Guideposts in Hebrew Grammar

Levin Guideposts in Hebrew Grammar 1
GUIDEPOSTS IN
HEBREW
GRAMMAR
by Leonard Levin
Contents
Contents .......................................................................................................................................... 2
Guideposts in Hebrew Grammar .................................................................................................... 6
by Leonard Levin ........................................................................................................................ 6
The Forest and the Trees ......................................................................................................... 6
How Hebrew Encodes Meaning: A Case Example ................................................................ 6
Phonetic Elements of the Language ........................................................................................ 7
Consonants .............................................................................................................................. 7
The Aspirate Consonant-Twins (7 (‫בגד כפת‬
Dagesh kal, dagesh ḥazak: .................................................................................................. 8
Euphonious Dagesh Ḥazak (9 (‫נ‬,‫מ‬,‫ל‬
Gutterals: 9 ‫אעהחר‬
Vowel-consonants: 9 ‫אויה‬
Weak letters: 9 ‫אהוינ‬
Sibilants: 9 ‫זסצש‬
Regular consonants: ‫( זטלמנסצקרש‬and ‫ בגד כפת‬for most purposes) ............................ 9
Vowels ................................................................................................................................... 10
Long and short Kametz and Segol ........................................................................................ 10
Sheva naʻ Sheva Naḥ ............................................................................................................ 10
Sheva Meraḥef ...................................................................................................................... 11
More on Sheva Meraḥef ........................................................................................................ 11
Furtive Pataḥ ......................................................................................................................... 12
Syllables ................................................................................................................................ 12
A Note on Notation ....................................................................................................................... 13
Accents in Syllables .............................................................................................................. 14
Vowel Reduction ................................................................................................................... 14
The Rule of Three ................................................................................................................. 15
Pronominal Prefixes and Suffixes ......................................................................................... 16
Ambiguity ............................................................................................................................. 17
Exercises in ambiguity .......................................................................................................... 17
Criteria for Dagesh and Mappik ........................................................................................... 19
Criteria for Sheva .................................................................................................................. 19
Criteria for Syllables ............................................................................................................. 20
Criteria for Kametz ............................................................................................................... 20
Secondary Rules ............................................................................................................................ 21
Applications to the “Rule of Three” ..................................................................................... 23
Binyanim: Phonetics and Meaning .............................................................................................. 24
Nomenclature of the Binyanim ............................................................................................. 24
Phonetics ............................................................................................................................... 25
Semantics: The Meaning of the Binyanim ........................................................................... 26
Correlating Phonetics and Meaning ...................................................................................... 26
Standard Verb Formations: General ............................................................................................. 27

Past Tense Formation .................................................................................................................... 28
Future Tense Formation ................................................................................................................ 30
Imperative Formation .................................................................................................................... 32
Present Tense Formation ............................................................................................................... 33
Regular Kal Verb Formation ......................................................................................................... 34
Analysis of Basic Kal Verb Forms ................................................................................................ 35
Implications for ‫בגד כפת‬: Kal (Paʻal) ......................................................................................... 38
Implications for ‫בגד כפת‬: Other Binyanim ................................................................................. 40
Analysis of Verb Forms - Kal Gutteral ......................................................................................... 42
Comparison of Kal and Niphʻal .................................................................................................... 45
Irregularities in Niphʻal: Gutterals ............................................................................................... 46
Basics of Piʻel, Puʻal ..................................................................................................................... 47
Gutterals in Piʻel, Puʻal ................................................................................................................. 48
Summary of 49 ‫תשלום דגש‬
For ‫על‬ֵ ‫ּפ‬
ִ ,‫על‬
ַ ‫פ‬
ְ ‫ִנ‬, and 49 ‫על‬
ַ ‫ּפ‬ֻ
Basics of Hiphʻil, Hophʻal ............................................................................................................ 51
Gutterals in Hiphʻil ....................................................................................................................... 52
Gutterals in Hophʻal ...................................................................................................................... 53
Basics of Hitpaʻel .......................................................................................................................... 54
√2,√3 Gutterals and √1 Sibilants/Dentals in Hitpaʻel ................................................................... 55
Basics of 4-Letter Roots (56 (‫עים‬ ִ ‫ּב‬
ָ ‫מֻר‬
ְ
Identification Strategies ................................................................................................................ 57
Characteristics of Kal ............................................................................................................ 58
Characteristics of Niph’al .................................................................................................... 58
Characteristics of Hiphʻil, Hophʻal ....................................................................................... 58
Characteristics of Piʻel, Puʻal, Hitpaʻel ................................................................................ 59
Further Observations on the Above Verb Forms ................................................................... 60
Welcome to the World of Irregular Verbs! .................................................................................... 61
The World of Irregular Verbs ................................................................................................ 61
√1 Nun Verbs (62 (‫גזרת פ“נ‬
General Characteristics of ‫ פ“נ‬verbs .................................................................................... 62
Beware the ambiguity: .......................................................................................................... 63
√1 Nun Verbs (‫“ )גזרת פ“נ‬Regular” ............................................................................................. 63
When ‫ פ“נ‬verbs keep the 63 ‫נ‬
√1 Nun Verbs (‫ )גזרת פ“נ‬in Kal ................................................................................................... 64
Specific Paradigms of ‫ פ“נ‬Verbs in the Kal .......................................................................... 64
Irregular Verbs of the √1 Nun Paradigm (65 (‫גזרת פ“נ‬
√1 Nun Verbs (‫ )גזרת פ“נ‬in Niphʻal ............................................................................................. 67
Specific Paradigms of ‫ פ“נ‬Verbs in the Niph’al ................................................................... 67
√1 Nun Verbs (‫ )גזרת פ“נ‬in Hiphʻil ............................................................................................. 68
Specific Paradigms of ‫ פ“נ‬Verbs in the Hiphʻil .................................................................... 68
√1 Nun Verbs (‫ )גזרת פ“נ‬in Hiphʻil—With Other Irregularities .................................................. 69

√1 Nun Verbs (‫ )גזרת פ“נ‬in Hophʻal ............................................................................................ 70
Specific Paradigms of ‫ פ“נ‬Verbs in the Hophʻal ................................................................... 70
√1 Yod Verbs (71 (‫גזרת פ“י‬
General Characteristics of ‫ פ“י‬verbs ..................................................................................... 71
Syllable Structure Changes in ‫ פ“י‬verbs ....................................................................................... 72
Table of Syllable Structure Changes in ‫ פ“י‬verbs ......................................................................... 73
√1 Yod Verbs (‫ )גזרת פ“י‬in Kal .................................................................................................... 74
√1 Yod Verbs (‫ )גזרת פ“י‬in Niphʻal .............................................................................................. 75
√1 Yod Verbs (‫ )גזרת פ“י‬in Hiphʻil: Basic .................................................................................. 75
√1 Yod Verbs (‫ )גזרת פ“י‬in Hiphʻil: Advanced ........................................................................... 76
√1 Yod Verbs (‫ )גזרת פ“י‬in Hophʻal ............................................................................................. 77
√3 Hei Verbs (78 (‫גזרת ל“ה‬
General Characteristics of ‫ ל“ה‬verbs (except mappik-hei) .................................................. 78
√3 Hei Verbs (‫ )גזרת ל“ה‬in Kal .................................................................................................. 79
√3 Hei Verb Changes: A Structural View .................................................................................... 80
√3 Hei Verbs (‫)גזרת ל“ה‬: Kal & Other Binyanim Compared ..................................................... 81
√3 Hei Verbs (‫ )גזרת ל“ה‬With Other Features ............................................................................ 82
√3 Aleph Verbs (83 (‫גזרת נחי ל“א‬
General Characteristics of ‫ נחי ל“א‬verbs ............................................................................. 83
√3 Aleph Verbs (‫ )גזרת נחי ל“א‬in Kal ........................................................................................ 84
√3 Aleph Verb Changes: A Structural View ................................................................................ 85
‫ ל“ה‬and ‫ ל“א‬Compared ................................................................................................................ 86
√3 Aleph Verbs (‫)גזרת ל“א‬: Kal & Other Binyanim Compared ................................................. 87
√3 Aleph Verbs (‫ )גזרת ל“א‬With Other Features ........................................................................ 88
√1 Aleph Verbs (89 (‫גזרת נחי פ“א‬
Differences of ‫ נחי פ“א‬verbs ................................................................................................ 89
√1 Aleph Verbs (‫ )גזרת נחי פ“א‬in Kal ........................................................................................ 90
√2 Vav/Yod Verbs (91 (‫ ע“י‬/ ‫גזרת ע“ו‬
General Characteristics of ‫ ע“י‬/ ‫ ע“ו‬verbs ............................................................................ 91
A Fresh Start: Basic Forms of the ‫ ע“י‬/ ‫ ע“ו‬Verbs in Kal .................................................... 91
More Fresh Starts: The Other Binyanim—Niph’al ............................................................. 92
Other Binyanim—‫ ע“ו‬in Hiphʻil and Huph’al ...................................................................... 93
The Odd Past Tense in Niph’al and Hiphʻil .......................................................................... 94
Redesigning Piʻel as Polel and Other Alternatives ............................................................... 95
√2 Vav/Yod Verbs (‫ ע“י‬/ ‫)גזרת ע“ו‬: Binyanim Compared ........................................................ 96
√2 Vav/Yod Verbs (‫ ע“י‬/ ‫)גזרת ע“ו‬: Variants ............................................................................. 97
Structure of √2 Vav Verbs Compared with Regular Forms .......................................................... 98
(2=%3 (“‫ √גזרת ע“ע או ”כפולים‬Geminate Verbs ...................................................................... 100
General Characteristics of 100 ‫כפולים‬
√2=√3 “Geminate” Verbs (‫)גזרת כפולים ע“ע‬: Kal Paradigms ............................................... 101
√2=√3 “Geminates”: Binyanim Compared ................................................................................. 102

