Hif'il in the Present

Level 2

Many Hif’il present verbs use a מ-prefix form such as מסביר, מסבירה, מסבירים and מסבירות.

How It Works

A Common Form Set

Learn מסביר and its feminine and plural forms. The feminine singular usually has ה in this common pattern. Do not replace it automatically with the ת used by many other present verbs.

Keep the Meaning

מזמין can mean invites a person or orders an item, depending on its object. The pattern cannot choose that sense for you. מכיר means knows or is acquainted with; its meaning is not a mechanical make-know translation.

Some Stems Differ

Weak-root Hif’il verbs can have other stem vowels, as in מבין, understands, and מקים, sets up. A letter-only template does not provide their complete forms. Learn the verb’s actual set and use the subject to select agreement.

Examples (4)

  1. דן מסביר את הכלל.

    Dan is explaining the rule.

    מסביר is masculine singular.

  2. דנה מסבירה את הכלל.

    Dana is explaining the rule.

    The feminine form is מסבירה.

  3. הם מזמינים קפה.

    They are ordering coffee.

    The object selects the ordering sense.

  4. היא מכירה את דן.

    She knows Dan.

    The meaning belongs to the verb, not only the binyan.

Common Mistakes

  • Adding the wrong feminine singular ending to this verb.

    היא מסבירת את הכלל.
    היא מסבירה את הכלל.

    The actual feminine singular form of מסביר is מסבירה.

How It Connects

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

Hif'il in the PresentLevel 2

Learn This First

Learn the actual Hif'il stems within the present agreement framework.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.