Definite Construct Phrases
בית ספר means a school; בית הספר means the school. In the standard construct pattern, the article goes on the second noun rather than independently on the first.
How It Works
Where the Article Goes
Use בית הספר, not הבית ספר, for the standard definite construct phrase. Colloquial speakers sometimes extend the article onto compounds as a unit; recognize the variation without using it as the standard written model.
Other Definite Complements
ספרי דנה is definite because the second noun is the name Dana. עוגת השוקולד is definite because the second noun has ה. The first noun keeps its construct form.
Add a Description
בית הספר החדש names the new school. החדש agrees with בית and follows the pair. In בית הספר חדש, חדש is a predicate: the school is new. Longer phrases can be ambiguous about which noun an adjective describes, so choose wording that makes the intended relationship clear.
Examples (4)
- בית ספר / בית הספר
A school / the school.
The article is on the second noun.
- עוגת השוקולד
The chocolate cake.
The first noun stays in its construct form.
- ספרי דנה
Dana’s books.
A personal name makes the phrase definite.
- בית הספר החדש
The new school.
The describing adjective follows the construct phrase.
Common Mistakes
Adding an article to the first noun in the standard written construct model.
הבית הספרבית הספרThe construct noun בית does not take its own article here.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Determine definiteness from the final noun in a construct phrase.
Related Patterns
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice Definite Construct Phrases in Bubblegum
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