Identification Strategies (continued) ........................................................................................... 103
Comparison of Syllable-Structures Across Binyanim ................................................................ 104
Comparison of Syllable-Structures in Kal .................................................................................. 105
Comparison of Syllable-Structures in Niphʻal ............................................................................ 106
Comparison of Syllable-Structures in Hiphʻil ............................................................................ 107
Comparison of Syllable-Structures in Piʻel ................................................................................ 108
Syllable Patterns in Hebrew Verbs: A Summary ........................................................................ 109
The Sheva in Hebrew Verbs: A Summary .................................................................................. 110
The Dagesh in Hebrew Verbs: A Summary ................................................................................ 112
Dagesh Kal Cases Summarized .......................................................................................... 112
Scorecard of Identifying Characteristics ..................................................................................... 114
Structures of √1 Nun Verbs ................................................................................................. 114
Structure of √1 Yod Verbs ................................................................................................... 115
Structure of √2 Vav Verbs Compared with Regular .................................................................... 116
Structure of “Polel” (a geminate pattern used for √2-vav and √2=√3) ............................... 117
Structure of √2=√3 (“Geminate”) Verbs ............................................................................. 118
Analysis of Verb Forms .............................................................................................................. 120
Guideposts in Hebrew Grammar

by Leonard Levin
The Forest and the Trees
Hebrew is a language with many word-forms. Learning each of the word-forms individually is a
daunting task. For people with my kind of mind (and hopefully yours), it is more economical to
master a rule that covers many cases than to memorize each case individually.
Over my many years of experience with the language I have come across rules that are useful to
me. Many of these I have learned from other sources and forgotten the source, so I do not want to
claim originality in any of them. I pass them on to you for what they are worth and hope they will
be useful to you.
How Hebrew Encodes Meaning: A Case Example
Consider the word ‫ּתנּו‬

ָ ‫ל‬ְ ‫ח‬
ַ ‫הְנ‬
ִ . A handy English translation would be: ”You have made us
inherit.“ English uses 5 words where Hebrew uses one word. But the Hebrew listener does not
have to learn this word separately (after the fashion of the Chinese student learning each of the
thousands of the ideographs of the language separately). Rather, each dimension of the word
conveys an aspect of meaning that English conveys in a separate word, as follows:
English Hebrew
What (action)? inherit root: ‫נחל‬
How (what mode of

made causative: Hiphʻil binyan
action)?
When (tense)? have past-tense form: ‫ה‬
ִ
Who (subject)? you 1st suffix: ‫ּת‬

ָ
Whom (direct object)? us 2nd suffix: ‫נּו‬
Decoding this word therefore involves the following skills:
1. Root recognition (find the root ‫)נחל‬.

2. Binyan identification.
3. Tense identification.
4. Knowing the elementary personal-pronoun suffixes that form the tense-forms of the verb
ָ ).
(‫ּת‬
5. Knowing the (advanced) formation of direct-object suffixes (‫)נּו‬.
Understanding Hebrew should progress to the point of being alert to all these cues simultaneously
and integrating them into a unified understanding of their combined presentation in complex
words such as the given example.
Phonetic Elements of the Language
Like any language, Hebrew encodes meaning through sounds. Linguists use the term “phoneme”
to refer to a meaningful sound-unit that combines with other meaningful sound-units to produce
larger patterns of meaning such as words and phrases. Though you are presumably very familiar
with the elements of the Hebrew language on an acquaintance level, here is a more sophisticated
look that will assist you in deploying them for the purpose of grammatical analysis:
Consonants
The Aspirate Consonant-Twins (‫)בגד כפת‬
‫ּב‬ b voiced labial
‫ב‬ bh/v voiced labial aspirate
‫ּג‬ g voiced palatal
‫ג‬ gh voiced palatal aspirate
‫ּד‬ d voiced dental
‫ד‬ dh voiced dental aspirate
‫ּכ‬ k unvoiced palatal
‫כ‬ kh unvoiced palatal aspirate
‫ּפ‬ p unvoiced labial
‫פ‬ ph/f unvoiced labial aspirate

‫ּת‬ t unvoiced dental
‫ת‬ th unvoiced dental aspirate

Euphonious Dagesh Ḥazak (‫נ‬,‫מ‬,‫)ל‬
Note in the words ‫אָּנא‬

ָ ,‫ּמה‬
ָ ‫ל‬
ָ ,‫ּמה‬ָ ‫ׁש‬
ָ ,‫ּמה‬
ָ ‫ה‬
ֵ ,‫הָּנה‬ֵ ,‫ּלה‬
ֶ ‫א‬
ֵ that a dagesh ḥazak follows a long
vowel. These are rare exceptions to the rule that a dagesh ḥazak generally follows only a short
vowel. They also do not follow the “rule of three” (this is OK because the first syllable is accented
in most of these cases). The dagesh is explained in these cases that the letters ‫נ‬,‫מ‬,‫ ל‬are all
“liquid” consonants that take the lengthening for the sake of euphony. This phenomenon does not
occur within the regular verb paradigms, and it does not occur with the letters of ‫בגד כפת‬, so
you need not worry about it for this course. It is mentioned here primarily so that you need not
puzzle over it too much if you come across it independently.
See Miles Cohen Hebrew Grammar Guide pp. 1-4 for more about the varieties of dagesh.
Gutterals: ‫אעהחר‬
The “gutterals” are ‫ ח‬,‫ ה‬,‫ ע‬,‫א‬, and sometimes ‫ר‬. All five of these letters typically do not take a
dagesh ḥazak. This leads to one kind of irregularities (especially in the Piʻel binyan-family and
future-Niph’al) in verb-formation. In addition, ‫ ח‬,‫ ה‬,‫ ע‬,‫ א‬only rarely take a sheva. This leads
to another kind of irregularity, in all binyanim. (Note: Though not 100% consistently, aleph will
generally be indicated by downward apostrophe ʼ and ayin by upward apostrophe ʻ.)
Vowel-consonants: ‫אויה‬
These letters serve sometimes as vowels and sometimes as consonants. This leads to another class
of irregularities.
Weak letters: ‫אהוינ‬

These letters sometimes drop out and/or are assimilated to the adjacent letters or vowels. This
leads to another class of irregularities.
Sibilants: ‫זסצש‬
These letters cause a small set of irregularities, especially in the Hitpaʻel; for most purposes,
however, they can be regarded as “regular.”
Regular consonants: ‫( זטלמנסצקרש‬and ‫ בגד כפת‬for most purposes)
Now the set of Hebrew consonants is complete. Once you get used to the idiosyncrasies of some
of them, even the irregular will seem regular (we hope). ‫!חזקו ואמצו‬
Vowels
It is very important that you learn to recognize the differences between “long” and “short” vowels,
as many rules of verb-formation depend on this difference. (Note in this table and elsewhere we
use the symbol ‫ ם‬to mean: “any consonant.”)
A E I O U
Long ָ *
‫ם‬ (**‫ם‬
ֶ )‫ם‬
ֵ ‫םי‬
ִ ‫ ֹו‬,‫ם‬
ֹ ‫ּו‬
Short ַ ‫ם‬ ֶ ‫ם‬ ִ ‫ם‬ ָ *

‫ם‬ ֻ ‫ם‬
Furtive ֲ ‫ם‬ ֱ ‫ם‬ ְ ‫ם‬ ֳ ‫ם‬
(fleeting)
Long and short Kametz and Segol

* The vowel ‫ם‬ ָ (kametz) can be either long ā or short ŏ. The distinction between them is tricky,
crucial, and fraught with significance. (See “Criteria for Kametz” below, page 20.)
** The vowel ‫ם‬ ֶ (segol) is usually short but occasionally behaves as a long vowel, especially in
the first accented syllable of “segolate” nouns such as ‫לד‬ֶ ‫( ֶי‬and in forms like ‫ּתְקֶניָנה‬
ִ ,‫ּתְקֶנה‬
ִ ).
This is mildly interesting and of very little consequence for this course. See Cohen HGG p. 22.
Sheva na‘ Sheva Naḥ

