אני יכולה להגיע רק אחרי העבודה.

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Breakdown of אני יכולה להגיע רק אחרי העבודה.

• להיות יכול: to be able
• אחרי: after
• רק: only

Questions & Answers about אני יכולה להגיע רק אחרי העבודה.

Why is it יכולה and not יכול?

Because the speaker is female.

• אני יכולה = I can / I am able (said by a woman)
• אני יכול = I can / I am able (said by a man)

So if a male speaker said the same sentence, it would be:

אני יכול להגיע רק אחרי העבודה.

Is אני necessary here?

Usually, yes, if you want to be clear.

Hebrew often allows subject pronouns to be dropped, but in this sentence יכולה by itself only tells you feminine singular, not specifically I. So without אני, it could also mean she can in the right context.

• אני יכולה להגיע... = clearly I can arrive...
• יכולה להגיע... = could mean I can arrive... or she can arrive..., depending on context

So learners should usually keep אני here.

Why does Hebrew use יכולה להגיע to mean can arrive?