A-level Hebrew (Modern)₇₆₇₂

A-level candidates are expected to have studied the grammatical system and structures of the language during their course. In the exam they will be required to use, actively and accurately, grammar and structures appropriate to the tasks set, drawn from the following lists.

The examples are indicative, not exclusive.

3.3.1 The scripts and phonetics

a. Letters and consonants

b. Vowel-letters (eg bati, rosh, rishon, deshe; ra`ah, morah, moreh; yachol,

qol, la-qum, sagur; la-shir, mi; ein, lifney)

c. The vowels (not vocalisation)

d. Accent and pronunciation (eg .ta`>am – .>ta`am; pa´h >ad – >pa´had;

rats>ah – >ratsah)

3.3.2 Morphology

Singular

3.3.3 The noun

Gender: masculine, feminine

Words ending in AH (eg yaldah/ishah except layla and the numericals 3-10, eg sheloshah, arba`ah (which are masculine))

Most words which end in T (eg geveret, ah. ot, mechonit) (but not when T is the third radical of the root, eg sherut, zayit, tut)

Words which do not end in AH or T but which are feminine

Feminine ‘by nature’ (eg em, aton)

The singular of limbs/parts of the body which are more than one (eg ozen, ayin, shen, yad, regel etsba`, kanaf, katef, kaf, tsiporn)

Names of countries and cities (eg Israel, Jerusalem, London)

Choice of extraordinary nouns (eg even, esh, erets, bet.en, kos, lashon, na`al, `ir, pa`am, tsipor)

Nouns which are both masculine and feminine but are usually used in Modern Hebrew as feminine (eg derech, ruwah, shemesh). There are a few nouns which are used either in the feminine or masculine (eg matbea`, sakkin, panim)

Dual (suffix –ayim)

Nouns denoting time (eg she`atayim, yomayim, shevu`ayim, hodshayim, shenatayim; mohoratayim).

Nouns denoting number (eg shenayim, shetayim; matayim, alpayim, pa`amayim)

Nouns denoting dual as well as plural:

The parts of the body which are ‘double’ (eg einayim, oznayim, yadayim, raglayim) [to distinguish between the dual and the plural the numeral shetey (in the feminine construct) is annexed to these nouns denoting the dual (eg shetey einayim/oznayim/yadayim)]

Clothes worn on limbs which are ‘double’ (eg garbayim, na`alayim, michnasayim)

Some tools or devices (eg misparayim, mishkafayim)

Note: there are nouns which have the suffix -ayim but they are not dual (eg mayim, shamayim, tsohorayim, kirayim, shinayim, me`ayim). Also, there are some proper names ending in -ayim, but they are not dual (eg Yerushalayim, Efrayim, Mitsrayim)

Plural

Masculine ending in im (eg yeladim)

Feminine ending in ot (eg yeladot)

Extraordinary forms

Masculine ending in ot (eg avot, shulhanot, shemot, yeraqot, halonot)

Feminine ending in im (eg nashim, avanim, beitsim, pe`amim, `arim)

Note: The unusual plurals anashim (sing. ´ish); imahot (sing. ém); ahayot

(sing. ahot)

Declension of nouns

Students should be aware of the two forms current in Modern Hebrew, eg ahoti or ha-ahot sheli, and may select the one they prefer.

1. Nouns which do not change when declined:

a. Nouns ending in long vowels (eg dod – dodi; sus – susi; kis – kisi;

`et – `eti; biqqur – biqquri; talmid – talmidi; reshut – reshuti; michtav –

michtavi)

b. Nouns ending in short vowels (eg gan – gani; estba` - estba`i)

c. Nouns in the feminine ending in AH have their H changed into T (eg

simlah – simlati; dodah – dodati)

Note: When declined, the nouns av and ah. have an i added: av – avicha,

ahinu

2. Nouns which, when declined, have their vowels changed

a. peh – pi; moreh – mori

b. em – imi; rofeh – rof´i

c. davar – devari; garon – geroni

d. mishpah. ah – mishpah. ti; shechenah – shechenti

e. the Segolites: beged – bigdi; regel – ragli; neched – nechdi;

sefer – sifri; h. eleq – h. elqi; ba`al – ba`ali; bayit – beiti; ketovet – ketovti;

geveret – gevirti; mah. beret – mah.

barti; mitpah. at – mitpah. ti

The Construct state

(beit ha-yeled for ha-bayit shel ha-yeled)

1. Unchanged forms as first part of the construct (eg dod ha-yeled; talmid

ha-kittah)

2. Changed forms as first part of the construct:

a. feminine forms ending in AH (eg kalbah kalbat ha-shachen; ishah

eshet ha-shachen; mishpah. ah mishpah. at kohen; shanah shenat

alpayim)

b. masculine forms in which minor changes occur in the construct (eg

davar davar ha-moreh; nasi – nesi ha-medinah; bayit beit ha-talmid;

misht.arah misht.eret Tel-Aviv)

c. changes in the masculine plural: the omission of the M and the

turning of the I into EI (eg susim susei rechivah; talmidim talmidei

ha-kittah)

d. changes in the internal vocalisation of the masculine plural (eg

yeladim yaldei hakittah; be`alim ba`alei ha-mechoniyot)

e. changes in the internal vocalisation of the feminine plural (yeladot

yaldot ha-kittah; aratsot artsot ha-`olam)

