יש ארבע אפשרויות.

there is

Breakdown of יש ארבע אפשרויות.

• אפשרות: option
• ארבע: four

Questions & Answers about יש ארבע אפשרויות.

What does יש mean here?

יש is the Hebrew word used for there is or there are in an existential sentence. In יש ארבע אפשרויות, it means there are.

So the structure is basically:

יש + number + noun
= there is/are + number + noun

Why is it יש if the English meaning is there are?

Because יש does not change for singular and plural. Hebrew uses the same word for both:

• יש אפשרות אחת = there is one option
• יש ארבע אפשרויות = there are four options

So even though English switches between is and are, Hebrew keeps יש.

Is יש a normal verb?

Not exactly in the same way as English to be. In modern Hebrew, יש is the standard word for expressing existence: there is / there are.

Also, Hebrew usually does not use a present-tense verb for to be in simple sentences. So יש fills that existential role instead.

Why is the number ארבע and not ארבעה?