Language/Hebrew/Grammar/Adjectives

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Hebrew → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Adjectives

In this lesson, we will explore the fascinating world of Hebrew adjectives. Adjectives are essential in any language because they help us describe nouns, adding color, texture, and emotion to our communication. In Hebrew, adjectives are not just simple modifiers; they reflect the gender and number of the nouns they describe, which can be a bit tricky but also quite fun to learn!

This lesson is structured to guide you through the basics of Hebrew adjectives, including their forms, how to use them in sentences, and some common examples. By the end of this lesson, you will feel more confident in using adjectives to express yourself in Hebrew.

We’ll cover the following topics:

• What are Adjectives?

• Gender and Number in Hebrew Adjectives

• Placement of Adjectives in Sentences

• Common Hebrew Adjectives

• Practice Exercises

What are Adjectives?

Adjectives are words that describe or modify nouns. In Hebrew, adjectives can indicate qualities, quantities, and characteristics. For instance, when you want to say "the big house" or "the beautiful girl," the words "big" and "beautiful" are adjectives.

In Hebrew, adjectives must agree with the nouns they describe in both gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural). This is one of the unique features of Hebrew grammar that sets it apart from English.

Gender and Number in Hebrew Adjectives

In Hebrew, every noun has a gender, either masculine or feminine. Adjectives must match the gender of the noun they modify. Additionally, adjectives change form based on whether the noun is singular or plural.

Here’s a simple breakdown:

• Masculine Singular: Adjectives usually end in a consonant (e.g., "טוב" - "tov" meaning "good").

• Feminine Singular: Often, adjectives end with the letter "ה" (e.g., "טובה" - "tovah" meaning "good").

• Masculine Plural: Usually, adjectives end with "ים" (e.g., "טובים" - "tovim" meaning "good").

• Feminine Plural: Adjectives typically end with "ות" (e.g., "טובות" - "tovot" meaning "good").

Let’s look at some examples:

Hebrew	Pronunciation	English
טוב	tov	good (masculine singular)
טובה	tovah	good (feminine singular)
טובים	tovim	good (masculine plural)
טובות	tovot	good (feminine plural)

Placement of Adjectives in Sentences

In Hebrew, adjectives generally come after the noun they describe. This is different from English, where adjectives typically precede nouns.

Here are some examples to illustrate this:

Hebrew	Pronunciation	English
הבית הגדול	habayit hagadol	the big house
הילדה היפה	hayalda hayafa	the beautiful girl
הספרים החדשים	hasfarim hadashim	the new books
המכוניות היפות	hamechoniyot hayafot	the beautiful cars

Common Hebrew Adjectives

Now, let’s explore some common Hebrew adjectives that you can use in everyday conversation. Here are 20 useful adjectives, their pronunciations, and English translations:

Hebrew	Pronunciation	English
גדול	gadol	big
קטן	katan	small
יפה	yafe	beautiful
מכוער	mechoar	ugly
טוב	tov	good
רע	ra	bad
חדש	chadash	new
ישן	yashan	old
מהיר	ma'ir	fast
איטי	iti	slow
חם	cham	hot
קר	kar	cold
רחוק	rachok	far
קרוב	karov	close
חכם	chacham	smart
טיפש	tipesh	silly
עשיר	ashir	rich
עני	ani	poor
כואב	ko'ev	painful
נעים	na'im	pleasant
קשה	kashe	hard

Practice Exercises

Now that you have a basic understanding of Hebrew adjectives, it’s time to put your knowledge into practice! Here are some exercises to help you solidify what you’ve learned.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the adjective in parentheses.

1. הילד _______ (גדול) משחק בחצר.

2. הילדה _______ (יפה) רוקדת.

3. המכוניות _______ (מהירות) נוסעות על הכביש.

4. הספר _______ (ישן) נמצא על השולחן.

5. התפוחים _______ (חמוצים) טעימים.

Solutions for Exercise 1

1. הילד הגדול משחק בחצר. (The big boy is playing in the yard.)

2. הילדה היפה רוקדת. (The beautiful girl is dancing.)

3. המכוניות המהירות נוסעות על הכביש. (The fast cars are driving on the road.)

4. הספר הישן נמצא על השולחן. (The old book is on the table.)

