One of the most difficult aspects of the Hebrew language is the conjugation of verbs. This book breaks down all the possible conjugations of the most commonly used verbs as well as their unique meanings based on the conjugation. This book is designed for modern Hebrew use but is also an excellent tool for Biblical Hebrew.

This brand new book presents each verb on a full page, completely conjugated in all tenses. Selected on the basis of conjugation type and scientifically established frequency of use, every verb is illustrated with sentences or short paragraphs that suggest its optimal use.

A reader from Honolulu, Hawaii United States
This is an excellent source that I consult almost daily. Putting the biyanim all together fully declined, AND providing examples in everyday conversational Hebrew make the book an absolute joy to consult. As a study aid in the car every day, I photocopy one verb and study it for 1-2 days (I have an hour commute each way, and don't worry, I keep my eyes on the road). I go through each binyan and repeat the verb forms over and over until they stick. I then use the sentences provided with these verbs to make them more meaningful. Two small recommendation would be to add the nekudot (vowel diacriticals) to these sentences to help out beginning/intermediate students, and make a real durable cloth edition--I'm probably going to wear this out. All in all, if you love Hebrew, and you want to be fluent, BUY THIS BOOK for your Hebrew reference shelf!

A reader from Tucson, AZ USA
I'm only in my first year of studying Hebrew, in a very basic adult education class, but I don't think this book had too much information at all. I use it as a reference, to find the information I need at this point in my studies.

I can't speak for other language students, but for myself, I'm not sure a reference book really can have too much information, as the reviewer below implies. As a student, I need to understand that I can't use it all at once--but I'm glad it's there, so that when I am ready for it (whether or not the class has formally covered it yet), I can find what I'm looking for.

yll from Silicon Valley, CA
The book is very helpful, filled with not only the verb conjugations and meanings, but examples, as well. 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!

Gregory Olsen from Novato, CA USA
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.

A reader from Holly, MI USA
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!

A reader from Bethesda, MD
201 Hebrew verbs is much better organized, also it clearly gives every form in which the root is found, in the standard order of the forms. This book gives only some of the forms, and in descending order of frequency of use. It leaves out the rarer forms such as pu'al. Also, it uses far to much full (plene, or malei) spelling for a book with vowels

A reader from San José, CA USA
When I first read these reviews it convinced me to buy this book. Though it is very useful the only problem it has is it's presentation. if it were presented like some of the other verb 501 books like Spanish, Italian, French, etc.. this book would be golden. Thus this book is hard to follow. don't get me wrong it is a good book but its potenial was not fully realized.

Jack Turner from Columbia, South Carolina
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.

A reader from Ferndale, MI United States
If this book had followed the format of Barron's first Hebrew verb book, 201 Hebrew Verbs, it would have been great. In that work, every verb was clearly spread out over two facing pages. You could see every possible form of each verb all at once, and for each verb, you could always tell on which part of the page you would find each conjugation, since it was the same for each verb.

This book has only one advantage, and that is the higher number of verbs. It is lacking in clarity and organization. I am a Hebrew teacher since the 70's, and have always used 201 Hebrew Verbs with my students. This book, 501 Hebrew Verbs, would be useless for my students. I can barely follow it myself.

I would strongly recommend that Barron's consider a revision... keep the same verbs, but arrange them the same way the previous book did.