aten | כְּתַבְתֶּן ktavten |
| hem | כָּתְבוּ katvu |
| hen | כָּתְבוּ katvu |
Notice: stem katav- + person suffix on the back (-ti, -ta, -t, -nu, -tem, -ten, -u). No prefix.
Future (this lesson) — this is a PREFIX-SUFFIX conjugation, 10 forms:
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| ani | אֶכְתּוֹב ekhtov |
| ata | תִּכְתּוֹב tikhtov |
| at | תִּכְתְּבִי tikhtevi |
| hu | יִכְתּוֹב yikhtov |
| hi | תִּכְתּוֹב tikhtov |
| anachnu | נִכְתּוֹב nikhtov |
| atem | תִּכְתְּבוּ tikhtevu |
| aten | תִּכְתְּבוּ tikhtevu |
| hem | יִכְתְּבוּ yikhtevu |
| hen | יִכְתְּבוּ yikhtevu |
Notice: prefix in front (e-, ti-, yi-, ni-) + stem -khtov + for some persons also a suffix (-i, -u). This is what "prefix-suffix" conjugation means.
Part 2: Why three different ways? The logic of the system
This isn't a whim of the language — there's a clear logic behind the three ways:
| Tense | What the form does | Where it pulls its info from |
|---|---|---|
| Present | describes the actor as a "doer" | gender + number (like an adjective) |
| Past | reports: action happened | person + gender + number (suffix on the back) |
| Future | reports: action will happen | person + gender + number (prefix in front + sometimes a suffix) |
Prefix in front = "I / you / he / we." This is the ancient Semitic system, more than 3000 years old. The same setup is in Arabic.
Memorize the mnemonic for the future prefixes: ATAN (אית"ן) — four letters א-ת-י-נ, and they are all four prefixes of the future tense:
- א (a-/e-) → "I" (ani)
- ת (t-/ti-/te-) → "you / she" (ata, at, hi)
- י (y-/yi-/ye-) → "he / they" (hu, hem, hen)
- נ (n-/ni-/ne-) → "we" (anachnu)
That's it. There are no other future-tense prefixes. To distinguish "you" from "she," "you pl." from "you," the suffixes help.
Part 3: Future in Pa'al — root ק-ת-ב (write)
Base model — the verb lichtov (to write). Root k-t-v. Future stem — -khtov-.
| Person | Hebrew | Translit | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| ani | אֶכְתּוֹב | ekhtov | I will write |
| ata | תִּכְתּוֹב | tikhtov | you (m.) will write |
| at | תִּכְתְּבִי | tikhtevi | you (f.) will write |
| hu | יִכְתּוֹב | yikhtov | he will write |
| hi | תִּכְתּוֹב | tikhtov | she will write |
| anachnu | נִכְתּוֹב | nikhtov | we will write |
| atem | תִּכְתְּבוּ | tikhtevu | you (m.pl.) will write |
| aten | תִּכְתְּבוּ | tikhtevu | you (f.pl.) will write |
| hem | יִכְתְּבוּ | yikhtevu | they (m.) will write |
| hen | יִכְתְּבוּ | yikhtevu | they (f.) will write |
Watch for the overlaps:
- ata = hi → both forms are tikhtov. Only context (either the pronoun or the previous sentence) distinguishes them.
- at = atem/aten → all three tikhtevu? No: at = tikhtevi (with -i), and atem/aten = tikhtevu (with -u). Don't confuse them.
- atem = aten → tikhtevu. Modern Hebrew doesn't distinguish "you m." and "you f." in the future (as in the past, atem-tem / aten-ten is gradually merging).
- hem = hen → yikhtevu. Also merge.
Bottom line: of the 10 "theoretical" forms in the modern future, really distinguishable are about 6–7. This is easier than in the past, where all 10 forms are in fact distinct.
Other frequent Pa'al verbs — the same template
| Infinitive | ani | ata | hu | anachnu | hem |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ללמוד lilmod (to study, learn) | אלמד elmad | תלמד tilmad | ילמד yilmad | נלמד nilmad | ילמדו yilmedu |
| לסגור lisgor (to close) | אסגור esgor | תסגור tisgor | יסגור yisgor | נסגור nisgor | יסגרו yisgeru |
| לשמור lishmor (to keep) | אשמור eshmor | תשמור tishmor | ישמור yishmor | נשמור nishmor | ישמרו yishmeru |
| לגמור ligmor (to finish) | אגמור egmor | תגמור tigmor | יגמור yigmor | נגמור nigmor | יגמרו yigmeru |
Notice the vowel template in Pa'al future: between the first and second root letters — usually "a" (ea, tia, yia) or "o" in the stem (ekhtov, esgor, eshmor). These are the typical Pa'al future "patterns" — e-CCoC and e-CCaC. Which one applies depends on the verb; memorized with the verb.