5. התפוחים החמוצים טעימים. (The sour apples are delicious.)

Exercise 2: Matching Adjectives

Match the Hebrew adjectives with their English translations.

• 1. טוב

• 2. קטן

• 3. ישן

• 4. חדש

• 5. חם

A. New

B. Good

C. Hot

D. Small

E. Old

Solutions for Exercise 2

1 - B (טוב - Good)

2 - D (קטן - Small)

3 - E (ישן - Old)

4 - A (חדש - New)

5 - C (חם - Hot)

Exercise 3: Translate the Sentences

Translate the following sentences into Hebrew.

1. The small cat is cute.

2. The old man is wise.

3. The fast train arrives at noon.

4. The cold water is refreshing.

5. The beautiful flowers bloom in spring.

Solutions for Exercise 3

1. החתול הקטן חמוד. (Ha'chatul hakatan chamud.)

2. האיש הזקן חכם. (Ha'ish hazaken chacham.)

3. הרכבת המהירה מגיעה בצהריים. (Ha'rekevet hamahirah magi'ah b'tzohorayim.)

4. המים הקרים מרעננים. (Ha'mayim hakrim me'aranenim.)

5. הפרחים היפים פורחים באביב. (Ha'prichim hayafim porchim b'aviv.)

Exercise 4: Create Sentences

Create your own sentences using the adjectives from the list below. Use each adjective at least once.

• יפה (beautiful)

• גדול (big)

• חדש (new)

• חם (hot)

• רחוק (far)

Example Solutions for Exercise 4

1. התמונה היפה על הקיר. (The beautiful picture is on the wall.)

2. הבית הגדול נמצא ברחוב. (The big house is on the street.)

3. הספר החדש מעניין. (The new book is interesting.)

4. הקיץ חם מאוד. (The summer is very hot.)

5. העיר רחוקה מהכפר. (The city is far from the village.)

Exercise 5: Gender Agreement

Choose the correct form of the adjective in parentheses to match the noun.

1. הילדה _______ (חכם) מאוד.

2. הילד _______ (טיפש) בבית הספר.

3. המכוניות _______ (גדול) חונות ברחוב.

4. התפוח _______ (קר) טעים.

5. הפרחים _______ (יפה) פורחים.

Solutions for Exercise 5

1. הילדה חכמה מאוד. (The girl is very smart.)

2. הילד טיפש בבית הספר. (The boy is silly at school.)

3. המכוניות הגדולות חונות ברחוב. (The big cars are parked on the street.)

4. התפוח הקר טעים. (The cold apple is tasty.)

5. הפרחים היפים פורחים. (The beautiful flowers are blooming.)

As you can see, Hebrew adjectives add richness and depth to your sentences, allowing you to express yourself more fully. With practice, you'll become more comfortable using them in your conversations. Remember, the key is to keep practicing!

Table of Contents - Hebrew Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction to Hebrew Alphabet

• Consonants
• Vowels
• Nikkud
• Reading Practice

  ---

Everyday Hebrew Vocabulary

• Greetings
• Numbers
• Family Members
• Colors, Shapes, and Sizes
• Food and Drink
• Clothing
• Transportation and Travel
• Weather
• Time and Calendar

  ---

Hebrew Grammar

• Nouns
• Pronouns
• Adjectives
• Verbs
• Prepositions
• Conjunctions

  ---

Israeli Culture

• Jewish Holidays
• Israeli Society
• Famous Israelis
• Israeli Cuisine

  ---

Hebrew Expressions

• Common Phrases
• Slang
• Idioms

  ---

Hebrew Numbers

• Ordinal Numbers
• Fractions and Decimals

  ---

Hebrew Geography and Landmarks

• Cities and Regions
• Landmarks

  ---

Hebrew Literature and Language

• Hebrew Poetry
• Hebrew Proverbs

  ---

Grammar Review

• Review of Nouns and Pronouns
• Review of Adjectives
• Review of Verbs

Sources

• Adjective — unfoldingWord® Hebrew Grammar 1 documentation
• Modern Hebrew grammar - Wikipedia
• Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar/133. The Comparison of Adjectives ...

Other Lessons

• Verb to Have
• Pronouns
• Conditional Mood
• How to Use Have
• Give your Opinion
• Nouns
• Questions
• Personal pronouns
• Future Tense

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