Shavur, patuach, sagur: the state of a thing is a participle
A form of the verb describes the state of a thing. Shavur — broken, patuach — open, sagur — closed, daluk — switched on, kavui — switched off. Recognize the verb and you recognize the state. For example: “החלון פתוח, והדלת סגורה.” — The window is open, and the door is closed. A rule from the Hebrew course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
A form of the verb describes the state of a thing. Shavur — broken, patuach — open, sagur — closed, daluk — switched on, kavui — switched off. Recognize the verb and you recognize the state.
They change by gender and number, like adjectives: hakos shvura — the cup is broken; hadelatot sgurot — the doors are closed.
Other state words work the same way: mekumtat — crumpled, from lekamtet; balui — worn out, from livlot; meubak — dusty, from le'abek. Know the verb, and the state comes free.
Table
| verb | state | example | translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| שבר | שבור | הכוס שבורה | broken |
| פתח | פתוח | החלון פתוח | open |
| סגר | סגור | החנות סגורה | closed |
| הדליק | דלוק | האור דלוק | switched on |
| כיבה | כבוי | המחשב כבוי | switched off |
| נשבר | שבור | הצלחת נשברה | broke by itself |
By example
- החלון פתוח, והדלת סגורה.ха-халон патуах, ве-ха-делет сгура.The window is open, and the door is closed.
- האור דלוק בחדר, ובמטבח הכל כבוי.ха-ор далук бе-хедер, у-ве-митбах ха-коль кавуи.In the room the light is on, and in the kitchen everything is switched off.
- הכוס שבורה, אל תיגעו בה!ха-кос швура, аль тигу ба!The cup is broken, do not touch it!
How the rule settles in your head
A rule is not memorized from an explanation. It is memorized from an attempt to use it and a mistake — that is why the app delivers it mixed in with words, not as a separate lesson: it resurfaces exactly where you forgot it.
Frequently asked
How to say broken and open in Hebrew?
A form of the verb describes the state of a thing. Shavur — broken, patuach — open, sagur — closed, daluk — switched on, kavui — switched off. Recognize the verb and you recognize the state.
Shavur and shavar difference in Hebrew?
A form of the verb describes the state of a thing. Shavur — broken, patuach — open, sagur — closed, daluk — switched on, kavui — switched off. Recognize the verb and you recognize the state.
The state of an object in Hebrew?
A form of the verb describes the state of a thing. Shavur — broken, patuach — open, sagur — closed, daluk — switched on, kavui — switched off. Recognize the verb and you recognize the state.
What does it look like in a Hebrew example sentence?
“החלון פתוח, והדלת סגורה.” (ха-халон патуах, ве-ха-делет сгура.) — The window is open, and the door is closed. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.