Four Present Forms

Level 2

A present verb normally has four agreement forms: masculine singular, feminine singular, masculine plural and feminine plural.

How It Works

Four Forms

For write, learn כותב, כותבת, כותבים and כותבות. A female speaker says אני כותבת; a group of women says אנחנו כותבות. A mixed group conventionally uses masculine plural agreement.

Not One Ending Rule

The feminine singular of some verbs ends in ה, as in גרה, and other stems change their vowels. Learn the four actual forms with each verb rather than adding ת blindly.

Now or Regularly

Present forms can describe an action happening now or a regular habit: אני עובד עכשיו and אני עובד כל יום. Context carries that difference. The same form can sometimes function as an adjective or noun, so its role also depends on its sentence.

Examples (4)

  1. אני כותב עכשיו.

    I am writing now.

    A male speaker uses masculine singular.

  2. היא כותבת כל יום.

    She writes every day.

    A present form can express a habit.

  3. אנחנו כותבים.

    We are writing.

    Masculine or mixed plural agreement is used.

  4. הן כותבות.

    They are writing.

    The feminine group uses feminine plural.

Common Mistakes

  • Giving a female singular subject a masculine present form.

    היא כותב.
    היא כותבת.

    Use feminine singular כותבת for היא.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Four Present FormsLevel 2

Learn This First

Apply personal reference and gender/number to the four present verb forms.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

And 1 more in the full list.