Basic Hebrew Grammar

Modern Hebrew
An Essential Grammar
Third Edition

This new edition of Modern Hebrew: An Essential Grammar is an up-to-date and practical reference guide to the most important aspects of modern Hebrew as used by contemporary native speakers of the language. It presents an accessible description of the language, focusing on the real patterns of use today. The Grammar aims to serve as areference source for the learner and user of Hebrew irrespective of level, by setting out the complexities of the language in short, readable sections that are clear and free from jargon. It is ideal either for independent study or for students in schools, colleges, universities and adult classes of all types. Features of this new edition include: Expanded coverage of nouns, verbs and adjectives Aglossary of grammatical terms A full exercise key More examples throughout Lewis Glinert is Professor of Hebrew Studies at Dartmouth College, New Hampshire, USA.

Routledge Essential Grammars Essential Grammars are available for the following languages: Chinese Danish Dutch English Finnish Modern Greek Modern Hebrew Hungarian Norwegian Polish Portuguese Spanish Swedish Thai Urdu Other titles ofrelated interest published by Routledge: Colloquial Hebrew By Zippi Lyttleton and Tamar Wang

Modern Hebrew
An Essential Grammar
Third Edition

Lewis Glinert

ROUTLEDGE

NEW YORK AND LONDON

To the memory of Sarah Katz A teacher of inspiration

First published 1991 by the School of Oriental and African Studies (University of London) as Chik-Chak! A Gateway to Modern Hebrew GrammarSecond edition published 1994 in the USA and Canada by Routledge 270 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016 Simultaneously published in the UK by Routledge 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN Reprinted 1996, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 Third edition published 2005 by Routledge Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group © 1991, 1994, 2005 Lewis Glinert

This edition published in theTaylor & Francis e-Library, 2005.

“To purchase your own copy of this or any of Taylor & Francis or Routledge’s collection of thousands of eBooks please go to www.eBookstore.tandf.co.uk.”
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying andrecording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Glinert, Lewis. Modern Hebrew: an essential grammar – third edition p. cm. – (Routledge essential grammars) Includes index I. Hebrew language – Grammar – Textbooks. I. Title. II. Series: Essential Grammar. PJ4567.3.G58 2004 492.4 ' 8421– dc22 2004000795 British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN 0-203-32941-4 Master e-book ISBN
ISBN 0–415–70081–7 (hbk) ISBN 0–415–70082–5 (pbk)

Contents

Preface Glossary Hebrew grammatical terminology

xiii xvi xix

LEVEL ONE
1 The simple sentence: basic word order 2 The simplest sentences: ‘Me Tarzan,you Jane’ (a) The pattern ‘Yoram is tired’ ‘Yoram’s in Tel Aviv’ (b) The pattern (c) The pattern ‘Yoram is a . . .’ (d) The pattern ‘I am . . ., he is . . .’ 3 The personal pronouns 4 The definite article 5 The Hebrew for ‘a’, ‘some’ 3 3

5 6 7

6–8

Masculine and feminine, singular and plural
6 Masculine and feminine nouns (gender) 7 The feminine and plural of nouns and – the simplest nountype (a) The endings (b) The plural of nouns of the type (segolate nouns) (c) The plural of nouns of the type (d) The plural of nouns ending in (e) The feminine of nouns denoting people, e.g. ‘teacher’ 8 The feminine and plural of adjectives (a) The simplest adjective type: , (b) Adjectives ending in ‘large’, ‘small’ (c) Adjectives of the type 7 8

13

v

Contents
9 Noun + adjective...