There is
Grammar Notes
To Have
Hebrew does not have a verb for "having" something; instead, there is a construction using the words and ("there is" and "there isn't") and something called "dative pronouns" (no such thing exists in English - the closest thing English has is "to" something). The possible combinations are listed below:
| English | Hebrew | English | Hebrew |
|---|---|---|---|
| I have | We have | ||
| You have (sing. masc.) | You have (plural masc.) | ||
| You have (sing. fem.) | You have (plural fem.) | ||
| He has | They have (masc.) | ||
| She has | They have (fem.) |
Word Order
Usually, the word order for sentences is subject-object-verb. However, as "there is" doesn't have a subject in Hebrew, the possessor comes after the verb. You can place the possessor before the "there is" if you like; this carries with it more stress on the possessor of the object however.
Lessons
Lesson 1
- – there is
- – there is no
- – and there is no
Lesson 2
- – you(sg. fem.)
- – you(sg. masc.)
- – I/me
- – she/her
- – it/to it
- – he/him
Lesson 3
- – they (masc.)
- – you (plural masc.)
- – we/us
- – to the boy
- – you (plural fem.)
- – to the men
- – they (fem.)
- – to the pigeon
📖 Story: No water 7 sentences · 3 questions
No water
- I have bread, and I have milk.
- Mom has a cake.
- Dad has oranges and apples.
- But we don't have water!
- "Yossi, do you have water?"
- "No, I don't have water, but I have juice."
- Now we have juice, and we are happy.
Questions
What does Mom have?
What is missing?
What does Yossi have?
Practice
The rule
– there is, – there isn't. With ל־ + person it means "to have": – "there is to me" – I have.
| I have | you have (m/f) | he / she has | we have | they have (m/f) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| / | / |
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 have a dog · יש + לי – I have
- – We don't have bread · אין – there isn't → we don't have
- – She has a new book · לה – to her
- – He has a cat · לו – to him
- – They don't have time · להם – to them (masc.)
- – Do you (pl.) have water? · לכם – to you (masc. pl.)
- – The boy has an apple · ל + הילד – לילד
- – There is no milk in the house · אין – there is no