האפון נוגע באף.

It is the Hebrew definite article, the equivalent of the in English.

So:

• אפון = a pea / pea
• האפון = the pea

Hebrew usually attaches ה־ directly to the noun instead of writing a separate word like English does.

נוגע agrees with the subject האפון.

Here, האפון is masculine singular, so the present-tense form is also masculine singular:

• masculine singular: נוגע
• feminine singular: נוגעת
• masculine plural: נוגעים
• feminine plural: נוגעות

So if the subject changes, the form of the present-tense verb changes too.

Yes. In Hebrew, the present tense is built from forms that historically behave a lot like participles, so they can sometimes feel adjective-like.

In a sentence like this, נוגע functions as the verb:

• האפון נוגע באף = The pea touches / is touching the nose

So for a learner, the easiest way to think of it is: נוגע is the present-tense form of to touch here.

Because Hebrew normally does not use a separate present-tense form of to be in simple sentences.

English says:

• The pea is touching the nose

Hebrew just says:

• האפון נוגע באף

That single word נוגע already carries the present-time meaning.

Because the verb לגעת (to touch) normally takes the preposition ב־ in Hebrew.

So Hebrew says, literally something like:

• touch in/at something

Examples:

• נוגע בקיר = touches the wall
• נוגע ביד = touches a hand / the hand
• נוגע באף = touches a nose / the nose

So with this verb, you normally do not use את the way English would suggest.

Because in Hebrew, the one-letter prepositions ב־ (in/on/at), ל־ (to), and כ־ (like/as) often combine with the definite article ה־.

So:

• ב + האף becomes באף

In unpointed Hebrew spelling, this looks like one word.

A useful thing to know: without vowel marks, באף can be ambiguous in writing. It could represent:

• בְּאַף = in/at a nose
• בָּאַף = in/at the nose

Usually context or the translation tells you which one is meant.

A simple pronunciation guide is:

• האפון — ha-a-FON
• נוגע — no-GE-a
• באף — be-AF or ba-AF, depending on whether it means in/at a nose or in/at the nose

So the whole sentence is approximately:

ha-a-FON no-GE-a be-AF / ba-AF

The main stress is usually on the last syllable of each word.

Yes. Hebrew present tense often covers both the simple present and the present progressive.

So נוגע can mean:

• touches
• is touching

Context determines which English translation sounds most natural.

The dictionary form is לגעת, meaning to touch.

The root is נ-ג-ע.

That same root appears in forms such as:

• לגעת = to touch
• נוגע = touching / touches
• נגעה = she touched
• נגעתי = I touched

Knowing the root can help you recognize related forms.

Yes. Subject + verb + complement is very normal in modern Hebrew.

So:

• האפון נוגע באף

is a completely natural sentence structure.

Hebrew can sometimes use other word orders too, but this is one of the most basic and common patterns for learners to know.

Because ף is the final form of the letter פ.

Some Hebrew letters change shape when they come at the end of a word. These are called final letters.

So:

• פ = regular form
• ף = final form

That is why אף is written with ף at the end.

The present-tense form would change to match the subject.

For example:

• feminine singular: ה... נוגעת באף
• masculine plural: ה... נוגעים באף
• feminine plural: ה... נוגעות באף

So Hebrew present tense agrees with the subject in gender and number, which is something English does much less.