אפשר להיכנס?

possible

Breakdown of אפשר להיכנס?

• להיכנס: to come in

Questions & Answers about אפשר להיכנס?

What does each word in אפשר להיכנס? mean?

אפשר means possible, can, or is it possible in this kind of sentence.

להיכנס is the infinitive to enter / to go in.

So the structure is literally Is it possible to enter?, even though the natural English meaning is May I come in?

Why is there no word for I in the Hebrew sentence?

Hebrew often uses an impersonal structure here.

Instead of saying Can I enter?, Hebrew very naturally says אפשר + infinitive, which is more like Is it possible to enter? The person is understood from the situation.

So even without אני (I), the sentence can still mean May I come in?

What kind of word is אפשר here? Is it a verb?

In this sentence, אפשר works as an impersonal expression meaning something like it is possible or one may.

It does not behave like a normal verb that changes for person:

• not I possible
• not you possible

Instead, it stays the same and is followed by an infinitive:

• אפשר לשבת — May I sit? / It is possible to sit
• אפשר לדבר — May I speak?
• אפשר להיכנס — May I come in?

Why does start with ?