This document discusses definite nouns in Hebrew. It explains that to make a noun definite, the prefix "ha-" is added before the noun. Examples are given of making "apple" and "orange" definite by adding this prefix. The document also discusses how direct objects work in Hebrew sentences, noting that when the direct object is made definite, the word "et" must be added before the definite direct object noun. Examples are provided to illustrate indefinite vs. definite subjects and direct objects.

1. Definite Nouns
In the last lesson, we discussed definite and
indefinite nouns a bit in that indefinite nouns don’t
use an additional word in a sentence. (a and an do
not exist)
Hebrew uses several modifications to words to
create meaning. One of these is by adding
prefixes to words. The definite article (the) is
formed by using such a prefix.

2. Definite Nouns
To make a noun definite, you add the prefix ‫ה‬ before the
noun.
For example:
An apple ‫תפוח‬ tapu’ach
THE apple ‫התפוח‬ ha-tapu’ach
An orange ‫תפוז‬ tapuz
THE orange ‫ה‬‫תפוז‬ ha-tapuz
There are many other prefixes that can be used on words in
Hebrew. We will discuss those in future lessons.

3. The definite direct object
A direct object is a noun that is the recipient of the
action of a verb.
The dog eats an apple (apple is the direct object)
The king builds a castle (castle is the direct object)
In Hebrew as we have already seen, direct objects
function the same way, sentence structure wise, as
English.
‫אוכל‬ ‫ילד‬‫תפוז‬ yeled okhel tapuz (a boy eats an orange)
tapuz is the direct object

4. The definite direct object
We just learned that a noun becomes definite by
adding the prefix ‫ה‬ to the beginning of the noun.
‫הילד‬‫אוכל‬‫תפוז‬ ha-yeled okhel tapuz
When you make a direct object definite in Hebrew,
an extra word gets added before the noun ‫.את‬
This word is called the DDO or definite direct object
marker. It does not translate to English.

5. The definite direct object
Examples:
‫ילד‬‫אוכל‬‫תפוז‬ yeled okhel tapuz
A boy eats an orange (indefinite sub and direct object)
‫תפוז‬ ‫אוכל‬ ‫הילד‬ ha-yeled okhel tapuz
The boy eats an orange (definite sub indefinite dir obj)
‫הילד‬‫את‬ ‫אוכל‬‫התפוז‬ ha-yeled okhel et ha-tapuz
The boy eats THE orange (def sub and def dir obj DDO)
The DDO must be added for the sentence to be
grammatically correct.