אם תנהגי לאט, אולי יהיה לך קל יותר לחנות ליד הבנק.

If you drive slowly, maybe it will be easier for you to park near the bank.

Breakdown of אם תנהגי לאט, אולי יהיה לך קל יותר לחנות ליד הבנק.

• להיות: to be
• אם: if
• ליד: near
• יותר: more

Questions & Answers about אם תנהגי לאט, אולי יהיה לך קל יותר לחנות ליד הבנק.

Why does Hebrew use תנהגי after אם? In English we usually say If you drive slowly, not If you will drive slowly.

That’s a very common question. In Hebrew, after אם in a real future condition, the verb is often in the future tense.

So:

• אם תנהגי לאט = If you drive slowly
• literally closer to If you will drive slowly

This is normal Hebrew grammar. English and Hebrew just structure this kind of sentence differently.

So the pattern here is:

• אם + future verb
• then a future result: אולי יהיה לך...

Why is the verb תנהגי feminine?

Because Hebrew verbs agree with the person being addressed.

תנהגי is you (feminine singular) will drive.

Compare:

• תנהגי = you will drive (to one woman)
• תנהג = you will drive (to one man)
• תנהגו = you will drive (to more than one person)

So this sentence is being said to a female listener.

Does לנהוג mean to drive? I thought it could also mean to behave.