Verbs: Present 2
Grammar Notes
In Verbs: Present 1 we learned about binyanim, the verb conjugation patterns. In this skill, we are working on the second of these binyanim, the pi'el verbs.
These verbs are almost always transitive - they almost always have objects - and they are active verbs. When they are conjugated in the present tense, they all begin with . Just like with the pa'al verbs, only the consonants change from verb to verb, with the vowels staying the same. Here is an example with the verb "to tell":
| Masculine | Feminine | |
|---|---|---|
| Singular | ||
| Plural |
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Lessons
Lesson 1
- – to ask for
- – to pay
- – to miss
- – to play
- – to tell
- – to design
- – to change
Lesson 2
- – to try
- – to look for
- – to raise
- – to signal
- – to wish
Lesson 3
- – to mix
- – to respect
- – to organize
- – to dry off (someone/thing else)
- – to dry off (oneself)
- – to heat (someone/thing else)
- – to heat / warm up (oneself)
- – to import
- – to fill in
- – to hope
Lesson 4
- – to waste
- – to critique, to visit
- – to receive
- – to pity
- – to envy
- – to climb
- – to win
Lesson 5
- – to train (someone else)
- – to train (oneself)
- – to lie
- – to be late
- – to wait
- – to provide
- – to finish
Lesson 6
- – to convince
- – to lose
- – to photograph
- – to adopt
- – to be afraid
- – to approve
- – to discover
Lesson 7
- – to shave (someone else)
- – to shave (oneself)
- – to renew
- – to bless
- – to describe
- – to correct, to repair
📋 From my grammar sheet tables · exercises
The pi'el pattern on the root פ־ע־ל.
pi'el (פִּיעֵל) · present
| m. singular | f. singular | m. plural | f. plural |
|---|---|---|---|
pi'el (פִּיעֵל) · past and future
| Person | past | future |
|---|---|---|
| I | ||
| you (m) | ||
| you (f) | ||
| he | ||
| she | ||
| we | ||
| you (m pl) | ||
| you (f pl) | ||
| they (m) | ||
| they (f) |
Exercises
📖 Story: The lost key 8 sentences · 3 questions
The lost key
- Yossi is late for work, because he is looking for his key.
- He looks under the table and between the books.
- His wife tries to help him.
- The children are playing and not looking.
- Then the little boy says:
- "The key is with the dog!"
- Yossi gets the key and runs outside.
- But he misses the bus and waits for the next bus.
Questions
Why is Yossi late?
What do the children do?
Where is the key?
Practice
The rule
Pi'el verbs (infinitive לְ־XaXeX) start with מ־ in the present: → .
| infinitive | masc. | fem. | pl. masc. | pl. fem. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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
- – I am looking for the key · לחפש → מחפש
- – He pays in cash · לשלם → משלם
- – The children are playing outside · plural → משחקים
- – We are waiting for the bus · plural → מחכים
- – She tries again · verbs in ה: מנסה
- – I hope so · לקוות → מקווה
- – They (fem.) tell a story · plural fem. → −ות
- – The teacher receives the work · לקבל → מקבל