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    Present Tense

    Hebrew has one present tense, used for actions now and for habits.

    4 Simple Forms Based on Actor

    Diagram showing four Hebrew present tense forms by gender and number
    Four present tense forms: masc sg, fem sg, masc pl, fem pl
    1

    Same tense, now and usually

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    Core idea

    Hebrew uses a single present tense. The same verb form can express actions happening right now or habitual actions.

    Context words like ‘now’ or ‘every day’ clarify the meaning.

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    Examples

    אני מדבר עכשיו.

    I am speaking now.

    אני מדבר עברית כל יום.

    I speak Hebrew every day.

    2

    4 forms, who acts

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    How the verb changes

    In the present tense the verb changes according to who is acting: masculine singular, feminine singular, masculine plural, feminine plural.

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    Basic inflections

    Masculine singular: מדבר

    Masculine singular: medaber

    Feminine singular: מדברת

    Feminine singular: medaberet (ת)

    Masculine plural: מדברים

    Masculine plural: medabrim (ים)

    Feminine plural: מדברות

    Feminine plural: medabrot (ות)

    Hebrew present tense endings examples with final letters

    Practice present tense

    3

    Endings, the simple rule

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    The endings rule

    Usually: masc. sg.: base form, fem. sg.: add ת, masc. pl.: add ים, fem. pl.: add ות.

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    Basic examples

    כותב → כותבת

    כותב/ת → כותבים

    כותב/ת → כותבות

    לומד → לומדת / לומדים / לומדות

    4

    Special group, verbs ending with ה

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    The -heh group

    For these verbs: masculine singular ends with ה and sounds ‘-eh’ (e.g., shoveh, zoreh). Feminine singular does not add ת; only the vowel changes to ‘-ah’.

    This is an exception to the usual ‘add ת for feminine’.

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    -heh examples

    שָׁוֶהMasculine
    שָׁוָהFeminine
    רוֹצֶהMasculine
    רוֹצָהFeminine
    רוֹאֶהMasculine
    רוֹאָהFeminine
    שׁוֹנֶהMasculine
    שׁוֹנָהFeminine
    Special -heh verb pattern examples in Hebrew present tense

    Practice present tense

    5

    Tips & wrap‑up

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    Remember

    One present tense; 4 forms by actor; endings ת/ים/ות; watch the -heh group.

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    Sample sentences

    He writes now and speaks Hebrew every day.

    We (fem.) study together every week.

    They go to the course and practice at home.

    Practice present tense