זה לא עניין גדול, אבל הייתי רוצה שתודיעי לי מראש.

In Hebrew, זה can work like the English impersonal it in phrases such as it's not a big deal. It does not have to point to one clearly named thing.

So זה לא עניין גדול is a very natural Hebrew way to say it’s not a big deal.

Literally, עניין means matter, issue, concern, or sometimes just thing in a broad sense. גדול means big.

Together, עניין גדול is the natural equivalent of a big deal. So even though the words are literal, the phrase works idiomatically.

It also softens the request. In conversation, saying זה לא עניין גדול before asking for something can make you sound less confrontational.

It is a bit like saying:

• It’s not a huge issue, but...
• It’s not a big deal, but...

So the speaker is minimizing the complaint before making the real request.

אני רוצה means I want, which is more direct. הייתי רוצה means I would like, which sounds softer, more polite, and less demanding.

So:

• אני רוצה שתודיעי לי מראש = I want you to let me know in advance
• הייתי רוצה שתודיעי לי מראש = I’d like you to let me know in advance

The second version is usually more tactful.

Part of it is past in form: הייתי is I was / I would be. But the full expression הייתי רוצה usually functions like I would like, not I used to want.

So although it contains a past form, the meaning here is not past time. It is a common Hebrew way to express a polite wish or request.

Here ש־ means that.

So:

• הייתי רוצה = I would like
• שתודיעי לי מראש = that you let me know in advance

Put together, it gives the structure I would like that you..., which is a normal Hebrew pattern even though English usually says I’d like you to...

Because the subject changes.

In the main clause, the subject is I:

• הייתי רוצה = I would like

In the next clause, the subject is you:

• שתודיעי = that you will inform / let know

When Hebrew has one subject wanting another subject to do something, it often uses ש־ + future:

• הייתי רוצה שתודיעי לי מראש

If the same person does both actions, Hebrew normally uses an infinitive:

• הייתי רוצה להודיע לך מראש = I would like to inform you in advance

After verbs like רוצה, מבקש, מקווה, and similar words, Hebrew often uses a future form for the action being wanted, requested, or expected.

So שתודיעי literally looks like that you will inform, but in natural English it is often just that you inform or that you let me know.

The ending ־י marks you, feminine singular. That means the speaker is talking to one woman.

It comes from the verb להודיע, which means to inform, to notify, or to let someone know.

This is a hif'il verb, built from the root י־ד־ע, which is connected to knowledge/knowing. Learners often notice the connection with לדעת (to know), and that is not a coincidence.

So:

• להודיע = to inform
• תודיעי = you (feminine singular) will inform / let know

לי means to me.

It is made from the preposition ל־ (to / for) plus the pronoun ending ־י (me). So:

• להודיע לי = to inform me
• תודיעי לי = you will inform me / let me know

In English, let me know sounds more natural than inform me, but grammatically the Hebrew is literally inform to me.

מראש means in advance, ahead of time, or beforehand.

It is a very common adverb in Hebrew. In this sentence, it tells you when the speaker wants to be notified: not at the last minute, but before it happens.

So שתודיעי לי מראש is a very natural way to say that you let me know in advance.

The given sentence is addressed to one woman because of תודיעי.

If you were speaking to one man, you would say:

• זה לא עניין גדול, אבל הייתי רוצה שתודיע לי מראש.

If you were speaking to several people, in everyday Modern Hebrew you would usually say:

• זה לא עניין גדול, אבל הייתי רוצה שתודיעו לי מראש.

So the main change is the verb form after ש־.