The vowel-sign ‫ם‬ ְ stands for two functions: a short voiced neutral vowel-sound (like the
unaccented vowels in “puppet,” “bottom,” “culpable”) or no sound at all (the joint between the
syllables in “carpool,” “leg-room,” “careful,” “hop-scotch”). Discriminating between these is
sometimes tricky and is connected with some other phonetic rules (such as long-and-short vowels,
the “rule of three,” and the occurrence of dagesh kal or dagesh ḥazak). For a start, learn the
following basic rules:
a. A sheva accompanying the first consonant of a word is a sheva naʻ: ‫מע‬ ַ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ,‫ׁשָוא‬
ְ
b. If there are two consecutive shevas in a word, the first is naḥ and the second naʻ, as in:
ָ‫ּב‬
ְ ‫כ‬
ְ ‫ׁש‬
ָ ‫ּב‬
ְ ,‫מרּו‬
ְ ‫ש‬
ְ ‫ִי‬
c. A sheva under a dagesh ḥazak (actually, under any dagesh except the final ‫ּת‬
ְ in ‫ּת‬
ְ ‫מְר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ָ ,‫ּת‬
ְ ‫א‬
ַ ,
etc.) is a sheva naʻ: ‫בִרים‬
ָ ‫ּד‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ַ ,‫ּברּו‬
ְ ‫ְיַד‬
See Miles Cohen’s Hebrew Grammar Guide, pp. 11-14 for the finer details of the sheva.
Sheva Meraḥef
Sometimes a dagesh kal is not found after what appears to be a closed syllable. Examples:
‫כי‬
ֵ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫מ‬
ַ ,‫עְרכּו‬
ַ ‫ ַי‬,‫בי‬
ִ ‫כ‬
ְ ‫ׁש‬
ִ
(See also ‫כל‬

ֹ ‫ב‬
ְ ‫ּו‬, HGG p. 25, and ‫כר‬
ֹ ‫ּבְז‬
ִ [but ‫ּכר‬
ֹ ‫לְז‬
ִ ] in Barkali Luaḥ ha-Peʻalim, p. 6 example 3.)
The sheva in these cases has an anomalous status: it is not pronounced, but it still has the power to
cancel the dagesh kal in the next syllable. Some grammarians call this a sheva meraḥef or sheva
media (pardon my Latin!). Historical-etymological analysis of these words hypothesizes that this
sheva results from contraction of an original longer vowel:
‫כי‬
ֵ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫מ‬
ַ <- ‫כי‬
ֵ ‫ל‬
ָ ‫מ‬
ְ <- ‫כים‬
ִ ‫ל‬
ָ ‫מ‬
ְ
‫עְרכּו‬
ַ ‫< ַי‬- ‫עֹרכּו‬
ֲ ‫ַי‬
‫בי‬
ִ ‫כ‬
ְ ‫ׁש‬
ִ <- ‫בי‬
ִ ‫כ‬
ָ ‫ׁש‬
ְ
The omission of dagesh kal is presumably a legacy of the earlier historical form, in which the
preceding vowel canceled the dagesh. The notion of sheva meraḥef is then generalized to the
analogous forms:
‫פֵרי‬
ְ ‫ס‬
ִ ,‫מלּו‬
ְ ‫ע‬
ַ ‫ ַי‬,‫מִרי‬
ְ ‫ׁש‬
ִ
More on Sheva Meraḥef
I reproduce here for the benefit of the student the explanation that Rabbi Joel Roth gives of Sheva
Meraḥef:
Rabbi Roth defines sheva meraḥef as: “a sheva which would have been the second of two
sheva’im naʻim in a row. It is not pronounced but it has the grammatical rules of a sheva naʻ.”
Rabbi Roth gives as paradigmatic examples the cases that Miles Cohen discusses on pages 23 and
25 of HGG:
ַ ‫ּבְזרֹו‬
‫ע‬ ִ <- ‫ע‬
ַ ‫ּבְזרֹו‬
ְ
‫ב יל‬
ִ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּב‬
ִ <- ‫ביל‬
ִ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּב‬
ְ
‫ׁשמֹו‬
ְ ‫< ּו‬- ‫ׁשמֹו‬
ְ ‫ְו‬
‫כל‬
ֹ ‫ב‬
ְ ‫< ּו‬- ‫כל‬
ֹ ‫ב‬
ְ ‫ְו‬
In each of these cases, the mechanical addition of the prefix (‫ּב‬ְ or ‫ )ְו‬would have resulted in the
anomalous situation of two consecutive sheva’im naʻim. This anomaly is resolved by turning the
first sheva into the most natural vowel for that situation (ḥirik or shuruk respectively), while the
second sheva becomes unpronounced.
There is a scholars’ debate as to whether to simply say that the remaining sheva is unpronounced,
or to term it a sheva meraḥef. The chief reason in favor of calling it a sheva meraḥef is the other
feature that Rabbi Roth points out, namely that “it has the grammatical rules of a sheva naʻ.” The
chief evidence of this shows up especially when the next following consonant is of the ‫בגד כפת‬
family: the absence of the dagesh kal in ‫ביל‬ ִ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּב‬
ִ and ‫כל‬
ֹ ‫ב‬
ְ ‫ ּו‬is an indication that the preceding
sheva, though unpronounced, still retains some of the residual power of a sheva naʻ, namely to
knock out a dagesh kal in the next letter.
Furtive Pataḥ
A pataḥ under a final ‫ ה‬,‫ ע‬,‫ ח‬is called a furtive pataḥ (‫בה‬
ָ ‫ּתח ְּגנּו‬
ָ ‫ּפ‬
ַ ). The following rules apply:
• The pataḥ is pronounced before the ‫ ע‬,‫ ח‬or ‫ה‬.
• The combination of pataḥ and final consonant is counted as a separate (closed) syllable.
• The ‫ ה‬with furtive pataḥ always takes a mappik.
Examples:
ַ ‫ לּו‬,‫ע‬
‫ח‬ ַ ‫מ‬
ֵ ‫ ׁשֹו‬,‫ּה‬
ַ ‫ָּגבֹו‬
We apologize for the double use of the word “furtive” in the two senses: (1) “furtive
vowel” (‫ם‬
ְ ,‫ם‬
ֱ ,‫ם‬
ֳ ,‫ם‬
ֲ :‫פה‬ָ ‫חטּו‬
ֲ ‫עה‬
ָ ‫ּתנּו‬
ְ ) — and the “furtive syllable” containing it; and (2) “furtive
pataḥ” as defined here. There is no connection between these two phenomena.
Syllables
A syllable is a cluster of consonants and vowels pronounced together as a sub-unit of a word.

Syllables are divided into “open” (ending in a vowel) and “closed” (ending in a consonant). We
adopt here the further classification of a “furtive” syllable as comprising a consonant with a sheva
naʻ or ḥataf-vowel.
See Miles Cohen, Hebrew Grammar Guide, pp. 5-6 for more discussion of syllables.
A Note on Notation
Our phonetic analysis of verb-forms throughout this book will use the following notation
conventions:
1st root letter: √1 1 ‫פ‬

2nd root letter: √2 2 ‫ע‬
3rd root letter: √3 3 ‫ל‬
Pronominal prefix letters for future tense: ‫איתן‬
Any consonant (esp. ‫ איתן‬,‫ ה‬,‫)מ‬: X or ‫ם‬
Any vowel ǝ (without superscript)
Any short vowel ǝ̆
Any long vowel ǝ̄
Demarcation between syllables: -
Dagesh ḥazak (doubling consonant): 2-2
Accent indicators yế-lĕd; ‫לד‬ֶ ‫ֶ֫י‬
Silent consonant indicated by parentheses kā-rā(ʼ) = ‫ ;ָקָרא‬ʼī(y)-săd = ‫סד‬
ַ ‫אי‬
ִ
Vowel symbols (long): ā = kametz gadol, ē = tzeireh, ê = segol gadol, ī or īy = ḥirik gadol, ō =
ḥolam, ū = shuruk; (short): ǎ = pataḥ, ĕ = segol, ĭ = ḥirik katan, ŏ = kametz katan, ŭ = kubbutz,
The “furtive” sheva naʻ and ḥataf-vowels will be indicated by superscripts, as follows:
ǝ = sheva naʻ , ĕ =ḥataf-segol, ă = ḥataf-pataḥ, ŏ = ḥataf-kametz.
Sheva meraḥef will be indicated as a superscript within parenthesis as follows: (ǝ)
The pataḥ genuvah will be represented as a regular short vowel, thus: ‫ח‬
ַ ‫ל‬
ֵ ‫ ׁשֹו‬as 1ō-2ē-ă3
Syllable Indicators
C = Closed (ending in a consonant)