3.3.4 The Verb

1. Introduction

a. The three radical root (the triliterals) (eg k t v; g m r; a ch l)

b. The four radical root (the quadriliterals) (eg p r s m; t r g m; b l b l)

c. The tenses (eg past, present, future)

d. The forms: Active: qal, pi`el, hif`il

Passive: nif`al, pu`al, hof`al

Reflexive: hitpa`el

e. The imperative: (eg ketov!)

f. The infinitive (eg li-chtov)

g. The verbal noun (eg ketivah)

h. Active and passive participles (eg kotev – katuv)

2. Conjugation of the ‘sound verb’ (where the three radicals are always retained) (eg SaGaR, niSGaR, SiGeR, SuGaR, hiStaGeR, hiSGiR, hoSGaR) including histaleq, hishtalem, hitst.alem, hizdaqen.

3. Conjugation of common verbs in the various forms (eg achal, amar, ahav; `amad, berech, shama`, salah. ; laqah. , nasa`, natan; nafal; halach; yashav; qam; qanah; matsa; ba; yachol; hayah; hit`orer; hodah).

Irregular verbs.

3.3.5 Adjectives

1. A selection of common adjectives: (eg gadol, qat.an, h. azaq, h. alash, yafeh, tov)

2. Colours (eg adom yaroq, shah. or, lavan)

3. Elative: positive, comparative and superlative (eg gadol kmo, yoter gadol

mi, hachi gadol/hagadol beyoter)

3.3.6 Adverbs

A selection of common adverbs (eg me`od, heitev, yafeh, beqoshi, betsa`ar

rav) (see Syntax ).

3.3.7 Pronouns

Personal pronouns: ani, attah, att, etc

Possessive pronouns: sheli, shelcha, shelach, etc (see Declension of nouns )

Pronominal suffixes: re`iticha (=ra`iti otcha), hirgizani (=hu hirgiz oti)

Demonstrative pronouns: (ha) zeh, (ha)zot/zo, (ha) eleh, elu; hahu, hahi,

hahem, hahen

Relative pronouns: she-, asher, ki

3.3.8 Particles

The article HA with nouns and adjectives (eg ha-yeled ha-gadol)

3.3.9 Prepositions

a. b, k, l, m, (eg ba-bayit, ka-yom, le-Angliah, mi-sham)

b. el, `al, `im, min et (itti...)

c. bein, mul, tah. at, etsel

d. lifnei, ah. arei

e. (combined): lefi, `al-pi, betoch, `al-yad, `al-yedey, biglal, bishvil, liqrat, odot, mipnei, meah. orei, misaviv

The various functions of the prepositions.

3.3.10 Conjunctions

v, gam, ela, az, afilu

3.3.11 Interrogatives

mah, mi matai, lamah, eich, eizeh, eifoh, maduwa`, ha´im,

leán, meáin, lemi, `ad matai, `im mi, meéifo, mimatay

3.3.12 Condition

im, lu, ilu

3.3.13 Negation

lo, ein, `adayin lo, t.erem, (of imperative) ál...!

3.3.14 Result

lachen, mishum kach, biglal zeh (lefichach)

3.3.15 Contrastive

aval, ulam, bechol zot, lamrot, af-`al-pi-chen

3.3.16 Indefinite

mishehu/mishehi, mashehu

3.3.17 Interjections

Hallo, Oy, Oy va-avoy, nu, ichs

3.3.18 Numerals

1. Cardinal numbers (eh. ad, shenayim...)

2. Ordinal numbers (rishon, sheni...)

3. Days of the week

3.3.19 Syntax

1. Elements of the sentence:

subject, verb, predicate, direct object, indirect object, attribute, adverbs

eg yosi laqah. et ah. iv haqat.an im h. avero bimichonito ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

subject verb d. object attribute ind. object adverb

2. Types of sentences

a. simple (eg Yosi oved qasheh; Yosi yeled tov)

b. compound (eg Yosi qoreh ve-David kotev; tilfanti le Yosi, aval hu lo

haya babayit).

c. complex (eg Yosi tsiyyer et ah. iv, she-yashav lefanav; mi she`oved

qasheh – matsliah. ; ha-mis.haq lo ne`erach, mipnei she-yarad

geshem; im tiréh et Yosi, mesor lo dash; bo levaqer oti ke-she-yihyeh

lecha zeman)

3.3.20 Word order

a. Subject + verb (eg Yosi katav)

b. Subject + predicate (eg Yosi nehmad; Yosi talmid; Yosi babayit)

c. Adverb + verb + subject or adverb + subject + verb (eg keshe-Yosi

ba or kesheba Yosi/matay Yosi halach? or matay halach Yosi?)

d. Noun + adjective (eg bayit gadol/ha-bayit ha-gadol)

e. Adverb + adverb (eg besimhah rabah, betsa`ar rav, hu medaber ivrit

yafeh/tov me`od =heitev)

3.3.21 Phonetical

Intonation: affirmative versus interrogative statement: (eg attah kotev/

attah kotev?; hi poh/hi poh?; kacha!/kacha?)

