Is there an infinitive of “to be” in Hebrew? If not, what to you use idomatically instead?
Sandwich asked:
I learned that there are only past and future tenses of the verb “to be,” and you omit it in the present tense. For example, “Ani hayiti ba’bait” (I WAS in the house), “Ani ehiyeh ba’bait” (I WILL BE in the house), and “Ani ba’bait” (I — in the house). I know that is all true, because in Jewish culture only G-d IS.
But what if I wanted to say “I want TO BE in the house.” Would there be an infinitive form of to be? Like, “Ani rotzeh _______ ba’bait.” Or would you instead say “Ani rotzeh she’ani ba’bait.” (I want that I — in the house). Or something else?
What if you wanted to ask somebody, “What do you want to be?” where there is no object for the infinitive?
I know how to conjugate other verbs. The only thing I need to know is whether or not there is an infinitive for “to be” and if I should use it or instead use the future tense.
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Tagged With Future Tenses, Infinitive, Present Tense
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4 Responses to “Is there an infinitive of “to be” in Hebrew? If not, what to you use idomatically instead?”
Ani rotzeh le’hiot ba’beit
אני רוצה להיות בבית
I want to be in the house
Ma ata rotzeh le’hiot
מה אתה רוצה להיות
What do you want to be
you have to use future tense עתיד
All verbs has this form
e.g.
I worked - אני עבדתי - Ani Avad-ti
I will work - אני אעבוד - Ani E-evod
I work/am working - אני עובד - Ani O-ved
To Work - לעבוד - La-avod
the infinitive: lihiyot להיות
there is a present form but it is not used, as you noticed, in sentences that you brought.
the present form הוֹוֶה hoveh (singular masculine) and הוֹוֹת, הוֹוִים, הוֹוֶה