ב־ / ל־

In at and to

Level 1

ב often marks in or at, while ל often marks to or for. Learn the full phrase because a Hebrew preposition does not match one English word in every use.

How It Works

One Written Word

Write בכיתה, in the classroom, and לדנה, to Dana, with no space after the prefix. For a pronoun, use the learned declined form, such as לי, rather than writing ל אני.

With the Article

בְּבַיִת can mean in a house, while בַּבַּיִת means in the house. Both are written בבית without vowel marks. The article is absorbed into the prefix; do not mechanically write בהבית.

Learn Relationships

ב also occurs in times and tools, as in בשעה שלוש and בעט. ל can mark a recipient, as in אני נותן ספר לדנה. A verb may select a preposition differently from English, so keep the preposition with the verb when learning the phrase.

Examples (4)

  1. דנה בכיתה.

    Dana is in the classroom.

    ב attaches to the place noun.

  2. אני הולך לבית הספר.

    I am going to school.

    ל marks the destination in this phrase.

  3. אני נותן ספר לדנה.

    I am giving Dana a book.

    ל marks the recipient.

  4. בְּבַיִת / בַּבַּיִת

    In a house / in the house.

    The pointed readings distinguish two uses of the same unpointed letters.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving the article ה after attached ב.

    בהבית
    בבית

    The standard combination of ב and הבית is בבית.

How It Connects

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

ב־ / ל־Level 1In at and to

Learn This First

Contrast plain attached prepositions with their combination with the article.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.