Nif'al in the Present

Level 2

Nif’al present verbs commonly begin with נ, as in נכנס, נכנסת, נכנסים and נכנסות. The family includes entering and changes of state as well as passive verbs.

How It Works

A Present Set

Learn נכנס, נכנסת, נכנסים and נכנסות. The subject determines gender and number as in other present verbs. Many singular Nif’al present spellings resemble past spellings; time and context matter.

Several Meanings

נשאר means stays or remains. נפתח describes opening, sometimes without identifying an agent. These verbs can be grouped by their forms without forcing the same English passive wording onto both.

Other Tenses

The infinitive להיכנס and future ייכנס have patterns different from נכנס. An unpointed נ is only a clue, not proof of tense or binyan. Learn actual forms, especially when the root has consonants that change its stem.

Examples (4)

  1. דן נכנס לחדר עכשיו.

    Dan is entering the room now.

    The time word supports a present reading.

  2. דנה נכנסת לחדר.

    Dana is entering the room.

    נכנסת is feminine singular.

  3. הם נשארים בבית.

    They are staying at home.

    This Nif’al verb is not an English passive.

  4. הדלת נפתחת לאט.

    The door is opening slowly.

    The sentence focuses on the door’s change of state.

How It Connects

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

Nif'al in the PresentLevel 2

Learn This First

Learn the actual Nif'al stems within the present agreement framework.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.