O = Open (ending in a vowel-sound)
F = Furtive (containing a sheva naʻ or ḥataf-vowel)
Vowel Indicators
L = Long
S = Short (includes pataḥ genuva)
F = Furtive (sheva naʻ or ḥataf-vowel)
Accents in Syllables
For our present purposes, there are three levels of accent in the syllables of a Hebrew word:
a. Accented
b. Normal-unaccented
c. Furtive (= fleeting)
(We ignore secondary accents, which are significant in Biblical grammar.)
Examples:
‫מר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ָ - ‫מר‬
ַ֫ -‫ׁש‬
ָ
1. Normal unaccented ‫ׁש‬
ָ
2. Accented ‫מר‬
ַ
ָ‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫מְר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ ּו‬- ָ-‫ּתי‬
ִ֫ -‫מְר‬
ַ -‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּו‬
1. Normal unaccented ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫( ּו‬see HGG p. 25)
2. Normal unaccented ‫מר‬ַ
3. Accented ‫ּתי‬
ִ
4. Normal unaccented ָ
‫חֶזיָנה‬
ֱ ‫ת‬
ֶ ‫ ְו‬- ‫ָנה‬-‫ֶ֫זי‬-‫ח‬
ֱ -‫ת‬
ֶ -‫ְו‬
1. Furtive (fleeting) ‫ְו‬
2. Normal unaccented ‫ת‬ ֶ
3. Furtive (fleeting) ‫ח‬ ֱ
4. Accented ‫ֶזי‬
5. Normal unaccented ‫ָנה‬
Identification of these accent patterns will be useful for understanding the vowel-patterns of verbs
and their transformations, especially vowel reduction:
Vowel Reduction
As words are lengthened by addition of more elements, accents shift, and vowels undergo
transformation accordingly. Among the commonest transformations are:
(a) From long vowel to short vowel, when the accent shifts away from a syllable:
‫פר‬
ֶ ‫ס‬
ֵ֫
1. Accented, long “e”
2. Unaccented
֫ ‫פְר‬
ָ ְ ‫ס‬
ִ
1. Normal unaccented, short “i” (shortened from long “e”)
2. Furtive
3. Accented
(b) From long or short vowel to furtive, when the accent shifts away from a syllable:
‫תב‬
ַ֫ ‫ּכ‬
ָ
1. Normal unaccented, long “a”
2. Accented, short “a”
‫ּתם‬
ֶ֫ ‫ב‬
ְ ‫ת‬
ַ ‫ּכ‬
ְ
1. Furtive, sheva na’ (shorted from long “a”)
2. Normal unaccented, short “a”
3. Accented
‫בּו‬
֫ ‫ת‬
ְ ‫ּכ‬
ָ
1. Normal unaccented, long “a”
2. Furtive, sheva na’ (shortened from short “a”)
3. Accented
The Rule of Three
This rule will be very useful to you in many grammatical contexts, especially parsing syllables and
predicting vowel changes:
Most “normal unaccented” syllables and many (but not all) accented syllables have a phonetic
quantity of three units, counting as follows:
a. Every simple consonant (without dagesh ḥazak) counts as 1
b. Every consonant with dagesh ḥazak counts as 2: 1 for the preceding syllable and 1 for the
succeeding syllable (break up ‫ּבר‬ ֵ ‫ּד‬
ִ into the two syllables: dib-bēr)
c. Every short vowel counts as 1
d. Every long vowel counts as 2
Examples:
‫מר‬
ַ֫ ‫ׁש‬
ָ
1. Sh (1) + ā (2) = 3
2. m (1) + ă (1) + r (1) = 3
‫ּבר‬
ֵ֫ ‫ׁש‬
ִ
1. Sh (1) + ĭ (1) + b (1) = 3
2. b (1) + ē (2) + r (1) = 4 (accented syllable > 3 is OK)
‫אר‬
ֵ֫ ‫ּב‬
ֵ
1. B (1) +ē (2) = 3 (lengthened “e” compensates for inability of aleph to take dagesh)
2. ‘ (1) + ē (2) + r (1) = 4 (accented syllable > 3 is OK)
Pronominal Prefixes and Suffixes
Perhaps the most pervasive feature of Hebrew word-formation that differs most prominently from
English is the incorporation of forms of the pronoun to indicate a variety of relations: possession
(in the case of nouns), prepositional object, person of the verb-subject in past and future tenses,
and direct object. The following table will indicate the commonly used forms for these purposes:
Possessive
(noun-
declension) and Verb Future
Pronoun Verb Past Tense Direct Object
Prepositional Tense
Combining
Form
‫אִני‬
ֲ ‫י‬-
ִ ‫ּתי‬
ִ - -‫א‬
ֶ ‫ִני‬-
‫ּתה‬
ָ ‫א‬
ַּ ָ- ָ -
‫ּת‬ -‫ּת‬ ָ-
(‫ י‬-
ִ )‫ּת‬
ְ ‫א‬
ַ (‫ י‬-
ִ ) ְ-
ָ / ְ-
ֵ (‫ י‬-
ִ ) ‫ּת‬
ְ - ‫י‬-
ִ -‫ּת‬ ְ-
‫הּוא‬ (‫נּו‬-) / ‫ֹו‬- -- -‫י‬ ‫נּו‬- / ‫ֹו‬-
‫היא‬
ִ ‫ּה‬-
ָ (‫ת‬-
ָ ) ‫ה‬-
ָ -‫ּת‬ ָ -
‫ה‬ֶ / ‫ּה‬-
ָ
‫חנּו‬
ְ ‫אַנ‬
ֲ ‫נּו‬- ‫נּו‬- -‫נ‬ ‫נּו‬-
‫ּתם‬
ֶ ‫א‬
ַ ‫כם‬
ֶ - ‫ּתם‬
ֶ - (‫ּו)ן‬--‫ּת‬ ‫כם‬
ֶ -
‫ּתן‬
ֶ ‫א‬
ַ ‫כן‬
ֶ - ‫ּתן‬
ֶ - ‫ָנה‬--‫ּת‬ ‫כן‬
ֶ -
(‫הם )הֹון‬
ֵ ‫הם‬
ֶ -/ ‫ם‬- (‫ּו)ן‬- (‫ּו)ן‬--‫י‬ ‫הם‬
ֶ -/ ‫ם‬-
‫הן‬
ֵ ‫הן‬
ֶ -/ ‫ן‬- ‫ּו‬- ‫ָנה‬--‫ּת‬ ‫הן‬
ֶ -/ ‫ן‬-
Ambiguity
The most difficult feature of Hebrew for the learning student to cope with, even after the basic
rules have been mastered, is the ambiguity of many of its forms, which only context and
experience can resolve. This kind of ambiguity exists in English, too, though it is rarer. Consider
the pair of sentences:
Time flies like an arrow.

Fruit flies like a banana.
To read and interpret these sentences correctly, the reader must be alert to the fact that “flies” can
be a noun as well as a verb, and that the suffix “s” can mean either the plural of a noun or the
third-person singular present-tense of a verb; also, that “fruit” can be an adjective as well as a
noun, and that “like” can be a verb as well as a preposition. All these ambiguities play into the
witticism just offered. In short, the more you know about a language, the more you can spot
ambiguity (by filtering a given form through the entire repertoire of possible forms) and resolve it
correctly.
It is our objective in the Hebrew curricular sequence (and more particularly in this course) to bring
you as close as possible to a complete knowledge of the commonly used Hebrew forms, so that
you can correctly identify the forms of most of the Hebrew words that you encounter. You will be
spared many potential errors by being able to recognize all of the alternate possibilities of
meaning of a given consonant-cluster, instead of hastily jumping to a false identification.
Exercises in ambiguity
(If you are bewildered by these exercises at this point in your studies, come back to them when
you are more fully knowledgeable of the repertoire of grammatical forms.)
Note the following words. Identify their grammatical forms.
Also parse these words (where applicable) in terms of kametz gadol/katan, dagesh kal/ḥazak,
sheva na’/naḥ/meraḥef, open and closed syllables.
Note (a) how all these factors interact with each other in the problem of differentiation (for
instance, in ‫ ָּגְדלּו‬,‫ ָּגְדלֹו‬how you break the word into syllables affects whether the kamets is gadol
or katan, and whether the sheva is naʻ or naḥ) and (b) how the phonetic parsing of the word affects
its meaning:
‫‪Levin‬‬ ‫‪Guideposts in Hebrew Grammar‬‬ ‫‪18‬‬
‫)‪(Exercises in Ambiguity—continued‬‬
‫ּבנּו‬
‫ּבנּו ‪ָ ,‬‬
‫ּבנֹו ‪ָ ,‬‬
‫ְ‬
‫ּבנּו(‬
‫)‪ָ is a totally different word, when accented on 1st or 2nd syllable‬‬
‫ׁשנּו‬
‫ׁשנּו‪ָ ,‬קְד ֵ‬
‫ּד ֵ‬
‫ׁשנּו‪ַ ,‬ק ְ‬
‫ּד ְ‬
‫ׁשנּו‪ִ ,‬ק ַ‬
‫ּד ָ‬
‫ִק ְ‬
‫מֶרָּנה‬
‫ׁש ְ‬
‫ּת ְ‬
‫מְרָנה‪ִ ,‬‬
‫ּׁש ַ‬
‫ּת ָ‬‫מְרָנה‪ִ ,‬‬
‫ׁש ֹ‬
‫ּת ְ‬
‫ִ‬
‫ּתם‬
‫ׁשְר ָ‬
‫ּתם‪ּ ,‬וְק ַ‬
‫ׁשְר ֶ‬
‫ּוְק ַ‬
‫ַוִּיְראּו‪ַ ,‬וַּיְראּו‪ְ ,‬וֵיָראּו‪ְ ,‬וָיְראּו‬
‫ּלם‬
‫כ ֵ‬‫א ַ‬
‫לם‪ֲ ,‬‬
‫כ ָ‬
‫א ָ‬
‫לם‪ֲ ,‬‬
‫ּכ ֵ‬
‫א ָ‬
‫לם‪ֶ ,‬‬
‫כ ַ‬
‫א ְ‬
‫לם‪ָ ,‬‬
‫כ ָ‬
‫א ְ‬
‫ָ‬
‫ּדלֹו‬
‫ּדלּו‪ִּ ,‬גְדלּו‪ִּ ,‬ג ְ‬
‫ּדלּו‪ִּ ,‬ג ְ‬
‫ֻּגְדלֹו‪ָּ ,‬גְדלֹו‪ָּ ,‬גְדלּו‪ְּ ,‬גָדלֹו‪ַּ ,‬ג ְ‬
Criteria for Dagesh and Mappik