Part 4: Future in Pi'el — root ק-ב-ל (receive)
Pi'el is a binyan with a different set of prefix vowels. Base model — lekabel (to receive). In the past it was kibel/kibalti (L13).
In the future the Pi'el stem is -kabel-. The prefixes are the same ATAN, but the vowels are "a", not "i/e."
| Person | Hebrew | Translit | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| ani | אֲקַבֵּל | akabel | I will receive |
| ata | תְּקַבֵּל | tekabel | you (m.) will receive |
| at | תְּקַבְּלִי | tekabeli | you (f.) will receive |
| hu | יְקַבֵּל | yekabel | he will receive |
| hi | תְּקַבֵּל | tekabel | she will receive |
| anachnu | נְקַבֵּל | nekabel | we will receive |
| atem | תְּקַבְּלוּ | tekabelu | you (m.pl.) will receive |
| aten | תְּקַבְּלוּ | tekabelu | you (f.pl.) will receive |
| hem | יְקַבְּלוּ | yekabelu | they (m.) will receive |
| hen | יְקַבְּלוּ | yekabelu | they (f.) will receive |
Pa'al vs. Pi'el contrast in the future:
- Pa'al: ekhtov, tikhtov, yikhtov, nikhtov (vowels "e/i")
- Pi'el: akabel, tekabel, yekabel, nekabel (vowels "a/e")
- The roots are different (k-t-v vs. k-b-l) — but even on an identical root, Pi'el and Pa'al will sound different because of the vowel pattern.
Other frequent Pi'el verbs in the future
| Infinitive | ani | ata | hu | anachnu | hem |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| לדבר ledaber (to speak) | אדבר adaber | תדבר tedaber | ידבר yedaber | נדבר nedaber | ידברו yedabru |
| לבקש levakesh (to ask, request) | אבקש avakesh | תבקש tevakesh | יבקש yevakesh | נבקש nevakesh | יבקשו yevakshu |
| לחפש lechapes (to search) | אחפש achapes | תחפש techapes | יחפש yechapes | נחפש nechapes | יחפשו yechapsu |
| לשלם leshalem (to pay) | אשלם ashalem | תשלם teshalem | ישלם yeshalem | נשלם neshalem | ישלמו yeshalmu |
Part 5: Future in Hif'il — root נ-ג-ד (to tell, report)
Hif'il (L14) is the causative binyan. Base model — lehagid (to say, tell). In the past it was higadti.
In the future the Hif'il stem is -agid-. Yet another set of vowels.
| Person | Hebrew | Translit | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| ani | אַגִּיד | agid | I will say |
| ata | תַּגִּיד | tagid | you (m.) will say |
| at | תַּגִּידִי | tagidi | you (f.) will say |
| hu | יַגִּיד | yagid | he will say |
| hi | תַּגִּיד | tagid | she will say |
| anachnu | נַגִּיד | nagid | we will say |
| atem | תַּגִּידוּ | tagidu | you (m.pl.) will say |
| aten | תַּגִּידוּ | tagidu | you (f.pl.) will say |
| hem | יַגִּידוּ | yagidu | they (m.) will say |
| hen | יַגִּידוּ | yagidu | they (f.) will say |
Contrast of all three binyanim in the first person (ani):
- Pa'al: ekhtov "I will write" (prefix e-)
- Pi'el: akabel "I will receive" (prefix a-)
- Hif'il: agid "I will say" (prefix a-, with long "i" in the stem)
The prefixes are similar between Pi'el and Hif'il (both "a"), but the stem differs — Pi'el has a doubled middle root letter (kabbel), Hif'il has a long "i" in the stem (agid).
