Lesson 70: In My Opinion
At B1 you start saying not just what is true, but what you think — and why. The keys are two tiny connecting words: שֶׁ־ (she‑, “that”) and כִּי (ki, “because”).
A friendly disagreement
לְדַעְתִּי, עִבְרִית הִיא שָׂפָה יָפָה מְאוֹד.
leda’ati, ivrit hi safa yafa me’od.
In my opinion, Hebrew is a very beautiful language.
אֲנִי מַסְכִּים, אֲבָל הִיא לֹא קַלָּה.
ani maskim, aval hi lo kala.
I agree, but it’s not easy.
אֲנִי חוֹשֶׁבֶת שֶׁכָּל שָׂפָה קָשָׁה בַּהַתְחָלָה.
ani choshevet shekol safa kasha bahatchala.
I think that every language is hard at the beginning.
נָכוֹן. צָרִיךְ לְתַרְגֵּל כָּל יוֹם כִּי זֶה עוֹזֵר.
nachon. tsarich letargel kol yom ki ze ozer.
True. You have to practice every day because it helps.
Grammar: linking clauses with שֶׁ and כִּי
To report a thought or claim, use a verb of opinion + שֶׁ־ (she‑, “that”), attached to the next word:
- אֲנִי חוֹשֵׁב שֶׁ… ani choshev she‑… — “I think that …”
- אֲנִי בָּטוּחַ שֶׁ… ani batuach she‑… — “I’m sure that …”
To give a reason, use כִּי (ki) or the more formal מִפְּנֵי שֶׁ (mipnei she), both “because”:
- לָמַדְתִּי כִּי רָצִיתִי. lamadti ki ratsiti. — “I studied because I wanted to.”
The phrase לְדַעְתִּי (leda’ati, “in my opinion”) literally means “to-my-knowledge” — דַּעַת (da’at, opinion) plus the “my” ending.
Tip: To disagree politely, soften it: אֲנִי לֹא בָּטוּחַ שֶׁאֲנִי מַסְכִּים (ani lo batuach she’ani maskim, “I’m not sure I agree”).
Vocabulary
Opinion phrases
| לְדַעְתִּי | leda’ati | in my opinion |
| אֲנִי חוֹשֵׁב שֶׁ | ani choshev she | I think that |
| אֲנִי מַסְכִּים / מַסְכִּימָה | ani maskim / maskima | I agree (m. / f.) |
Connectors
| שֶׁ־ | she- | that (links clauses) |
| כִּי | ki | because |
| אֲבָל | aval | but |
Useful words
| שָׂפָה | safa | language |
| קַל / קָשֶׁה | kal / kashe | easy / hard |
| נָכוֹן | nachon | correct, true |
| לְתַרְגֵּל | letargel | to practice |