כל עוד הבלם תקין, אפשר להמשיך ברכיבת המבחן.

כל עוד means as long as.

In this sentence, it introduces a condition:

• כל עוד הבלם תקין = as long as the brake is in good condition / functioning properly

Depending on context, כל עוד can sometimes feel close to while, but here as long as is the best match because it means continuation is allowed only under that condition.

Because in the present tense, Hebrew usually does not use a separate word for is / are / am.

So:

• הבלם תקין literally looks like the brake functional
• but it means the brake is functional / the brake is in good condition

This is called a nominal sentence. Very common in Hebrew.

Compare:

• הוא עייף = he is tired
• הדלת פתוחה = the door is open
• הבלם תקין = the brake is functioning properly

Because תקין agrees with הבלם, which is a masculine singular noun.

Agreement in Hebrew usually works like this:

• masculine singular: תקין
• feminine singular: תקינה
• masculine plural: תקינים
• feminine plural: תקינות

So:

• הבלם תקין = the brake is functional
• הדוושה תקינה = the pedal is functional
• הבלמים תקינים = the brakes are functional

תקין means something like:

• functioning properly
• in working order
• valid / correct / normal, depending on context

Here, with הבלם, it means the brake is working correctly or not defective.

It is a slightly more formal/technical word than something like בסדר.

For example:

• המכשיר תקין = the device is functioning properly
• המסמך תקין = the document is valid / in proper form

אפשר here means it is possible, one may, or more naturally in English, you can.

So:

• אפשר להמשיך = it is possible to continue / you can continue / one may continue

This is an impersonal construction. Hebrew often uses אפשר without saying who the subject is.

So the sentence does not literally say you can continue with a visible you. It just says:

• אפשר להמשיך = it is possible to continue

In real English, we often translate that more naturally as:

• you can continue
• it’s okay to continue
• one may continue

Because after אפשר, Hebrew normally uses an infinitive.

So:

• אפשר להמשיך = it is possible to continue
• אפשר לראות = it is possible to see / you can see
• אפשר לצאת = it is possible to leave / you may leave

This is very common:

• אסור לעשן = it is forbidden to smoke
• מותר להיכנס = it is permitted to enter
• אפשר להמשיך = it is possible to continue

ברכיבת המבחן means in the test ride or with the test ride.

This contains two parts:

1. ב־ = in / during / with
2. רכיבת המבחן = the test ride

The phrase רכיבת המבחן is a construct chain (called סמיכות in Hebrew), literally something like:

• ride-of the-test

So:

• רכיבה = ride
• רכיבת = ride of ... / riding of ...
• המבחן = the test

Together:

• רכיבת המבחן = the test ride

This is a very common Hebrew structure.

Other examples:

• ספר התלמיד = the student’s book
• דלת הבית = the door of the house
• נסיעת מבחן = a test drive
• רכיבת המבחן = the test ride

Because in a Hebrew construct chain, definiteness is usually shown on the second noun, not the first.

So:

• רכיבת מבחן = a test ride
• רכיבת המבחן = the test ride

Even though the whole phrase is definite, the first word usually does not take ה־.

This is one of the most important things to notice about Hebrew construct phrases.

Because the verb להמשיך often takes ב־ when it means to continue with something or to continue in the course of something.

So:

• להמשיך ברכיבה = to continue riding / continue with the ride
• להמשיך בעבודה = to continue working / continue with the work
• להמשיך בשיעור = to continue with the lesson

In this sentence:

• אפשר להמשיך ברכיבת המבחן = it is possible to continue the test ride / continue with the test ride

In English we often leave out the preposition in translation, but in Hebrew it is natural here.

Not exactly.

• אם הבלם תקין = if the brake is functional
• כל עוד הבלם תקין = as long as the brake is functional

אם simply gives a condition. כל עוד gives a condition with a sense of ongoing validity: continuation is okay for the whole time that condition remains true.

So in this sentence, כל עוד is more precise.

הבלם means the brake, so it refers to a specific brake that is relevant in the situation.

That makes sense in a real-world context such as checking a vehicle or bicycle before continuing.

If you said בלם without ה־, that would mean a brake, which sounds more general or less tied to a specific situation.

So:

• הבלם תקין = the brake is functional
• בלם תקין = a functional brake or a brake is functional depending on context

The definite form is the natural choice here.

Grammatically, it is talking about one specific brake, because:

• הבלם = the brake (singular)
• תקין = masculine singular

If you wanted the brakes, you would say:

• כל עוד הבלמים תקינים, אפשר להמשיך ברכיבת המבחן.

So the original sentence is singular on purpose.

The comma separates the opening subordinate clause from the main clause:

• כל עוד הבלם תקין, = as long as the brake is functional,
• אפשר להמשיך ברכיבת המבחן. = it is possible to continue the test ride.

This is similar to English punctuation:

• As long as the brake is functional, you can continue the test ride.

The comma helps mark the structure clearly.

They are similar, but not always identical.

• נסיעת מבחן usually means test drive
• רכיבת מבחן usually means test ride

Which one sounds more natural depends on the vehicle:

• car: usually נסיעת מבחן
• bicycle / motorcycle / horse: often רכיבת מבחן

So רכיבת המבחן suggests a context where riding is the right word, not just general driving.

It has two main parts:

1. כל עוד הבלם תקין

   • condition clause
   • as long as the brake is functional

2. אפשר להמשיך ברכיבת המבחן

   • main clause
   • it is possible to continue the test ride

So the pattern is:

[Condition], [main statement].

A useful template is:

• כל עוד + noun + adjective, אפשר + infinitive

For example:

• כל עוד הדרך פנויה, אפשר להמשיך.
  • As long as the road is clear, you can continue.