Other frequent Hif'il verbs in the future
| Infinitive | ani | ata | hu | anachnu | hem |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| להסביר lehasbir (to explain) | אסביר asbir | תסביר tasbir | יסביר yasbir | נסביר nasbir | יסבירו yasbiru |
| להזמין lehazmin (to invite) | אזמין azmin | תזמין tazmin | יזמין yazmin | נזמין nazmin | יזמינו yazminu |
| להחליט lehachlit (to decide) | אחליט achlit | תחליט tachlit | יחליט yachlit | נחליט nachlit | יחליטו yachlitu |
| להתחיל lehatchil (to begin) | אתחיל atchil | תתחיל tatchil | יתחיל yatchil | נתחיל natchil | יתחילו yatchilu |
Part 6: Future ≈ imperative — critical for the English speaker
This is the single most important thing for an English speaker in this lesson.
English has a separate imperative form: "write!", "come!", "say!". They are different from the future ("you will write," "you will come").
In Hebrew, the imperative formally exists (we'll cover it in L23), but in conversation it's barely used. Instead of "come!" an Israeli will say "you will come" — that is, the 2nd-person future-tense form.
| English | Hebrew with future tense | Translit |
|---|---|---|
| Write me! (m.) | תכתוב לי! | Tikhtov li! |
| Write me! (f.) | תכתבי לי! | Tikhtevi li! |
| Tell me! (m.) | תגיד לי! | Tagid li! |
| Tell me! (f.) | תגידי לי! | Tagidi li! |
| Close the door! (m.pl.) | תסגרו את הדלת! | Tisgeru et ha-delet! |
| Explain (m.)! | תסביר! | Tasbir! |
| Wait (f.)! | תחכי! | Techaki! |
Subtle but important: Hebrew does not distinguish "you will write" (future) from "write!" (command) by form — only by intonation and context. תכתוב לי = either "you will write me" (future) or "write me!" (request).
This explains why Israelis in English often say "you will tell me" instead of "tell me" — they calque their native model.
Negative imperative (we'll come back in L23): "don't write!" = אל תכתוב (al tikhtov), not לא תכתוב (lo tikhtov). lo + future = "you will not write" (statement of fact); al + future = "don't write!" (prohibition). A subtle but critical contrast.
Part 7: Future-tense markers — signal words
Hebrew, like English, likes to "anchor" the future to a time marker. These are words that signal: the next phrase is going to be in the future.
| Hebrew | Translit | English | Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| מָחָר | machar | tomorrow | universal |
| מָחֳרָתַיִם | macharatayim | the day after tomorrow | bookish; colloquially od yom |
| בְּעוֹד שָׁעָה | beod sha'a | in an hour | beod + period |
| בְּעוֹד שָׁבוּעַ | beod shavua | in a week | |
| בְּעוֹד חוֹדֶשׁ | beod chodesh | in a month | |
| הַשָּׁבוּעַ הַבָּא | ha-shavua ha-ba | next week | (literally "the week coming") |
| הַחוֹדֶשׁ הַבָּא | ha-chodesh ha-ba | next month | |
| הַשָּׁנָה הַבָּאָה | ha-shana ha-ba'a | next year | (ha-ba'a — f., shana — f.) |
| אַחַר כָּךְ | achar kakh | then, afterwards | |
| אַחַר כָּךְ אֲנִי | achar kakh ani… | then I… | very frequent |
| בְּקָרוֹב | bekarov | soon | |
| תֵּכֶף | tekhef | right now, in a moment | |
| מִיָּד | miyad | at once, immediately | |
| בְּסוֹף | basof | in the end | |
| מָתַי? | matai? | when? | question |
Verbs of plans and intentions
| Hebrew | Translit | English |
|---|---|---|
| לתכנן | letakhnen (Pi'el) | to plan |
| לקוות | lekavot (Pi'el) | to hope |
| לחשוב | lachshov (Pa'al) | to think, consider, plan |
| להחליט | lehachlit (Hif'il) | to decide |
| להבטיח | lehavtiach (Hif'il) | to promise |
| לרצות | lirtsot (Pa'al) | to want |
| צריך | tsarikh | must, need to |
| יכול | yakhol | can, be able |
Example of an extended phrase:
מָחָר אֲנִי אַסְבִּיר לְךָ אֶת הַתּוֹכְנִית, וְאַחַר כָּךְ נַחְלִיט בְּיַחַד. Machar ani asbir lekha et ha-tokhnit, ve-achar kakh nachlit be-yachad. Tomorrow I'll explain the plan to you, and then we'll decide together.
