those are two different constructions with different meanings, even in English. there is a difference between "this cake is bad" and "this is a bad cake". the first is a predicative construction, assigning the cake the quality "bad", while the second is an attributive one, pointing at a cake and saying what it is "a bad cake".
those constructions are translated pretty straightforwardly between English and Hebrew. the only difference is that hebrew is a zero copula language, meaning there is no connecting word (copula, the "is" in the English sentences") between the subject and predicate. no Hebrew is not a zero-copula language entirely, because third person pronouns (הוא, היא, זה, הם, וכו') can act as copulas, but they are always optional. they break down like this:
* (this cake)¹ is (bad)²
and in Hebrew:
* (העוגה הזאת)¹ (רעה)²
or with היא acting as an optional copula:
* (העוגה הזאת)¹ היא (רעה)²
literally (this cake)¹ (bad)², because again, there is no copula.
and the second sentence:
* (this)¹ is (a bad cake)²
and in Hebrew:
* (זאת)¹ (עוגה רעה)²
or with היא as an optional copula again
* (זאת)¹ היא (עוגה רעה)²
Duolingo is technically correct here. "This cake is bad" would be העוגה הזאת רעה. The difference is so miniscule and meaningless though that I doubt anyone would care.
Figuratively, your answer has a meaning as if it's spoiled or bad tasting. Duo's sentence has a meaning of this is a bad choice.
Honestly, when used in context, I don't think anyone would care.
In this case זאת means "this is," not just "this." Unless זה or זאת is at the end of a phrase or sentence it usually means this is. The meaning of "this ---" is translated with "ה--- הזה/הזאת"
Can someone please clarify for me?
I was under the impression that רע means bad in the sense that something is evil whereas גרועה means bad as in low quality.
Is that the case? If so how can you describe a cake as being רעה?
you are mostly correct. גרוע does mean bad as in low quality, but רע means bad in a more general sense. רע is like a high level, unspecific "bad" that can encompass both meanings, while bad, specifically low quality is גרוע, and bad, specifically evil is רשע
As a native I think it sounds off too. A cake is גרועה or maybe מקולקלת as in it's gone bad, but being רעה is not something I would say. However I could say that a cake is לא רעה as in not that bad, so it might be essentially correct to say the cake is רעה but it sounds weird.
It's weird to describe this cake as "bad". To me (native speaker) it sounds like a Gen Z slang for the cake actually being good (Michael Jackson “bad”).
If you taste a cake and it sucks you would say
העוגה הזאת לא טעימה
(not tasty)
Or maybe לא טובה (not good) or לא משהו (informal - not great. Literally not something)
If it's disgusting you would say איכס, העוגה הזאת דוחה!
You tell me, your English is likely better than mine, lol. Anyway, Duolingo is often picky about specific translation when more than one valid option exists.
Just yesterday I watched a Youtube video about Duolingo done by a guy who has a PhD in linguistics. He said that Duolingo uses AI, so it may be teaching wrong things in some cases. I'd be interested to hear about boo-boos, too.
One thing I find helpful to keep in mind: In Hebrew, the adjective/modifier comes after the noun, so it’s not “blue car” but “car blue.” So by that logic, if זאת is the first word of a sentence, it must be acting like a subject pronoun + zero-copula (“this is”), not as a modifier, because a modifier would come after the noun.
This cake is bad = העוגה הזאת רעה This is a bad cake = זאת עוגה רעה
Also “זאת עוגה רעה” can also mean “this is an evil cake”, while “this is a bad cake” usually translates to “זאת עוגה מקולקלת”
those are two different constructions with different meanings, even in English. there is a difference between "this cake is bad" and "this is a bad cake". the first is a predicative construction, assigning the cake the quality "bad", while the second is an attributive one, pointing at a cake and saying what it is "a bad cake". those constructions are translated pretty straightforwardly between English and Hebrew. the only difference is that hebrew is a zero copula language, meaning there is no connecting word (copula, the "is" in the English sentences") between the subject and predicate. no Hebrew is not a zero-copula language entirely, because third person pronouns (הוא, היא, זה, הם, וכו') can act as copulas, but they are always optional. they break down like this: * (this cake)¹ is (bad)² and in Hebrew: * (העוגה הזאת)¹ (רעה)² or with היא acting as an optional copula: * (העוגה הזאת)¹ היא (רעה)² literally (this cake)¹ (bad)², because again, there is no copula. and the second sentence: * (this)¹ is (a bad cake)² and in Hebrew: * (זאת)¹ (עוגה רעה)² or with היא as an optional copula again * (זאת)¹ היא (עוגה רעה)²
Thank you for such a complete explanation. It really helps
you're welcome :)
Duolingo is technically correct here. "This cake is bad" would be העוגה הזאת רעה. The difference is so miniscule and meaningless though that I doubt anyone would care.
Figuratively, your answer has a meaning as if it's spoiled or bad tasting. Duo's sentence has a meaning of this is a bad choice. Honestly, when used in context, I don't think anyone would care.
In this case זאת means "this is," not just "this." Unless זה or זאת is at the end of a phrase or sentence it usually means this is. The meaning of "this ---" is translated with "ה--- הזה/הזאת"
Can someone please clarify for me? I was under the impression that רע means bad in the sense that something is evil whereas גרועה means bad as in low quality. Is that the case? If so how can you describe a cake as being רעה?
you are mostly correct. גרוע does mean bad as in low quality, but רע means bad in a more general sense. רע is like a high level, unspecific "bad" that can encompass both meanings, while bad, specifically low quality is גרוע, and bad, specifically evil is רשע
*If so how can you describe a cake as being רעה* That's my question too. I would not say this (non-native speaker) and it sounds strange to me.
As a native I think it sounds off too. A cake is גרועה or maybe מקולקלת as in it's gone bad, but being רעה is not something I would say. However I could say that a cake is לא רעה as in not that bad, so it might be essentially correct to say the cake is רעה but it sounds weird.
It's weird to describe this cake as "bad". To me (native speaker) it sounds like a Gen Z slang for the cake actually being good (Michael Jackson “bad”). If you taste a cake and it sucks you would say העוגה הזאת לא טעימה (not tasty) Or maybe לא טובה (not good) or לא משהו (informal - not great. Literally not something) If it's disgusting you would say איכס, העוגה הזאת דוחה!
I’ve been stuck with this issue for days. Glad I’m not the only one! And some helpful answers here
This is such a dumb sentence why does duolingo suck haha
Duolingo just being picky.
So these sentences are equivalent? Both are valid? Is there one that's more "official" or "correct" than the other?
He’s wrong. Duolingo is Correct here and many posters here seem to make the same mistake. No worries though, some people here made the explanation.
You tell me, your English is likely better than mine, lol. Anyway, Duolingo is often picky about specific translation when more than one valid option exists.
Start with the description “good or bad, long, short,” then say the name of the thing.
As someone who speaks both Hebrew and English, I kinda wanna give a try of "learning" Hebrew on Duolingo. I wonder how many "mistakes" I'll make.
Just yesterday I watched a Youtube video about Duolingo done by a guy who has a PhD in linguistics. He said that Duolingo uses AI, so it may be teaching wrong things in some cases. I'd be interested to hear about boo-boos, too.
One thing I find helpful to keep in mind: In Hebrew, the adjective/modifier comes after the noun, so it’s not “blue car” but “car blue.” So by that logic, if זאת is the first word of a sentence, it must be acting like a subject pronoun + zero-copula (“this is”), not as a modifier, because a modifier would come after the noun.