Lesson 152: Linking Ideas
Fluent speech joins clauses smoothly. These are the workhorses beyond וְ־ (“and”) and אֲבָל (“but”). Tap any line to hear it.
Cause and result
לֹא בָּאתִי מִכֵּיוָן שֶׁהָיִיתִי חוֹלֶה.
lo bati mikeivan shehayiti chole.
I didn’t come because I was ill.
הָיָה גֶּשֶׁם, לָכֵן נִשְׁאַרְנוּ בַּבַּיִת.
haya geshem, lachen nish’arnu babayit.
It rained, therefore we stayed home.
Contrast and concession
לַמְרוֹת שֶׁהָיָה קָשֶׁה, נֶהֱנֵינוּ.
lamrot shehaya kashe, neheninu.
Although it was hard, we enjoyed it.
מִצַּד אֶחָד זֶה יָקָר, מִצַּד שֵׁנִי זֶה שָׁוֶה.
mitsad echad ze yakar, mitsad sheni ze shave.
On one hand it’s expensive, on the other it’s worth it.
Adding and concluding
יֶתֶר עַל כֵּן, זֶה חוֹסֵךְ זְמַן.
yeter al ken, ze chosech zman.
Moreover, it saves time.
בְּסוֹפוֹ שֶׁל דָּבָר, הַכֹּל הִסְתַּדֵּר.
besofo shel davar, hakol histader.
Ultimately, everything worked out.