All three verbs (asbir Hif'il, nachlit Hif'il) — in the future. The markers machar and achar kakh "tune" the listener to the future.
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🔊 ExercisesOpens the exercise answers in the external app — study with audio and word-by-word breakdown.Exercise 1. Identify the binyan by its prefix
Here are future-tense forms. Without knowing the root, say which binyan it is (Pa'al / Pi'el / Hif'il), relying only on the prefix and stem vowels.
Exercise 2. Language scales — run through 10 persons
Run the verb לדבר (ledaber, to speak, Pi'el) out loud through all 10 persons in the future tense. First with pronouns, then without.
Open-ended drill — no automatic check. Say the answers aloud, then move on.
Exercise 3. Translate into Hebrew
Use a future-tense marker + the correct binyan.
Exercise 4. From present — into future
Given a sentence in the present. Rewrite it in the future, adding the marker machar (tomorrow).
Exercise 5. Matrix "future = request"
Rewrite the English request in the natural Hebrew form — via 2nd-person future.
Need more practice? Claude will generate a fresh 10-prompt exercise from this lesson's vocab and theme.
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Listening texts
Three text variants per lesson. Open in glottos.com for synchronized audio playback.
Text AText A for Lesson 21: Plans for the Future🔊 Audio practice ↗
- מָחָר אֲנִי אֶכְתּוֹב מִכְתָּב לְאַבָּא.
- מָחָר בַּבּוֹקֶר אֲנִי אֶלְמַד עִבְרִית.
- מָחָר בָּעֶרֶב אֲנַחְנוּ נֵלֵךְ לַקּוֹלְנוֹעַ.
- הַשָּׁבוּעַ הַבָּא הִיא תִּכְתּוֹב אֶת הַמַּאֲמָר.
- הַשָּׁבוּעַ הַבָּא הֵם יִלְמְדוּ שִׁעוּר חָדָשׁ.
- הַשָּׁבוּעַ הַבָּא נְחַפֵּשׂ דִּירָה חֲדָשָׁה.
- הַחוֹדֶשׁ הַבָּא אֲנִי אַתְחִיל עֲבוֹדָה חֲדָשָׁה.
- הַחוֹדֶשׁ הַבָּא הוּא יַחְלִיט מָה לַעֲשׂוֹת.
- הַחוֹדֶשׁ הַבָּא אַתְּ תְּקַבְּלִי תְּשׁוּבָה.
- הַשָּׁנָה הַבָּאָה אֲנִי אֶסַּע לְיִשְׂרָאֵל.
- הַשָּׁנָה הַבָּאָה אֲנַחְנוּ נִלְמַד בָּאוּנִיבֶרְסִיטָה.
- הַשָּׁנָה הַבָּאָה הֵם יְחַפְּשׂוּ עֲבוֹדָה בְּתֵל אָבִיב.
- בְּעוֹד שָׁעָה אֲנִי אַסְבִּיר לְךָ אֶת הַתּוֹכְנִית.
- בְּעוֹד שָׁעָה הִיא תְּדַבֵּר עִם הַמְּנַהֵל.
- בְּעוֹד שָׁבוּעַ אֲנַחְנוּ נַחְלִיט עַל הַטִּיּוּל.
- בְּעוֹד חוֹדֶשׁ הוּא יְקַבֵּל תְּעוּדָה.
- בְּעוֹד שָׁנָה אֲנִי אֶגְמוֹר אֶת הַלִּמּוּדִים.
- מָחֳרָתַיִם אֲנִי אֶפְגּוֹשׁ אֶת דָּנָה.
- מָחָר אַחַר הַצָּהֳרַיִם הֵם יִכְתְּבוּ מִבְחָן.
- מָחָר אַחַר הַצָּהֳרַיִם נִשְׁמוֹר עַל הַיְּלָדִים.
- אַחַר כָּךְ אֲנִי אַזְמִין אֶתְכֶם לַאֲרוּחָה.
- הַשָּׁבוּעַ הַבָּא הִיא תַּזְמִין חֲבֵרוֹת לְבַּיִת.
- בְּקָרוֹב אֲנִי אֲשַׁלֵּם עַל הַדִּירָה.
- בְּקָרוֹב אֲנַחְנוּ נַסְבִּיר אֶת הַכֹּל.
