Preposition
Free Hebrew lessons – May 2010 – Training – Day 24:
Hi,
Today we’re going to learn something new, so make sure you pay attention because it’s something very important.
In our previous lesson we learned the first person words in Conny’s story, such as bikashti (I asked – I requested), shaalti (I asked (a question)) and a^alti (I ate).
We also mentioned the words amarti (I said), laka^ti (I took) and ratsiti (I wanted), which we already learned in Hebrew lesson 14.
One of the most useful prepositions in Hebrew is “et.” I used the word “et” in our previous lessons, but I didn’t explain it. There is no English translation for “et,” so you really have to sharpen your mind…
Today’s menu: Preposition “et“
Attention: The underlined letters represent the accent.
“Et” is a preposition used before a direct object, but the rules are complicated. I prefer to teach you how to use “et” by simply showing you examples.
Let’s use the first person words from our last lesson as examples:
– I want a book – ani rotse sefer.
– I want this book – ani rotse et ha’sefer ha’ze.
– I wanted to buy the book – ratsiti liknot et ha’sefer.
On the above blackboard you can see that there is no matching word in English for the Hebrew word et.
More examples:
– I asked my mom “what is the time?” – shaalti et ima sheli “ma ha’shaa?”
– I need a telephone – ani tsari^ telephone (when speaking to a man, “need” is – tsari^).
– I need the telephone – ani tsari^ et ha’telephone.
– Question: What do you need?
Answer: The telephone – et ha’telephone…
– I want to buy meat – ani rotse liknot basar.
– I want to buy this meat – ani rotse liknot et ha’ basar ha’ze.
– Question: Which piece of meat do you want to buy?
Answer: This one – et ze.
– I took a ring – laka^ti tabaat.
– I took a ring and also a dress – laka^ti tabaat ve’gam simla.
– I took my ring – laka^ti et ha’tabaat sheli.
– I took my ring and also the dress – laka^ti et ha’tabaat sheli ve’gam et ha’simla.
– Did you eat a steak? – a^alta stek? (“did you eat?” when speaking to a man is a^alta).
– Yes, I ate a steak – ken a^alti stek.
– You ate my steak! – a^alta et ha’stek sheli!
– Question: Which steak did I eat?
Answer: My steak – et ha’stek sheli!
Mmmm… it was good! – Mmmm… ze haya tov… 😉
One of my students lives in France.
Recently she sent me some sentences and asked me about that strange word “et.”
Reading her sentences shows us that she really caught the point on the usage of the word “et.”
Here are the sentences:
– When do you want the coffee? – Matai at rotsa et ha’café?
– I love the spring – ani ohevet et ha’aviv. (She loves – hi ohevet / Spring – Aviv)
I will try to use the word “et” in our lessons for awhile so you’ll catch onto the proper usage, too…
Lehitraot in lesson 25…
