Questions & Answers about ההחלטה הזאת הוגנת.
Why does ההחלטה start with two ה letters?
Because the base noun is החלטה (decision), and the definite article ה־ (the) is added to the front.
So:
- החלטה = decision
- ההחלטה = the decision
The noun itself already begins with ה, so when you add another ה־, you get ההחלטה.
Why is זאת after the noun instead of before it?
In Hebrew, demonstratives like this and that usually come after the noun.
So Hebrew says:
- ההחלטה הזאת = literally the decision this
but in natural English that becomes:
- this decision
This is a very common Hebrew pattern:
- הספר הזה = this book
- הילדה הזאת = this girl
Why are זאת and הוגנת feminine?
Because החלטה is a feminine singular noun, and Hebrew words that describe or point to a noun usually have to agree with it in gender and number.
Here:
- החלטה = feminine singular
- זאת = feminine singular this
- הוגנת = feminine singular fair / just
So all the grammar matches.
How do we know החלטה is feminine?
One strong clue is the ending ־ה. Many Hebrew nouns ending in ־ה are feminine, and החלטה is one of them.
That said, the ending is only a clue, not an absolute rule. But in this sentence, you can clearly see it is feminine because the other words agree with it:
- זאת rather than זה
- הוגנת rather than הוגן
Why is there no separate word for is?
In present-tense Hebrew, the verb to be is usually not written or said in simple sentences like this.
So:
- ההחלטה הזאת הוגנת
literally looks like:
- the decision this fair
but it means:
- this decision is fair
This is normal Hebrew grammar. In past or future, Hebrew does use forms of to be, for example with היה.
Why doesn’t הוגנת also have ה־?
Because הוגנת here is a predicate adjective: it tells you something about the subject.
So this sentence means:
- The/this decision is fair
In that kind of structure, the adjective does not take ה־.
Compare:
- ההחלטה הזאת הוגנת = This decision is fair
- ההחלטה ההוגנת = the fair decision
In the second example, ההוגנת is part of the noun phrase itself, so it does take ה־.
Why is it הזאת and not just זאת?
After a noun, Modern Hebrew normally uses the demonstrative forms:
- הזה = this (masculine)
- הזאת = this (feminine)
- האלה = these
So ההחלטה הזאת is the normal everyday way to say this decision.
Do not translate it word-for-word as the this decision. In this pattern, הזאת is just the normal form of this after the noun.
Could I also say ההחלטה הזו?
Yes. ההחלטה הזו is also very common in Modern Hebrew, especially in everyday speech.
Very roughly:
- ההחלטה הזאת = very standard, common
- ההחלטה הזו = also very common, often a bit more colloquial
- החלטה זו = more formal/written style
All of these can mean this decision, but the sentence you were given uses one of the most standard everyday patterns.
What is the masculine form of הוגנת?
The masculine singular form is הוגן.
So:
- הוגן = masculine singular
- הוגנת = feminine singular
For example:
- החוק הזה הוגן = This law is fair
- ההחלטה הזאת הוגנת = This decision is fair
This is a good example of adjective agreement in Hebrew.
Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor
Start learning HebrewMaster Hebrew — from ההחלטה הזאת הוגנת to fluency
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
- ✓Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
- ✓Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
- ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions