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3,019 Hebrew words and phrases in 79 subjects. Page version 2026-11-09_1333.

Verbs: Past

Grammar Notes

We've learned all three active binyanim (pa'al, pi'el, and hif'il) in the present tense, so now for the past tense.

General Notes

There is no difference between "I did", "I have done", and "I had done" in Hebrew, as they are all the same form.

The present tense in Hebrew only differentiates between masculine/feminine and singular/plural. The past tense, meanwhile, differentiates the person (I, you, or it) as well, just like in English. It's simple; take the "he" form and add the ending, which is the same for each of these pronouns regardless of what binyan it belongs to:

Pronoun Ending
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-

Also, unless you're using the third person (he, she, it, they), it is common practice to leave out the pronoun, as the verb ending already gives that information.

Verb Roots

Like other verb tenses, the past tense has a different stem than the present tense. The best part: you already know it. The names for the different binyanim match the distribution of vowels in the verb's past tense form. All you need to do is replace the consonants of the binyan's name with the consonants of the verb you want and you're good to go!

Pa'al

Distribution of Vowels & Consonants Example:
XaXaX


Pi'el

Distribution of Vowels & Consonants Example:
XiXeX


Hif'il

Distribution of Vowels & Consonants Example:
hiXXiX



To Be and To Have

These verbs don't exist in the present tense, but they do appear in the past tense:

Pronoun Conjugation

In the case of "to have", use the "he/she was" or "they were" form appropriate to the object that was owned (not the owner!).


Lessons

Lesson 1

  • – past
  • – we were
  • – he was
  • – I was
  • – she was
  • – you were (s.f.)
  • – you were (s.m.)

Lesson 2

  • – saw
  • – you were (pl.m.)
  • – you were (pl.f.)
  • – liked, loved
  • – found
  • – drank
  • – returned
  • – went
  • – wanted

Lesson 3

  • – never
  • – left
  • – ate
  • – said
  • – fell
  • – did
  • – heard
  • – thought

Lesson 4

  • - – since
  • – came
  • – put
  • – grew
  • – they were
  • – worked
  • – ran
  • – broke

Lesson 5

  • – became
  • – jumped
  • – took
  • – read
  • – gave
  • – knew
  • – wrote
  • – sang
  • – stole

Lesson 6

  • – tried
  • – talked
  • – cooked
  • – lost
  • – asked for
  • – told
  • – played

Lesson 7

  • – waited
  • – finished
  • – lied
  • – won
  • – wasted
  • – paid
  • – was jealous

Lesson 8

  • – listened
  • – began
  • – bought
  • – knew
  • – arrived
  • – showed
  • – decided

Lesson 9

  • – believed
  • – understood
  • – ordered
  • – felt
📋 From my grammar sheet tables · exercises

Past tense of להיות, למצוא and לשתות.

Past tense

Personלִהְיוֹת – to beלִמְצוֹא – to findלִשְׁתּוֹת – to drink
I
you (m)
you (f)
he
she
we
you (m pl)
you (f pl)
they (m)
they (f)

Exercises

📖 Story: Yossi cooks dinner 9 sentences · 3 questions

Yossi cooks dinner

  1. Yesterday Yossi decided to cook dinner for Michal.
  2. He went to the market and bought a fish and vegetables.
  3. At home he cooked and sang.
  4. But then he talked on the phone with his mother, and the fish turned black.
  5. Michal arrived at eight and saw the kitchen.
  6. She didn't say anything, she just took the phone.
  7. She ordered a pizza, and they ate and drank wine.
  8. In the end Yossi said:
  9. "The pizza was a good idea of mine!"

Questions

What did Yossi buy at the market?

Why did the fish turn black?

What did Michal do?

Practice

The rule

The past tense adds endings for the person. Base form – "he did".

Iyou m / fhe / sheweyou pl.they
/ /
/ /

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

  • – Yesterday I was at home · I → −תי
  • – He ate and drank · he → base form
  • – She went to work · she → −ה
  • – I saw a good movie · I → −תי
  • – They came back late · they → −ו
  • – We were at the sea · we → −נו
  • – They were at home · they → היו
  • – What did you do yesterday? · you → −ת

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