A dot in a ‫( ה‬always final) is a mappik, not a dagesh: ‫מיָדּה‬
ִ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ּת‬
ַ ,‫ּה‬
ַ ‫ ָּגבֹו‬,‫בּה‬
ַ ‫ָּג‬.
A dagesh kal is present in the letters ‫בגד כפת‬:
• At the beginning of a word (‫ּבֶגד‬ ֶ )
• At the beginning of a syllable after a previous “closed syllable” (i.e., after a syllable ending
in sheva naḥ; example: ‫ּכיב‬ ִ ‫הְר‬
ִ )
A dagesh kal drops out:
• After a previous open syllable (‫כב‬ ַ ‫ׁש‬
ָ )
• After a previous sheva naʻ (a “furtive” or kind-of-open syllable: (‫בית‬
ֵ ‫ּב‬
ְ )
• After a previous sheva meraḥef (OK, that’s a circular criterion—what is a sheva meraḥef?
—examples: ‫כי‬ ֵ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫מ‬
ַ ,‫ככֹוד‬
ְ ‫ּב‬
ִ ,‫כל‬
ֹ ‫ב‬
ְ ‫)ּו‬
A dagesh is a dagesh ḥazak if:
• It is in a letter other than ‫ בגד כפת‬or (example: the dagesh in the ‫ מ‬of ‫ּמד‬
ֵ ‫ל‬
ִ ) or:
• It follows any vowel (usually a short vowel, but see “Euphonious Dagesh” in ‫ּמה‬ ָ ‫ׁש‬
ָ , etc.
Example: ‫ּבר‬ ֵ ‫ּד‬
ִ )
See also: “The Dagesh in Hebrew Verbs: A Summary” at end of Guideposts, page 112.
Criteria for Sheva

It is a sheva naʻ:
• If it occurs under the first letter of the word (example: ‫מע‬ ַ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ).
• If it is the second of two consecutive shevas (such as second sheva in ָ‫ּת‬ ְ ‫כ‬
ְ ‫ל‬ֶ . Note
ְ at the end of a verb, such as ‫ּת‬
exception: ‫ּת‬ ְ ‫מְר‬ַ ‫ׁש‬
ָ , in which case both shevas are naḥ).
• If the previous letter has a long vowel (especially indicated by a meteg in a traditionally
vocalized tanakh. Examples: ‫מרּו‬ ְ ‫ׁש‬
ָ ,‫מִרים‬ ְ ‫)ׁשֹו‬
• Under any dagesh (except for final ‫ּת‬ ְ ). (See Secondary Rule #5 for why.)
It is a sheva naḥ:
• If it is the first of two consecutive shevas (such as first sheva in ָ‫ּת‬ ְ ‫כ‬
ְ ‫ל‬
ֶ ).
• If the previous letter has a short vowel (such as ‫ּת‬ ָ ‫מְר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ָ ).
• If it is in the final ‫ּת‬ְ at the end of a verb indicating 2nd person singular feminine.
It is a sheva meraḥef:
• If it evolved from a two-sheva configuration, as the second sheva in that configuration,
especially if:
• It follows a prefix that normally takes a sheva naʻ but has been modified to a short
vowel, for instance ‫ ְו‬transformed to ‫ּו‬, or ‫ּב‬ ְ transformed to ‫ּב‬ ִ , etc.: ‫כבֹוד‬ ְ ‫ּב‬
ִ ,‫כל‬
ֹ ‫ב‬
ְ ‫ּו‬.
• It follows a short vowel but a succeeding ‫ בגד כפת‬letter would lack the dagesh kal, for
instance: ‫כי‬ ֵ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫מ‬
ַ (hypothetically evolved from ‫כי‬ ֵ ‫ל‬ְ ‫מ‬
ְ <- ‫כי‬ֵ ‫ל‬ָ ‫מ‬
ְ ).
See also: “The Sheva in Hebrew Verbs: A Summary” at end of Guideposts, page 110.
Criteria for Syllables

• If it contains a ‫טף‬
ַ ‫ח‬
ֲ vowel or a sheva naʻ it is a “furtive” syllable (a sub-class of “open”).
• If it ends in a vowel-sound (even if followed by a silent consonant such as unvocalized final
aleph or hei), it is an open syllable.
• If it ends in a consonant (whether or not marked by a sheva naḥ) it is a closed syllable.
(Note: ‘Ayin always counts as a “consonant” for closing a syllable. The second consonant
of ‫ ָקַרע‬is closed, but the second consonant of ‫ ָקָרא‬and ‫ ָקָרה‬are both open.)
Criteria for Kametz
A kametz is pronounced as a kametz katan if it is a ḥataf kametz:
• The first kametz in ‫מנּות‬

ָ ‫א‬
ֳ
A kametz is pronounced as a kametz katan if it is paired with a ḥataf kametz:
• The first kametz in ‫הַרִים‬

ֳ ‫צ‬
ָ (expansion from hypothetical form ‫הַרִים‬ְ ‫צ‬
ָ )
• Exception: Initial definite article preceding a ḥataf kametz is a separate phonetic unit and is
pronounced kametz gadol: ‫אִּנָּיה‬ֳ ‫ל‬
ָ ,‫אִנָּיה‬
ֳ ‫ה‬
ָ
A kametz is pronounced as a kametz katan if it is in a non-accented closed syllable:
• The kametz in ‫ ָּגְדלֹו‬or in the hyphenated phrase ‫ּבכֹור‬

ְ ‫ה‬
ַ -‫ּכל‬
ָ .
The last seems circular: how does one tell if it is a closed syllable? (Answer: if it has a short
vowel, i.e. if it is a kametz katan.) For example, what distinguishes ‫ ָּגְדלֹו‬from the almost-
identical ‫ ?ָּגְדלּו‬You have two clues: (1) A meteg in a traditional tanakh will mark the first syllable
of ‫ ָּגְדלּו‬as an open syllable but not the first syllable of ‫ָּגְדלֹו‬. Also: (2) The kametz katan is usually
a shortening of a ḥolam in the original form of a word—in this case ‫ ֹּגֶדל‬is the base noun of ‫ָּגְדלֹו‬.
Usage determines: you have to learn the specific word or grammatical form in question.
In all other cases, it is a kametz gadol.
Be very careful: The word ‫כל‬ ָ ‫ ְו‬in Isaiah 40:12 (meaning “and He measures”) contains a kametz
gadol (as does the allusion to this verse in the piyyut Imru Lelohim for Shaḥarit on Yom Kippur)!
In the Tanakh, the form ‫כל‬ָּ meaning “all” is consistently hyphenated to the succeeding word; the
accent is construed on the full hyphenated word-combination, thus making the particle ‫ּכל‬ ָ an
unaccented syllable which can take a kametz katan. (In stand-alone, the vocalization is ‫ּכל‬ֹ .)
Secondary Rules
The following are useful rules that follow secondarily from the primary phonetic rules already
discussed (from my notes of Rabbi Joel Roth’s grammar lectures):
Secondary Rule #1: A dagesh ḥazak will generally appear after any short, unaccented vowel,
unless that letter is already vocalized by a sheva naʻ.
Examples: ‫ּסא‬
ֵ ‫ּכ‬
ִ ,‫חן‬
ָ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ׁש‬
ֻ
Parenthetical note: In this as in so many cases, the ketiv malē of contemporary Israeli spelling
(and medieval rabbinic spelling, for that matter) destroys the rule-coherence of vocalized Hebrew;
one simply could not speak of any of these rules on the basis of examples like ‫ שולחן‬and ‫כיסא‬.
Secondary Rule #2: Long vowels appear principally in open syllables (either accented or
unaccented) or in closed accented syllables.
Examples (OL / CL): ‫מָנה‬

ְ ‫ֹק‬
֫ ‫ּת‬
ָ ,‫קֹום‬
֫ ‫מ‬
ָ ,‫חן‬
ָ֫ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ׁש‬
ֻ
Secondary Rule #3: Short vowels appear in closed syllables (more often unaccented, but also
accented, or in open accented syllables.
Examples:
• (CS, unaccented): First syllables of ‫ּסא‬
ֵ ‫ּכ‬
ִ ,‫חן‬ ָ ‫ל‬ְ ‫ׁש‬ֻ
• (CS, accented): Second syllables of ‫מר‬ ַ ‫ׁש‬
ָ ,‫ּתי‬ ִ ‫מְר‬
ַ֫ ‫ׁש‬ ָ
• (OS, accented): Accented syllables of ‫חד‬ ַ ‫ ַ֫י‬,‫ּבִית‬ ַ֫ ,‫לד‬
ֶ ‫ ֶ֫י‬,‫ּבֶרת‬
ֶ֫ ‫מַד‬
ְ
• Rare: (OS, unaccented in unrealized tashlum dagesh in Piʻel): First syllables of ,‫חד‬
ֵ ‫ִי‬
‫חם‬
ַ ‫ֻנ‬.
• Atypical: (OS as helper with ḥataf-vowel): ‫עֹזר‬
ֲ ‫ַי‬
Mnemonics summarizing Rules #2 and #3 (in order of preference):

