זה מקרה מוזר, כי בדרך כלל היא עונה מיד.

It is a strange case, because usually she answers immediately.

Breakdown of זה מקרה מוזר, כי בדרך כלל היא עונה מיד.

• היא: she
• כי: because
• לענות: to answer
• בדרך כלל: usually

Questions & Answers about זה מקרה מוזר, כי בדרך כלל היא עונה מיד.

Why is there no Hebrew word for is in זה מקרה מוזר?

In the present tense, Hebrew usually does not say the verb to be.

So זה מקרה מוזר literally looks like this strange case, but it means this is a strange case.

Compare:

• זה מקרה מוזר = This is a strange case
• זה היה מקרה מוזר = This was a strange case
• זה יהיה מקרה מוזר = This will be a strange case

In past and future, Hebrew does use forms of to be, but in the present it usually leaves them out.

What exactly does זה mean here? Is it this or it?

It can feel like either one in English.

Literally, זה means this or this thing. But in sentences like this, Hebrew often uses זה in a way that English might translate as this is or sometimes just it is.

So:

• זה מקרה מוזר = literally This is a strange case
• In natural English, depending on context, you might also think of it as It’s a strange case

Why is there no word for a before מקרה?