Questions & Answers about אם את לא צריכה את הספר, תחזירי לי אותו מחר.
Why is there את twice in this sentence, and do they mean the same thing?
No. These are two different words that just happen to be spelled the same:
- את in אם את לא צריכה = you (feminine singular)
- את in את הספר = the direct object marker
So:
- אם את לא צריכה = if you don’t need
- את הספר = the book as a definite direct object
This is a very common source of confusion for learners.
Why is צריכה feminine?
Because the sentence is addressed to a female.
In Hebrew, verbs and adjectives often agree with the person’s gender. Here, צריכה is the feminine singular form of need.
Compare:
- to a woman: את לא צריכה
- to a man: אתה לא צריך
So this sentence is specifically being said to one female person.
Why is תחזירי also feminine?