• CS — closed, short: unaccented, but sometimes accented (most common)
• OL — open, long: unaccented or accented (next most common)
• CL — closed, long: only if accented
• OS — open, short: only in certain special cases (segolate nouns, unrealized tashlum dagesh
in Piʻel verbs, and helping with ḥataf-vowel)
Corollary 3.1: That is why the dagesh ḥazak is put after unaccented short vowels: to close the
syllable unless it is already closed. In ‫חן‬ָ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ׁש‬
ֻ , the first syllable is already closed after the kubbutz
and so no dagesh is necessary; in ‫ּסא‬ ֵ ‫ּכ‬
ִ the dagesh in the samekh is necessary to close the first
syllable. The result in each case is that the first short vowel resides in a closed syllable.
Secondary Rule #4: 98% of the time, an initial long vowel followed by a sheva follows the
pattern: “open syllable (unaccented), sheva naʻ.” Typical of this pattern:
‫מרּו‬
ְ ‫ׁש‬
ָ ,‫מָרה‬
ְ ‫ׁש‬
ָ
• Note that if the initial syllable is open, the sheva must be a sheva naʻ.
• (The other 2% would be cases of accented long vowels, as in: ‫בָנה‬ ְ ‫ס‬
ֹ ,‫מָנה‬
ְ ‫ֹק‬.)
Secondary Rule #5: The sheva under a dagesh must always be a sheva naʻ because either one of
two things is the case:
a. It is a dagesh kal, occurring either at the beginning of a word, or at the beginning of a new
syllable after a closed syllable; but either way, the sheva at the beginning of a word or at the
beginning of a syllable must be a sheva naʻ.
b. It is a dagesh ḥazak, which doubles the consonant, simultaneously closing one syllable and
starting a new syllable; but then the sheva belongs to the start of the new syllable, and must
therefore be a sheva naʻ.
Examples of “a”: Note both degeshim in the word ָ‫ּת‬

ְ ‫כ‬
ְ ‫ל‬
ֶ ‫ּב‬
ְ which illustrate both sub-cases of this
section.
Examples of “b”: ‫ּברּו‬

ְ ‫ּד‬
ַ <- ‫ּברּו‬
ְ -‫ּב‬
ְ ‫ּד‬
ַ (dăb-be-rū)
‫ּלּה‬
ָ ‫ׁש‬
ֶ <- ‫לּה‬
ָ -‫ל‬ְ ‫ׁש‬
ֶ (shĕl-lāh)
Applications to the “Rule of Three”
The following simple logical deductions will show the relation of “the rule of three” to Secondary
Rules #2 and #3:
The case of long vowels in open syllables (OL): Any open syllable with a long vowel contains one
consonant (value=1) and one long vowel (value=2), hence the phonetic quantity of the syllable
adds up to 3:
‫ׁשירּו‬
ִ ,‫ׂשָרה‬
ָ
The case of long vowels in closed syllables (OC): When a long vowel is in a closed syllable, that
syllable is typically accented, hence it is exempt from the “rule of three.” An accented syllable
with a phonetic quantity of 4 (such as the final syllable of ‫חן‬
ָ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ׁש‬
ֻ ) fits naturally into the phonetic
structure of the language:
‫סּבּו‬
ֹ֫ ,‫ׁשיר‬
ִ ,‫ ָקם‬,‫חן‬
ָ֫ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ׁש‬
ֻ
The case of short vowels in closed, unaccented syllables (CS) This (along with the “long vowel”
in open syllables) is the most typical (and possibly most useful) application of the “Rule of Three”
consonant + short vowel + consonant forms a closed syllable with a phonetic quantity of 3.
Quantitative analysis of the ethnic names in Genesis Chapter 10 will provide many typical
instances of both these types:
‫מֹרד‬
ְ ‫ִנ‬,‫ּתה‬
ָ ‫ב‬
ְ ‫ס‬
ַ ,‫ׁשיׁש‬
ִ ‫ּתְר‬
ַ ,‫מה‬
ָ ‫ּתַגְר‬
ֹ ,‫ּכַנז‬
ְ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫א‬ַ
The case of short vowels in open, accented syllables (OS): This can be viewed one of two ways.
In one way, the accent of the short vowel counts as a quantitative lengthening of the vowel (though
the phonetic quality of the vowel—how it “sounds”—remains unchanged). The other way is
simply to exempt this case from the “rule of three.” The former seems more probable to me.
Examples:
‫חד‬
ַ ‫ ַ֫י‬,‫ּבִית‬
ַ֫ ,‫לד‬
ֶ ‫ֶ֫י‬
The case of short vowels in open, unaccented syllables (OS): This group consists of the rarest,
most atypical cases and is an exception to any standard phonetic analysis. Examples:
‫עֹזר‬
ֲ ‫ ַי‬,‫חם‬
ַ ‫ ֻנ‬,‫חד‬
ֵ ‫ִי‬
Binyanim: Phonetics and Meaning
The Hebrew verb is conjugated in seven characteristic patterns or binyanim. These are
distinguished from each other both phonetically and in nuances of meaning. Any attempt to
correlate these two aspects is admittedly speculative. But even if the results of such correlation
are uncertain and tentative, they may assist some students in familiarization and committing them
to memory. The following is therefore offered not as certain truth but as one subjective
interpretation that may have its uses in the study of the language.
Nomenclature of the Binyanim
The nomenclature of the binyanim is derived from the vowel-pattern of the form of the 3rd-person
past singular. By convention, this vowel-pattern is superimposed on the word ‫על‬
ַ ‫ּפ‬
ֹ (“verb”) to
produce the binyan-names, as follows:
‫על‬
ַ ‫ּפ‬
ָ - ‫מר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ָ (Paʻal, also called “Kal” [light, simple])
‫על‬
ַ ‫פ‬
ְ ‫ ִנ‬- ‫מר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫( ִנ‬Niphʻal)
‫על‬
ֵ ‫ּפ‬
ִ - ‫ּבר‬
ֵ ‫ּד‬
ִ (Piʻel)
‫על‬
ַ ‫ּפ‬
ֻ - ‫ּבר‬
ַ ‫ּד‬
ֻ (Puʻal)
‫ע יל‬
ִ ‫פ‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ - ‫ּביׁש‬
ִ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ (Hiphʻil)
‫על‬
ַ ‫פ‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ֻ ,‫על‬
ַ ‫פ‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ָ - ‫פַקד‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ֻ ,‫ּבׁש‬
ַ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ָ (Hophʻal or Huphʻal)
‫על‬
ֵ ‫ּפ‬
ַ ‫ת‬ְ ‫ה‬
ִ - ‫ּבׁש‬
ֵ ‫ל‬
ַ ‫ת‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ (Hitpaʻel)
Phonetics
The set of possible vowels is classically represented in descriptive phonetics as a “vowel triangle”
as follows:
ä = lärk
ă (= lăp) aw (= awning)
ĕ (= sĕt) ŏ = (sŏn)
ē (= étude) ŭ (ŭp)
ĭ (= sĭt) ō (= hōme)
ī (= mēēt) ü (= Fr. plume) ū (= sōōn)
As Hebrew lacks the “ü” sound, we may represent the Hebrew phonetic continuum as a straight
line, with “ī” at one end and “ū” at the other.
It is noteworthy that on the phonetic spectrum, the characteristic sounds of the binyanim may be
arranged as follows:
Phonetics Binyanim
ī Hiphʻil
ē Piʻel
ä Kal (past & ephʻal) Niphʻal (past)
ī-a-ē Niphʻal (future), Hitpaʻel
ō Kal (Ephʻōl)
ū Passives (Paʻul, Puʻal, Huphʻal)
Semantics: The Meaning of the Binyanim
Now consider the characteristic meanings of the binyanim. Here there is a slightly different
progression, from most active-causative to most passive:
Binyan Mode of Action

Hiphʻil causative of an action
Piʻel causative of a state
Kal ephʻol active, transitive
Kal ephʻal active, stative
Hitpaʻel reflexive, intensive
Niphʻal reflexive, stative
Puʻal Passive, Piʻel
Hophʻal Passive, Hiphʻil
Correlating Phonetics and Meaning
Here comes our speculation: It seems that there is an overall correlation between the sounds “ī”
and “ē” with causativity, “a” with simple action and stative being, and “u” with passivity. The
relationship is not simply linear (as will be observed from the fact that the “ō” of “Ephʻōl”
characterizes a transitive verb, more “active” than the intransitive verb of “ephʻal”).
In the creation of ancient Hebrew, therefore, it seems there was a broad encoding of modes of verb
causation onto phonemes, in something like the following pattern:
Phoneme Mode of Action Binyan

ī strong, active causative Hiphʻil
intensive, moderate
ē with consonant doubling Piʻel
causative
a -> ō simple action, transitive Kal ephʻōl
simple action, intransitive or
ā -> ă Kal ephʻăl
stative
ī -> a -> ē reflexive Niphʻal, Hitpaʻel
ū passive Puʻal, Hophʻal
Standard Verb Formations: General
We turn now from general principles to actual formation of the standard Hebrew verb forms, in the
various tenses and binyanim.
The individual Hebrew verb forms are derived by starting with characteristic “stems,” then
affixing prefixes and suffixes to tailor the form to the various persons. There are generally one or
two characteristic “stems” for each binyan, as follows:
Stem #1 Tenses Stem #2 Tenses