- הַשָּׁבוּעַ הַבָּא אַתָּה תִּסְגּוֹר אֶת הַחֶשְׁבּוֹן.
- הַחוֹדֶשׁ הַבָּא הִיא תְּשַׁלֵּם עַל הָאוּנִיבֶרְסִיטָה.
- בְּעוֹד יוֹמַיִם אֲנִי אַתְחִיל לִכְתּוֹב סֵפֶר.
- הַשָּׁנָה הַבָּאָה אֲנַחְנוּ נְקַבֵּל דַּרְכּוֹן חָדָשׁ.
- מָחָר אֲנִי אֶלְמַד עֲשָׂרָה מִלִּים חֲדָשׁוֹת.
- הַשָּׁבוּעַ הַבָּא אֲנַחְנוּ נַחְלִיט בְּיַחַד מָה לַעֲשׂוֹת.
Text BText B for Lesson 21: Intentions and Promises🔊 Audio practice ↗
- אֲנִי מַבְטִיחַ שֶׁמָּחָר אֲנִי אֶכְתּוֹב לְךָ.
- אֲנִי מַבְטִיחָה שֶׁמָּחָר אֲנִי אֶתְקַשֵּׁר אֵלֶיךָ.
- אֲנַחְנוּ מַבְטִיחִים שֶׁנַּגִּיד אֶת הָאֱמֶת.
- הוּא הִבְטִיחַ שֶׁהוּא יְדַבֵּר עִם הַמּוֹרֶה.
- הִיא הִבְטִיחָה שֶׁהִיא תַּסְבִּיר אֶת הַכֹּל.
- הֵם הִבְטִיחוּ שֶׁהֵם יְשַׁלְּמוּ בַּזְּמַן.
- הֶחְלַטְתִּי שֶׁמָּחָר אֲנִי אַתְחִיל לִלְמוֹד עִבְרִית.
- הֶחְלַטְתִּי שֶׁהַשָּׁנָה אֲנִי אֶגְמוֹר אֶת הַסֵּפֶר.
- הֶחְלַטְנוּ שֶׁאֲנַחְנוּ נְחַפֵּשׂ דִּירָה חֲדָשָׁה.
- הוּא הֶחְלִיט שֶׁהוּא יִלְמַד בְּתֵל אָבִיב.
- אֲנִי רוֹצֶה לוֹמַר לְךָ שֶׁאֲנִי אֶזְכּוֹר אוֹתְךָ תָּמִיד.
- אֲנִי רוֹצָה שֶׁאַתָּה תַּגִּיד לִי אֶת הָאֱמֶת.
- אֲנַחְנוּ רוֹצִים שֶׁהַיְּלָדִים יִלְמְדוּ עִבְרִית.
- הִיא רוֹצָה שֶׁאֲנַחְנוּ נְקַבֵּל אֶת הַתְּשׁוּבָה הַיּוֹם.
- אֲנִי מְתַכְנֵן שֶׁמָּחָר אֲנִי אֶפְגּוֹשׁ אֶת אַבָּא.
- אֲנִי מְתַכְנֶנֶת שֶׁבְּעוֹד שָׁבוּעַ אֲנִי אַזְמִין חֲבֵרִים.
- אֲנַחְנוּ מְתַכְנְנִים שֶׁנַּסַּע לְיִשְׂרָאֵל בַּקַּיִץ.
- הוּא מְקַוֶּה שֶׁהוּא יְקַבֵּל אֶת הָעֲבוֹדָה.
- הִיא מְקַוָּה שֶׁאֲנַחְנוּ נְדַבֵּר אִתָּהּ.
- אֲנִי מְקַוֶּה שֶׁמָּחָר יִהְיֶה יוֹם טוֹב.
- תַּבְטִיחַ לִי שֶׁתִּכְתּוֹב כָּל יוֹם!
- תַּבְטִיחִי לִי שֶׁתְּדַבְּרִי עִבְרִית בַּבַּיִת!
- תַּגִּידוּ לִי מָה אַתֶּם רוֹצִים לַעֲשׂוֹת מָחָר.
- אֲנִי מַבְטִיחַ שֶׁאֲנִי לֹא אֶשְׁכַּח אֶת זֶה.
- הוּא יַבְטִיחַ שֶׁהוּא יָבוֹא בַּזְּמַן.
