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Verbs & the Binyan System

Root system, present tense, the seven binyanim and basic conjugation
שבעת הבניינים
the seven binyanim
pa'al, nif'al, pi'el, pu'al, hif'il, huf'al, hitpa'el
Overview of all seven verb patterns
פעל — קל
Pa'al (Qal) — simple active
pa'al
Basic active verbs: כתב, שמר, למד
פיעל — intensive active
Pi'el — intensive active
pi'el
Often intensive/causative: דיבר (spoke), לימד (taught)
הפעיל — causative
Hif'il — causative
hif'il
Causative meaning: הכתיב (dictated), הלביש (dressed someone)
נפעל — passive/reflexive
Nif'al — passive/reflexive
nif'al
Often passive of Pa'al: נכתב (was written)
התפעל — reflexive
Hitpa'el — reflexive/reciprocal
hitpa'el
Reflexive: התלבש (got dressed), התכתב (corresponded)
פועל / הופעל — passives
Pu'al / Huf'al — passive patterns
pu'al / huf'al
Internal passives of Pi'el and Hif'il
שורש בבניינים שונים
one root across binyanim
l-m-d: lamad/limed/hitlamed
Same root, different binyanim = related meanings
גזרות: שלמים, פ"נ, ע"ו
verb groups (gizra)
shlemim, pe-nun, ayin-vav
Roots with weak letters conjugate irregularly
שם הפועל: ל+שורש
infinitive: le + root
lichtov, le'echol, lalechet
Infinitive begins with ל: לכתוב = to write