Repetition : repetition of words usually for emphasis (eg kacha-kacha;

leát.-leát., yom-yom)

3.3.22 Morphological

Fixed patterns of the noun

a. Pa``al – usually denotes a profession (eg naggar, h. azzan, gannav)

b. PI``EL – usually denotes disability (eg illem, `ivver, t.ippesh)

c. PA`OL – usually denotes a colour (eg adom, yaroq, kah. ol)

d. PO`EL – usually denotes a profession (eg sofer, moreh, shoter )

e. PA`ELET – usually denotes an illness (eg nazelet, sha`elet, daleqet).

Also denotes a profession of females (eg hayelet, zameret, ganenet).

f. PA`LAN – usually denotes a characteristic (eg ‘atslan, shaqran,

qamtsan). Also denotes a profession (eg safran, raqdan, yarqan)

g. MIF`AL/AH – usually denotes a place (eg misrad, miqdash, mif`al,

mirpa´ah, mis`adah, midrachah)

h. MIF`ELET – usually denotes a tool (eg mivreshet, miqteret, mishqefet)

i. MAF`EL – usually denotes a tool (eg maghets, mazleg, masreq)

j. PE`AL`AL – usually denotes a small size, a young animal, a shade of a

colour, etc (eg qet.ant.an, kelavlav, sheh. arh. ar, `agalgal)

Fixed patterns of the verb

a. NIF`AL – usually denotes passive voice (eg nishbar, nimsar, nilqah. );

also denotes a reflexive action (eg nichnas, nifgash, nishba`)

b. PI``EL – usually denotes strong action (eg shibber); also denotes

causative action (eg (lamad)/limmed)

c. PU``AL – denotes passive of PI``EL (eg supar)

d. HITPA``EL – usually denotes a reflexive action (eg hitlabesh, hitrah. ets,

hitpashet.); also denotes a reciprocal action (eg hitkatev, hitvakeiah. ,

hitkasher)

e. HIF`IL – usually denotes causative action (eg hichnis, hilbish, hitsh. iq);

f. HOF`AL – denotes passive of HIF`iL (eg Holbash)

3.3.23 Syntactical

The infinitive

a. Infinitive as direct object (eg nissah lichtov)

b. Infinitive expressing purpose (eg ba laqah. at)

c. Infinitive used after verbs denoting wish, intention or decision (eg

ratsa lalechet, hitkaven laqum, h. ashav ledaber, heh. lit. lilmod)

d. Infinitive used after words denoting ability or lack of it, interest

(eg yachol lirqod, mesugal lashir, `asuy lich`os `alul lehaziq, efshar

lehishtageia`, mutar laqah. at, asur le`ashen, me`anyen lada`at)

e. Infinitive used after words denoting need or lack of need (eg tsarich

ledaber, lo tsarich ledaber, ratsuy lishmoa`, yesh lechabed, ein

lehitpalea)

Possession or lacking

yesh li sefer – ein li sefer

yesh li ha-sefer – ein li ha-sefer (many Hebrew speakers wrongly say

yesh li et ha-sefer – ein li et ha-sefer, nevertheless it is tolerated)

Distinction between complete and incomplete sentences

Complete sentence: ha-yeled gadol; zeh yeled / zeh hayeled.

Incomplete sentences: yeled gadol / ha-yeled ha-gadol; yeled zeh /

ha-yeled ha-zeh

Plural after ‘all’ or ‘most’ (eg kol / rov ha-yeladim halchu)

Uses in sentences of: aval, eizeh (in the affirmative), ach, ela-im-ken, afilu,

be`ofen, betsurah, beli, le-lo, ke´ilu, `ad, `od, `raq

Word order

1. Direct object and adverbs may appear at the beginning of the sentence

for emphasis: (eg et ha-`ugah ani achalti, bahath. alah lamadnu liqroa,

ha-yom qaniti sefer)

2. The place of gam in the sentence

a. ani katavti gam sefer (= I wrote (poetry) as well as a book)

b. gam ani katavti sefer (= I, like others, wrote a book)

c. ani gam katavti sefer (= I not only read during the holiday but I wrote

a book too)

3. Simple sentence turns into compound sentence: eg ha-badran sipper

bedih. ot ve-hitsh. iq et ha-qahal – ha-badran sipper bedih. ot ve-ha-qahal

tsah. Aq

the use of ilmaleh;

periodic sentence;

condition expressed by imperative