- אֲנַחְנוּ נְבַקֵּשׁ עֶזְרָה מֵהַמּוֹרֶה הַשָּׁבוּעַ הַבָּא.
- אַל תַּבְטִיחַ דָּבָר שֶׁאַתָּה לֹא יָכוֹל לַעֲשׂוֹת!
- אֲנִי מַחְלִיט: מָחָר אֲנִי אַתְחִיל לִכְתּוֹב יוֹמָן.
- הִיא הֶחְלִיטָה שֶׁהִיא תְּחַפֵּשׂ עֲבוֹדָה אַחֶרֶת.
- אֲנִי מַבְטִיחַ לְךָ — מָחָר אֲנִי אַסְבִּיר אֶת הַכֹּל.
Text CText C for Lesson 21: Forecasts and Predictions🔊 Audio practice ↗
- מָחָר יִהְיֶה יוֹם חַם וְשֶׁמֶשׁ.
- מָחָר בַּבּוֹקֶר יֵרֵד גֶּשֶׁם בַּצָּפוֹן.
- הַשָּׁבוּעַ הַבָּא יִהְיֶה קַר מְאוֹד.
- בְּעוֹד יוֹמַיִם הַטֶּמְפֶּרָטוּרָה תֵּרֵד.
- אוּלַי מָחָר יֵרֵד שֶׁלֶג בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם.
- כַּנִּרְאֶה הַשָּׁבוּעַ הַבָּא הָאוֹטוֹבּוּסִים יִשְׁבְּתוּ.
- בְּוַדַּאי הַמְּחִירִים יַעֲלוּ בַּחוֹדֶשׁ הַבָּא.
- הַמֻּמְחִים אוֹמְרִים שֶׁהַכַּלְכָּלָה תִּשְׁתַּפֵּר.
- אֲנִי חוֹשֵׁב שֶׁהַשָּׁנָה הַבָּאָה תִּהְיֶה טוֹבָה.
- אֲנִי חוֹשֶׁבֶת שֶׁהַסֵּפֶר יִהְיֶה לְהִיט.
- כַּנִּרְאֶה הוּא יְקַבֵּל אֶת הָעֲבוֹדָה.
- אוּלַי הִיא תַּסְבִּיר לָנוּ מָה קָרָה.
- אֲנִי בָּטוּחַ שֶׁהֵם יְדַבְּרוּ עִם הַמְּנַהֵל.
- אֲנִי בְּטוּחָה שֶׁהַיְּלָדִים יִלְמְדוּ הֵיטֵב.
- בְּעוֹד עֶשֶׂר שָׁנִים הָעוֹלָם יִהְיֶה שׁוֹנֶה.
- בְּעוֹד עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה אֲנַחְנוּ נְדַבֵּר עִם הַמַּחְשֵׁב כְּמוֹ עִם חָבֵר.
- בְּעוֹד חֲמִשִּׁים שָׁנָה הָאֲנָשִׁים יִחְיוּ יוֹתֵר זְמַן.
- כַּנִּרְאֶה הַטֶּכְנוֹלוֹגְיָה תִּשְׁתַּנֶּה לְגַמְרֵי.
- אֲנִי חוֹשֵׁב שֶׁמָּחָר הַשּׁוּק יִפְתַּח בַּשֶּׁבַע.
- אוּלַי בְּעוֹד שָׁבוּעַ אֲנִי אֲקַבֵּל תְּשׁוּבָה.
- בְּוַדַּאי הוּא יַחְלִיט נָכוֹן.
- אֲנִי מַבְטִיחַ שֶׁהַסֵּפֶר הַזֶּה יִמְכּוֹר טוֹב מְאוֹד.
- אֲנִי מַבְטִיחָה שֶׁאַתֶּם תִּהְיוּ מְרֻצִּים.
- אֲנִי חוֹשֵׁב שֶׁמָּחָר הִיא תַּגִּיד "כֵּן".
- אוּלַי הֵם יְחַפְּשׂוּ דִּירָה אַחֶרֶת.
- כַּנִּרְאֶה הַשָּׁנָה הַבָּאָה תִּהְיֶה שָׁנָה קָשָׁה.
- בְּוַדַּאי הַתַּלְמִידִים יִכְתְּבוּ מִבְחָן מָחָר.
