יש מי ש־ / יש מה
An Available Person or Option
יש מי שיכול לעזור means there is someone who can help. יש מה לעשות means there is something to do.
How It Works
Someone Who Fits the Description
מי שיכול לעזור means someone who can help. Adding יש states that such a person exists: יש מי שיכול לעזור. The sentence leaves the person unnamed.
Something to Do
יש מה לעשות means there is something to do. יש לי מה לקרוא means I have something to read. מה is followed by the infinitive naming the action.
Adding the Person Concerned
יש לי adds that the option is available to me. Without לי, יש מה לעשות states that an option exists. אין לי מה לקרוא gives the negative counterpart of יש לי מה לקרוא.
Examples (4)
- יש מי שיכול לעזור.
There is someone who can help.
A person expression identifies the relevant ability.
- יש מי שרוצה לדבר.
There is someone who wants to talk.
The complete expression is an existence statement.
- יש מה לעשות.
There is something to do.
The infinitive phrase names an available action.
- יש לי מה לקרוא.
I have something to read.
לי identifies the person with the available reading option.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Distinguish יש מי ש־ plus a finite relative clause from יש מה plus an infinitive, tracking the available person or action.
- יש / איןThere Is and There Is Not
Distinguish יש מי ש־ plus a finite relative clause from יש מה plus an infinitive, tracking the available person or action.
Level 1 - מי ש־ / מה ש־Whoever and What
Distinguish יש מי ש־ plus a finite relative clause from יש מה plus an infinitive, tracking the available person or action.
Level 5 - The Infinitive
Distinguish יש מי ש־ plus a finite relative clause from יש מה plus an infinitive, tracking the available person or action.
Level 2
Related Patterns
Practice יש מי ש־ / יש מה in Bubblegum
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