epstein@epsteinag.ch

Index

a) the 7 conjugations of verbs – ha-binyanim
b) the genitive (eg king Lear’s death)
c) the possessive pronoun (my, your, his etc.)
d) the possessive ending appended to the noun
e) forming the accusative with the preposition et
f) the first binyan: the active conjugation pa’al

The accusative of a noun always answers the question whom or what?

The accusative is formed with the preposition et. This word is simply placed before the noun. The word et has no meaning by itself.

Before the undetermined article “a” the preposition et is omitted.

Do you hear the children??אתה שומע את הילדיםDo you see Daniel??אתם רואים את דניאל
atah shomea et ha-yeladim?atem ro'im et dani’el?
They read the book..הם קוראים את הספרDo you want chocolate??אתם רוצים שוקולד
hem kor'im et ha-seferatem rotzim shokolad?

Also et is – as all prepositions – merged with personal pronouns. All these pronouns answer the question “whom?”

accusative with etsingularplural
(whom?)malefemalemalefemale
1st personmeאותיusאותנו
otiotanu
2nd personyouאותךאותךyouאתכםאתכן
otchaotachetchemetchen
3rd personhim /her אותואותהthemאותםאותן
otootahotamotan