A necessary book with annoyances, March 17, 2003

This book has several annoyances. Rather than elaborating on the issues already reviewed (lack of pu'al for example). I have two big complaints that impact the usefulness of the book.

1. A lay-flat binding!

2. Ordering the pages following Hebrew convention (right to left) particularly in the index would be an improvement.

Other than these minor annoyances the book is a great resource for mastering the binyanim of the common forms. One feature I do really like is that it gives the governing preposition of the verb.

Great Resource, March 2, 2001

On the whole, I use this book as much if not more than I do the dictionary. The reason is simple: you get the shoresh and the binyan with every single verb, a must in a university level Hebrew class. This book probably won't be much use to the beginner (it's real value lies with the shoresh and binyan/gizrah, and, to a less extent, with the past and future conjugations of the verbs). However, if you ever plan on getting past the bare bones basics (i.e., if you want to be able to say more than "Shalom" and "Ayfo ha Mesahdah?"), then you will want to pick it up. The reason I gave the book four stars is that it was written left to right as opposed to the more correct right to left. However, while this is quite unnatural, it can be overcome.

Invaluable, July 13, 2004

Excellent for students of the Hebrew language after they have had a little bit of additional training preferably in a classroom. I have been using this book for over 3 years and find it invaluable. Don't forget, it has 501 roots and this actually means a lot more verbs. Easy to use once you get used to it. Very worthwhile for any student of this difficult language.

Incomplete and Disappointing, January 30, 2004

Unfortunately, these 501 roots do not account for every root in the Hebrew language, and there is no index or table that allows for comparison of roots that do not occur in the volume to those of an identical conjugation pattern that are found in the book. I have not looked at 201 Hebrew verbs, but I have used 201 Arabic Verbs. In 201 Arabic Verbs, an index of verb patterns lists all of the various patterns of irregularity in verbal conjugations and gives example verbs that conform to these patterns that are found in the book. So if I need to find out how a verb is conjugated that is not listed in the book, I turn to the index and look up the particular form (binyan) and which type of irregularity it has (ain-yod, for example) and I get a list of verbs that follow that pattern. I can then conjugate the verb that I need like one of them. Now since the presence of pharyngials and doubled consonants do not cause irregularities of conjugation in Arabic, there are certainly many fewer irregular verbs than in Hebrew, but I can't imagine that such an organization would be impossible. If anyone can tell me of a Hebrew verbal conjugation book that is organized like 201 Arabic Verbs, please let me know.

Good book, but confusing order, October 24, 2003

The book is very helpful, filled with not only the verb conjugations and meanings, but examples, as well. Five hundred and one verbs will get you pretty far in most languages. The only ding against this book, and it's an important one for anyone who has been reading Hebrew for more than a few months is that it is written English style, from left to right, opening with the binding to the left. This can really mess with your mind when you're trying to find a word! By the time you're ready for a reference like this, you're familiar with the alef bet and have probably used a few Hebrew dictionaries. So, as you're looking a a word up, you start with alef and one and and expect tav and the other and look words up in the middle according to that order. It would be helpful if the next version of the book were bound in the opposite direction.

Publisher take note: we need this book in HARDBACK!, February 15, 2003
Reviewer: A reader
Since most of us who are involved in Hebrew study use a reference book like this constantly, why is it in paperback? Even with careful handling, a thick book like this doesn't stand a chance in paperback. Within a year the owner must contend with loose pages, as others in my class have also discovered. If this problem were corrected, I would immediately rank this as a 5-star book because it contains many verbs along with their vowel markings, and it is far easier to use than Tarmon's Hebrew Verb Tables. (It's good to have both books!) Another problem: Many verbs aren't listed in the index, even though they are actually in the book. This can be frustrating--especially if a person isn't sure of the root of a word. But, aside from these two problems, the book is indispensable to the student of Hebrew!