השירותים קרובים למטבח, ולכן אפשר להגיע מהר.

Breakdown of השירותים קרובים למטבח, ולכן אפשר להגיע מהר.

ו
and
ל
to
מטבח
kitchen
אפשר
possible
קרוב
close
מהר
quickly
לכן
therefore
להגיע
to get there
שירותים
restroom

Questions & Answers about השירותים קרובים למטבח, ולכן אפשר להגיע מהר.

Why does השירותים look plural? Does it really mean one bathroom/restroom?

Yes. In everyday Hebrew, שירותים is the normal word for the bathroom / the restroom / the toilet, even though it is grammatically plural.

Originally, the word is related to services, which is why it has a plural form. But as a fixed expression, השירותים usually refers to a single restroom location.

Because it is grammatically plural, words that agree with it are often plural too, as in קרובים.


Why is the adjective קרובים plural?

Because קרובים agrees with השירותים, which is grammatically masculine plural.

Hebrew adjectives usually match the noun in:

  • gender
  • number
  • definiteness is not shown on the adjective in this kind of sentence

So:

  • קרוב = near/close, masculine singular
  • קרובה = feminine singular
  • קרובים = masculine plural
  • קרובות = feminine plural

Since השירותים is treated as masculine plural, קרובים is the correct form.


Why isn’t there a word for are in השירותים קרובים למטבח?

In the present tense, Hebrew usually does not use a word like English am / is / are in simple sentences like this.

So:

  • השירותים קרובים למטבח literally looks like the restroom close to-the-kitchen
  • but it means The restroom is close to the kitchen

This is completely normal in Hebrew. In past and future tenses, Hebrew does use actual verbs, but in the present tense, the copula is usually omitted.


Why is it למטבח after קרובים?

The adjective קרוב often takes the preposition ל־, meaning to.

So:

  • קרוב ל... = close/near to ...
  • קרובים למטבח = close to the kitchen

Also, למטבח is made of:

  • ל־ = to
  • ה־ = the
  • מטבח = kitchen

When ל־ joins a noun with ה־, they combine:

  • ל + המטבח = למטבח

Why does the sentence use ולכן? What exactly does it mean?

ולכן means and therefore, and so, or therefore.

It connects the first idea to the result:

  • השירותים קרובים למטבח = the restroom is close to the kitchen
  • ולכן אפשר להגיע מהר = therefore it’s possible to get there quickly

It is made of:

  • ו־ = and
  • לכן = therefore/so

In natural English, you might translate it simply as so.


Why does Hebrew say אפשר להגיע instead of using a verb meaning can?

Hebrew often expresses can / it is possible with אפשר.

So:

  • אפשר להגיע literally = it is possible to arrive/get there
  • natural English = you can get there

This is an impersonal structure. It does not name who can do it; it just says that doing it is possible.

Compare:

  • אני יכול להגיע = I can get there
  • אפשר להגיע = it’s possible to get there / you can get there

So the sentence is making a general statement, not talking about one specific person.


Why is the verb להגיע in the infinitive?

Because אפשר is followed by an infinitive to express what is possible.

So the pattern is:

  • אפשר + infinitive

Examples:

  • אפשר לראות = it’s possible to see / you can see
  • אפשר לשבת כאן = it’s possible to sit here / you can sit here
  • אפשר להגיע מהר = it’s possible to get there quickly

That is why you get להגיע rather than a conjugated present-tense verb.


What is the difference between להגיע and something like לבוא here?

להגיע means to arrive / to reach / to get to a place.

In this sentence, it fits well because the idea is about how quickly someone can reach the restroom.

לבוא means to come, and it depends more on the speaker’s point of view.
להגיע is often more neutral when talking about reaching a destination.

So:

  • להגיע מהר = to get there quickly / to arrive quickly

That makes it a very natural choice here.


Why is it מהר and not a form that matches the noun, like an adjective?

Because מהר is functioning as an adverb here: it describes how someone can arrive.

  • מהיר = fast (adjective, masculine singular)
  • מהירה = fast (adjective, feminine singular)
  • מהר = quickly/fast (adverb)

In אפשר להגיע מהר, the word modifies להגיע:

  • to arrive quickly

So it does not agree with השירותים or any other noun.


Why is there ה־ on both השירותים and מטבח?

The ה־ is the definite article, meaning the.

So:

  • השירותים = the restroom
  • המטבח = the kitchen

In למטבח, the ה־ is still there, but it has merged with ל־:

  • ל + המטבח = למטבח

So both nouns are definite:

  • the restroom
  • the kitchen

Is the comma before ולכן necessary?

It is natural and common to write a comma there because ולכן introduces the result of the first clause.

So the sentence is divided into:

  1. השירותים קרובים למטבח
  2. ולכן אפשר להגיע מהר

The comma helps show that relationship clearly, much like English:

  • The restroom is close to the kitchen, so you can get there quickly.

In some short informal writing, punctuation may vary, but this comma is standard and helpful.


Could Hebrew also say קרוב למטבח instead of קרובים למטבח?

In standard grammar, קרובים is the expected form because השירותים is grammatically plural.

So the standard version is:

  • השירותים קרובים למטבח

However, because שירותים often refers to one restroom as a place, learners may sometimes expect singular agreement. Still, plural agreement is the normal and correct choice in standard Hebrew.


Is this sentence talking about a specific person who can get there quickly?

No. The second clause is general and impersonal.

אפשר להגיע מהר means:

  • it’s possible to get there quickly
  • one can get there quickly
  • you can get there quickly

Here, English you would be the general you, not a specific person being addressed.

So the sentence is making a general observation about location and convenience.

AI Language TutorTry it ↗
What's the best way to learn Hebrew grammar?
Hebrew grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.

Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor

Start learning Hebrew

Master Hebrew — from השירותים קרובים למטבח, ולכן אפשר להגיע מהר to fluency

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.

  • 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