- אֲנִי בָּטוּחַ שֶׁהַחֲבֵרִים יַזְמִינוּ אוֹתָנוּ.
- כַּנִּרְאֶה אַתָּה תְּשַׁלֵּם יוֹתֵר מִדַּי.
- אִם אַתָּה תַּתְחִיל עַכְשָׁו, אַתָּה תַּצְלִיחַ.
Audio playback is handled by glottos.com — opens in a new tab.
No scales or matrices in this lesson yet — they start from Lesson 3. Use the listening texts above for speaking practice.
FUTURE TENSE — PREFIX-SUFFIX CONJUGATION:
- 10 forms, different from 4 present forms (only gender+number) and 10 past forms (only suffixes).
- Prefixes in front: A-T-Y-N (אית"ן):
א a-/e- → ani
ת t-/ti-/te- → ata, at, hi, atem, aten
י y-/yi-/ye- → hu, hem, hen
נ n-/ni-/ne- → anachnu
- Suffixes for some persons:
-i → at (f.sg.)
-u → atem, aten, hem, hen (pl.)
PA'AL — root K-T-V (write):
ani אכתוב ekhtov
ata תכתוב tikhtov
at תכתבי tikhtevi
hu יכתוב yikhtov
hi תכתוב tikhtov (= ata!)
anachnu נכתוב nikhtov
atem/aten תכתבו tikhtevu
hem/hen יכתבו yikhtevu
PI'EL — root K-B-L (receive):
ani אקבל akabel
ata תקבל tekabel
at תקבלי tekabeli
hu יקבל yekabel
hi תקבל tekabel (= ata!)
anachnu נקבל nekabel
atem/aten תקבלו tekabelu / tekabu
hem/hen יקבלו yekabelu
HIF'IL — root נ-ג-ד (tell):
ani אגיד agid
ata תגיד tagid
at תגידי tagidi
hu יגיד yagid
hi תגיד tagid (= ata!)
anachnu נגיד nagid
atem/aten תגידו tagidu
hem/hen יגידו yagidu
HOW TO IDENTIFY THE BINYAN FROM A FUTURE FORM:
Pa'al: prefix "e/i/ya/n + i" + stem CCoC or CCaC (ekhtov, yilmad)
Pi'el: prefix "a/te/ye/ne" + doubled middle root letter (akabel, yedaber)
Hif'il: prefix "a/ta/ya/na" + long "-i-" in the stem (agid, asbir)
FUTURE ≈ IMPERATIVE (critical for English speakers):
In conversation Hebrew says "you will write" instead of "write!":
תכתוב לי tikhtov li = "write me" / "you will write me"
תגידי לי tagidi li = "tell me" (to f.)
תסבירו tasbiru = "explain" (to pl.)
Negative imperative:
אל תכתוב! al tikhtov! = "don't write!" (NOT lo!)
לא תכתוב lo tikhtov = "you won't write" (statement)
FUTURE MARKERS:
מחר machar tomorrow
בעוד שעה beod sha'a in an hour
השבוע הבא ha-shavua ha-ba next week
אחר כך achar kakh then
בקרוב bekarov soon
תכף / מיד tekhef / miyad now / immediately
מתי? matai? when?
VERBS OF PLANS:
לתכנן letakhnen to plan (Pi'el)
לקוות lekavot to hope (Pi'el)
להחליט lehachlit to decide (Hif'il)
להבטיח lehavtiach to promise (Hif'il)
לרצות lirtsot to want (Pa'al)
THE FULL PICTURE — THREE TENSES OF ONE ROOT K-T-V:
ani ata hu anachnu hem
Present kotev kotev kotev kotvim kotvim (only gender/number)
Past katavti katavta katav katavnu katvu (suffixes on the back)
Future ekhtov tikhtov yikhtov nikhtov yikhtevu (prefixes in front)
Next up: Lesson 22 — Reading WITHOUT nikkud. Starting in this lesson, vowel points disappear. You'll learn how an Israeli reads "bare" consonants and guesses the vowels by root and pattern. This is a pivot moment — from textbook Hebrew to the real thing.
Next up: Lesson 22 — Reading WITHOUT nikkud. Starting in this lesson, vowel points disappear. You'll learn how an Israeli reads "bare" consonants and guesses the vowels by root and pattern. This is a pivot moment — from textbook Hebrew to the real thing.