Questions & Answers about השמלה האדומה יפה, אבל אני רוצה לקנות לה חגורה חדשה.
Why is there no word for is in השמלה האדומה יפה?
In Hebrew, the verb to be is usually left out in the present tense.
So:
- השמלה האדומה יפה = The red dress is beautiful
Hebrew does not normally need a separate word for is here.
In other tenses, Hebrew does use forms of היה:
- השמלה האדומה הייתה יפה = The red dress was beautiful
- השמלה האדומה תהיה יפה = The red dress will be beautiful
You may sometimes see היא added for emphasis, but in a simple sentence like this it is normally omitted.
Why does האדומה come after השמלה?
Because in Hebrew, adjectives usually come after the noun.
So:
- שמלה אדומה = a red dress
- literally: dress red
This is the normal Hebrew order for descriptive adjectives.
Why do both השמלה and האדומה have ה־?