The Hebrew future tense uses prefixes (and sometimes suffixes too) added to the verb root. The prefix indicates the person: א- for I, ת- for you/she, י- for he/they, נ- for we.
The Pattern
Future tense adds a prefix to the root. Some forms also add a suffix. The prefixes are: א (I), ת (you/she), י (he/they m.), נ (we).
Full Conjugation - יִכְתֹּב (will write)
| Person | Hebrew | Transliteration | Prefix |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | אֶכְתֹּב | ekh-TOV | אֶ- |
| you (m.) | תִּכְתֹּב | tikh-TOV | תִּ- |
| you (f.) | תִּכְתְּבִי | tikh-te-VI | תִּ-...-ִי |
| he | יִכְתֹּב | yikh-TOV | יִ- |
| she | תִּכְתֹּב | tikh-TOV | תִּ- |
| we | נִכְתֹּב | nikh-TOV | נִ- |
| you (m. pl.) | תִּכְתְּבוּ | tikh-te-VU | תִּ-...-וּ |
| they (m.) | יִכְתְּבוּ | yikh-te-VU | יִ-...-וּ |
Common Verbs - Future (I form)
| Meaning | Future (I) | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|
| learn | אֶלְמַד | el-MAD |
| eat | אֹכַל | o-KHAL |
| go | אֵלֵךְ | e-LEKH |
| speak | אֲדַבֵּר | a-da-BER |
| hear | אֶשְׁמַע | esh-MA |
In Sentences
אֲנִי אֶכְתֹּב מִכְתָּב מָחָר
a-NI ekh-TOV mikh-TAV ma-KHAR
I will write a letter tomorrow
הִיא תִּלְמַד עִבְרִית
hi til-MAD iv-RIT
She will study Hebrew
אֲנַחְנוּ נֵלֵךְ לַיָּם
a-NAKH-nu ne-LEKH la-YAM
We will go to the sea
הֵם יֹאכְלוּ בַּמִּסְעָדָה
hem yokh-LU ba-mis-a-DA
They will eat at the restaurant
Quick Tip
In everyday speech, the future tense is also used for polite commands: תִּכְתֹּב אֶת זֶה (tikh-TOV et ze) = 'write this' (literally: you will write this). This is softer than using the imperative.