The 7 Binyanim

Explanations

Difference between the 7 verb groups

Pairs and tenses:

Among the 7 verb groups, 6 of them form pairs of opposites.

On the seven-branched candelabrum where the 7 binyanim are arranged, one can distinguish the right-hand groups and the left-hand groups.

It is said that the right-hand groups are “active” while the left-hand groups are “passive”.

- With PAAL, he writes (present), he was writing (past), he will write (future).

- And with NIFAL, it is written (present), it was written (past), it will be written (future).

Each group encompasses the 3 tenses:

• Present
• Past
• Future

So how do you express other tenses?

the all-purpose tense

If one wishes to use the pluperfect to say, "I had corresponded," one would simply use the "past": "I was corresponding."

An all-purpose form

« התכתבתי / I was corresponding »

But there is an all-purpose form that can serve as future perfect, imperfect, and conditional depending on situations and sentence structures.

This form uses the verb “to be” as an auxiliary conjugated in the past followed by a verb conjugated in the present.

Example for the “future perfect”

מִתְכַּתֵּב הָיִיתִי

hayiti metakhtev

I would have corresponded

Another example:

הוֹלְכִים הָיִינו

hayinou holkhim

can be translated: « we were going (imperfect) » or « we would go (conditional present) » depending on the situation and the structure of the sentence.

A concrete example: the condition “if” involves two separate sentences, the first using the imperfect and the second the conditional present.

אִם הָיִיתִי יוֹדֵע, לֹא הָיִיתִי מַגִּיעַ

im hayiti yodea, lo hayiti magi’a

if I had known, I would not have come

But be aware, this is not imperfect or conditional present except in terms of a French translation. Because this is not the case in Hebrew.
It’s a formula that adapts to different situations and consists of the verb “to be” conjugated in the past followed by a verb conjugated in the present.

The difference between the groups:

PAAL/NIFAL represents a simple action: “write”
PIEL/POUAL represents an intensified action: “address/engrave/inscribe”
HIFIL/HOUFAL represents an action involving a person or external factor: “dictate”
HITPAEL represents very diverse actions. Often, an exchange between two or more people: “correspond”

Expresses reciprocity or an action in becoming.

This understanding grid of the verb groups serves as a reference, but, like all language rules, it is fragile and over time and with the evolution of modern Hebrew, numerous exceptions have crept in. It is therefore important to take it with a grain of salt and expect nuances, weak or strong depending on the case.

Verb models

Note that in each group, there are verb models. Depending on the different models, the writing criteria vary slightly.

You can find the lists of these models on the Reverso website