Kal ‫מר‬
ֵ ‫ ׁשֹו‬,‫מר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ָ past, present ‫מר‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ future,
imperative
Niphʻal ‫מר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ִּנ‬ past, present ‫מר‬
ֵ ‫ּׁש‬
ָ ‫ה‬ ִ future,
imperative
Piʻel ‫ּבר‬
ֵ ‫ּד‬
ִ past ‫ּבר‬
ֵ ‫ּד‬
ַ present, future,
imperative
Puʻal ‫ּבר‬
ַ ‫ּד‬
ֻ past, present,
future
Hiphʻil ‫ּביׁש‬
ִ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ past ‫ּביׁש‬
ִ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ַ present, future,
imperative
Hophʻal ‫ּבׁש‬
ַ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ָ past, present,
future
past, present,
Hitpaʻel ‫ּבׁש‬
ֵ ‫ל‬
ַ ‫ת‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ future,
imperative
Note that the pattern is not entirely consistent. The Niphʻal uses the same stem, with slight
modifications, for past and present and a different stem for future tense, whereas the Piʻel and
Hiphʻil have one stem for past tense, another for present and future. The Kal requires a third stem
(‫מר‬
ֵ ‫ )ׁשֹו‬for present tense.
Past Tense Formation
The past tense is formed by adding the past-tense suffixes (Column 2 of table on page 16) to the
stem of the past tense, as follows:
‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫מְר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ָ = ‫ּתי‬
ִ + ‫מר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ָ
Note that the 2nd person feminine singular past tense form in all binyanim displays the exceptional
ending ‫ּת‬ ְ ‫ם‬ְ . This is the only case where we find 2 consecutive sheva naḥs and the only case where
a word closes with a dagesh kal without a succeeding vowel (the other final dagesh kal is in the
suffix ָ as in ָ‫אֶּי‬ ַ ). Historically this suffix is an abbreviation of the archaic feminine ‫ּתי‬ ִ ‫א‬
ַ (see
Judges 5:7 ‫ּדבֹוָרה‬ ְ ‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫מ‬ְ ‫ּק‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ַ ‫עד‬ַ “until you arose, O Deborah,” and the analogous formation ‫בי‬ ִ ‫ׁשּו‬
‫כי‬
ִ ‫לְי‬
ָ ‫ע‬
ָ ‫מל‬ַ ‫ּכי ה‘ ָּג‬
ִ ‫כי‬ִ ‫חְי‬
ָ ‫מנּו‬
ְ ‫ל‬ִ ‫ׁשי‬
ִ ‫פ‬ְ ‫[ ַנ‬Psalms 116:7]). Both the dagesh kal and the preceding sheva
naḥ were “normal” in the unabbreviated form, but became “abnormal” when the final vowel-
ending was eliminated. They remain as relic-clues of the original form.
Note also that in the Piʻel, Hiphʻil, and Hitpaʻel, the long vowel in the stem is shortened to pataḥ
before adding consonantal suffixes in the 1st and 2nd persons, as follows:
‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫ּבְר‬
ַ ‫ּד‬
ִ = ‫ּתי‬
ִ + ‫ּבר‬
ֵ ‫ּד‬
ִ
ָ ‫ׁש‬
‫ּת‬ְ ‫ּב‬
ַ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ = ‫ּת‬
ָ + ‫ּביׁש‬
ִ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ
‫ׁשנּו‬
ְ ‫ּב‬
ַ ‫ל‬
ַ ‫ת‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ = ‫ּבׁש = נּו‬
ֵ ‫ל‬
ַ ‫ת‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ
Also, in all binyanim the vowel in the √2 position is reduced to sheva naʻ before adding the vowel
suffixes of the 3rd person feminine and plural, as follows:
‫מָרה‬
ְ ‫ׁש‬
ָ = ‫םה‬
ָ + ‫מר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ָ
‫ּברּו‬
ְ ‫ּד‬
ִ = ‫ םּו‬+ ‫ּבר‬
ֵ ‫ּד‬
ִ
In the 2nd person plural, emphasis shifts to the last syllable ‫ּתן‬
ֶ / ‫ּתם‬
ֶ . This causes vowel reduction
to sheva naʻ (or an equivalent ḥataf- vowel) in the first syllable only if it is an open syllable, i.e.,
only in the Kal and in certain irregular Hiphʻil forms:
‫ּתם‬
ֶ ‫מְר‬ַ ‫ׁש‬
ְ = ‫ּתם‬
ֶ + ‫מר‬ַ ‫ׁש‬ָ
‫תן‬
ֶ ‫בא‬ ֵ ‫ה‬ֲ = ‫ּתן‬
ֶ + ‫ב יא‬
ִ ‫ה‬ֵ
The following conjugation of past forms for Kal will illustrate the general pattern that is extended
to all binyanim:
Plural forms Singular forms

we (m & f) guarded ‫מְרנּו‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ָ I (m & f) guarded ‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫מְר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ָ
you (m.pl.) guarded ‫ּתם‬

ֶ ‫מְר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ְ you (m.s.) guarded ָ ‫מְר‬
‫ּת‬ ַ ‫ׁש‬
ָ
you (f.pl.) guarded ‫ּתן‬

ֶ ‫מְר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ְ you (f.s.) guarded ְ ‫מְר‬
ָ
they (m & f) guarded ‫מרּו‬

ְ ‫ׁש‬
ָ he guarded ‫מר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ָ
“ ‫מרּו‬
ְ ‫ׁש‬
ָ she guarded ‫מָרה‬
ְ ‫ׁש‬
ָ
The following table illustrates how the various binyanim use the full or shortened stems in various
persons:
Kal Niphʻal Piʻel Puʻal Hiphʻil Hophʻal Hitpaʻel

‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫מְר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ָ ‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫מְר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ִנ‬ ‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫ּבְר‬
ַ ‫ּד‬
ִ ‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫ּבְר‬
ַ ‫ּד‬
ֻ ‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּב‬
ַ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ ‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּב‬
ַ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ָ ‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּב‬
ַ ‫ל‬
ַ ‫ת‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ
ָ ‫מְר‬
ָ ָ ‫מְר‬
ְ ‫ִנ‬ ָ ‫ּבְר‬
‫ּת‬ ַ ‫ּד‬
ִ ָ ‫ּבְר‬
ֻ ָ ‫ׁש‬
ַ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ ָ ‫ׁש‬
ַ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ָ ‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּב‬
ַ ‫ל‬
ַ ‫ת‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ
ְ ‫מְר‬
ָ ְ ‫מְר‬
ְ ‫ִנ‬ ְ ‫ּבְר‬
ִ ְ ‫ּבְר‬
ֻ ְ ‫ׁש‬
ַ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ ְ ‫ׁש‬
ַ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ָ ‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּב‬
ַ ‫ל‬
ַ ‫ת‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ
‫מר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ָ ‫מר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ִנ‬ ‫ּבר‬
ֵ ‫ּד‬
ִ ‫ּבר‬
ַ ‫ּד‬
ֻ ‫ּביׁש‬
ִ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ ‫ּבׁש‬
ַ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ָ ‫ּבׁש‬
ֵ ‫ל‬
ַ ‫ת‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ
‫מָרה‬
ְ ‫ׁש‬
ָ ‫מָרה‬
ְ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ִנ‬ ‫ּבָרה‬
ְ ‫ּד‬
ִ ‫ּבָרה‬
ְ ‫ּד‬
ֻ ‫ׁשה‬
ָ ‫ּבי‬
ִ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ ‫ׁשה‬
ָ ‫ּב‬
ְ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ָ ‫ׁשה‬
ָ ‫ּב‬
ְ ‫ל‬
ַ ‫ת‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ
‫מְרנּו‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ָ ‫מְרנּו‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ִנ‬ ‫ּבְרנּו‬
ַ ‫ּד‬
ִ ‫ּבְרנּו‬
ַ ‫ּד‬
ֻ ‫ׁשנּו‬
ְ ‫ּב‬
ַ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ ‫ׁשנּו‬
ְ ‫ּב‬
ַ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ָ ‫ׁשנּו‬
ְ ‫ּב‬
ַ ‫ל‬
ַ ‫ת‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ
‫ּתם‬
ֶ ‫מְר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּתם‬
ֶ ‫מְר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ִנ‬ ‫ּתם‬
ֶ ‫ּבְר‬
ַ ‫ּד‬
ִ ‫ּתם‬
ֶ ‫ּבְר‬
ַ ‫ּד‬
ֻ ‫ּתם‬
ֶ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּב‬
ַ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ ‫ּתם‬
ֶ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּב‬
ַ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ָ ‫ּתם‬
ֶ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּב‬
ַ ‫ל‬
ַ ‫ת‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ
‫ּתן‬
ֶ ‫מְר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּתן‬
ֶ ‫מְר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ִנ‬ ‫ּתן‬
ֶ ‫ּבְר‬
ַ ‫ּד‬
ִ ‫ּתן‬
ֶ ‫ּבְר‬
ַ ‫ּד‬
ֻ ‫ּתן‬
ֶ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּב‬
ַ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ ‫ּתן‬
ֶ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּב‬
ַ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ָ ‫ּתן‬
ֶ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּב‬
ַ ‫ל‬
ַ ‫ת‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ
‫מרּו‬
ְ ‫ׁש‬
ָ ‫מרּו‬
ְ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ִנ‬ ‫ּברּו‬
ְ ‫ּד‬
ִ ‫ּברּו‬
ְ ‫ּד‬
ֻ ‫ּביׁשּו‬
ִ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ ‫ּבׁשּו‬
ְ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ָ ‫ּבׁשּו‬
ְ ‫ל‬
ַ ‫ת‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ
Future Tense Formation
The future tense is formed by adding the future-tense prefixes and suffixes (Column 3 of table on
page 16) to the stem of the past tense, as follows:
‫מר‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫א‬ֶ = ‫מר‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ +‫א‬
‫מִרי‬
ְ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּת‬
ִ = ‫מר‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ + ‫י‬-
ִ ,‫ּת‬
The principles governing initial vowel adaptation and internal vowel reduction in the future tense
forms are too many and complex to allow of easy generalization, and will have to be learned in
connection with the individual binyanim and irregular cases. We will suffice with the following
brief observations:
• The 2nd-person feminine singular ending ‫םי‬ ִ is puzzling until we recognize that it is another
survival of the archaic pronoun-form ‫ּתי‬ ִ ‫א‬
ַ (see explanation of the ‫ּת‬
ְ suffix above, page 28).
• There is generally vowel reduction to sheva naʻ under √2 before the vowel suffixes ‫םי‬ ִ and
‫ םּו‬as illustrated by these cases:
• ‫ּברּו‬
ְ ‫ּתַד‬ִ ,‫מִרי‬ְ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּת‬ִ
• Vowel reduction does not occur, however, where the long vowel is represented by an
internal consonant, as illustrated by these cases:
• ‫ּביׁשּו‬ִ ‫ל‬ ְ ‫ּת‬
ַ ,‫מי‬ִ ‫ּתקּו‬ ָ
• There is often slight vowel reduction before the consonantal suffix ‫ָנה‬-:
• ‫מָנה‬ ְ ‫ּתֹק‬ ָ ,‫ׁשָנה‬
ְ ‫ּב‬
ֵ ‫ל‬ ְ ‫ּת‬
ַ (but ‫ּבְרָנה‬
ֵ ‫ּתַד‬
ְ ,‫מְרָנה‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּת‬
ִ without reduction)
• ‫מְרָנה‬ ַ ‫ׁש‬
ָ ‫ּת‬ ִ (reduction to pataḥ in Niphʻal is observed in classical grammar but
increasingly ignored in modern Israeli usage)
The following conjugation of future forms in the Kal will illustrate the general pattern:
Plural forms Singular forms

we (m & f) will guard ‫מר‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ִנ‬ I (m & f) will guard ‫מר‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫א‬ֶ
you (m.pl.) will guard ‫מרּו‬

ְ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּת‬
ִ you (m.s.) will guard ‫מר‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּת‬
ִ
you (f.pl.) will guard ‫מְרָנה‬

ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּת‬
ִ you (f.s.) will guard ‫מִרי‬
ְ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּת‬
ִ
they (m.) will guard ‫מרּו‬

ְ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ִי‬ he will guard ‫מר‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ִי‬
they (f.) will guard ‫מְרָנה‬

ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּת‬
ִ she will guard ‫מר‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּת‬
ִ
‫‪The following table shows how this pattern is extended to all the binyanim:‬‬
‫‪Kal‬‬ ‫‪Niphʻal‬‬ ‫‪Piʻel‬‬ ‫‪Puʻal‬‬ ‫‪Hiphʻil‬‬ ‫‪Hophʻal‬‬ ‫‪Hitpaʻel‬‬

‫מר‬
‫ׁש ֹ‬
‫א ְ‬‫ֶ‬ ‫מר‬
‫ּׁש ֵ‬
‫א ָ‬ ‫ֶ‬ ‫ּבר‬
‫אַד ֵ‬
‫ֲ‬ ‫ּבר‬
‫אֻד ַ‬
‫ֲ‬ ‫ּביׁש‬
‫ל ִ‬
‫א ְ‬
‫ַ‬ ‫ּבׁש‬
‫ל ַ‬
‫א ְ‬
‫ָ‬ ‫ּבׁש‬
‫ל ֵ‬
‫ת ַ‬
‫א ְ‬
‫ֶ‬
‫מר‬
‫ׁש ֹ‬
‫ּת ְ‬
‫ִ‬ ‫מר‬
‫ּׁש ֵ‬
‫ּת ָ‬‫ִ‬ ‫ּבר‬
‫ּתַד ֵ‬
‫ְ‬ ‫ּבר‬
‫ּתֻד ַ‬
‫ְ‬ ‫ּביׁש‬
‫ל ִ‬
‫ּת ְ‬
‫ל ַ‬
‫ּת ְ‬
‫ל ֵ‬
‫ת ַ‬
‫ּת ְ‬
‫ִ‬
‫מִרי‬
‫ׁש ְ‬
‫ּת ְ‬
‫ִ‬ ‫מִרי‬
‫ּש ְ‬
‫ּת ָ‬
‫ִ‬ ‫ּבִרי‬
‫ּתַד ְ‬
‫ְ‬ ‫ּבִרי‬
‫ּתֻד ְ‬
‫ְ‬ ‫ׁשי‬
‫ּבי ִ‬
‫ל ִ‬
‫ּת ְ‬
‫ַ‬ ‫ׁשי‬
‫ּב ִ‬
‫ל ְ‬
‫ּת ְ‬
‫ָ‬ ‫ׁשי‬
‫ּב ִ‬
‫ל ְ‬
‫ת ַ‬
‫ּת ְ‬
‫ִ‬
‫מר‬
‫ׁש ֹ‬
‫ִי ְ‬ ‫מר‬
‫ּׁש ֵ‬
‫ִי ָ‬ ‫ּבר‬
‫ְיַד ֵ‬ ‫ּבר‬
‫ְיֻד ַ‬ ‫ּביׁש‬
‫ל ִ‬
‫ַי ְ‬ ‫ּבׁש‬
‫ל ַ‬
‫ָי ְ‬ ‫ּבׁש‬
‫ל ֵ‬
‫ת ַ‬
‫ִי ְ‬
‫מר‬
‫ׁש ֹ‬
‫ּת ְ‬
‫ִ‬ ‫מר‬
‫ּׁש ֵ‬
‫ּת ָ‬‫ִ‬ ‫ּבר‬
‫ּתַד ֵ‬
‫ְ‬ ‫ּבר‬
‫ּתֻד ַ‬
‫ְ‬ ‫ּביׁש‬
‫ל ִ‬
‫ּת ְ‬
‫ל ַ‬
‫ּת ְ‬
‫ל ֵ‬
‫ת ַ‬
‫ּת ְ‬
‫ִ‬
‫מר‬
‫ׁש ֹ‬
‫ִנ ְ‬ ‫מר‬
‫ּׁש ֵ‬
‫ִנ ָ‬ ‫ּבר‬
‫ְנַד ֵ‬ ‫ּבר‬
‫ְנֻד ַ‬ ‫ּביׁש‬
‫ל ִ‬
‫ַנ ְ‬ ‫ּבׁש‬
‫ל ַ‬
‫ָנ ְ‬ ‫ּבׁש‬
‫ל ֵ‬
‫ת ַ‬
‫ִנ ְ‬
‫מרּו‬
‫ׁש ְ‬
‫ּת ְ‬
‫ִ‬ ‫מרּו‬
‫ּש ְ‬
‫ּת ָ‬
‫ִ‬ ‫ּברּו‬
‫ּתַד ְ‬
‫ְ‬ ‫ּברּו‬
‫ּתֻד ְ‬
‫ְ‬ ‫ּביׁשּו‬
‫ל ִ‬
‫ּת ְ‬
‫ַ‬ ‫ּבׁשּו‬
‫ל ְ‬
‫ּת ְ‬
‫ָ‬ ‫ּבׁשּו‬
‫ל ְ‬
‫ת ַ‬
‫ּת ְ‬
‫ִ‬
‫מְרָנה‬
‫ׁש ֹ‬
‫ּת ְ‬
‫מְרָנה ִ‬
‫ּׁש ַ‬
‫ּת ָ‬‫ִ‬ ‫ּבְרָנה‬
‫ּתַד ֵ‬
‫ְ‬ ‫ּבְרָנה‬
‫ּתֻד ַ‬
‫ְ‬ ‫ׁשָנה‬
‫ּב ְ‬
‫ל ֵ‬
‫ּת ְ‬
‫ַ‬ ‫ׁשָנה‬
‫ּב ְ‬
‫ל ַ‬
‫ּת ְ‬
‫ָ‬ ‫ׁשָנה‬
‫ּב ְ‬
‫ל ֵ‬
‫ת ַ‬
‫ּת ְ‬
‫ִ‬
‫מרּו‬
‫ׁש ְ‬
‫ִי ְ‬ ‫מרּו‬
‫ּש ְ‬
‫ִי ָ‬ ‫ּברּו‬
‫ְיַד ְ‬ ‫ּברּו‬
‫ְיֻד ְ‬ ‫ּביׁשּו‬
‫ל ִ‬
‫ַי ְ‬ ‫ּבׁשּו‬
‫ל ְ‬
‫ָי ְ‬ ‫ּבׁשּו‬
‫ל ְ‬
‫ת ַ‬
‫ִי ְ‬
‫מְרָנה‬
‫ׁש ֹ‬
‫ּת ְ‬
‫מְרָנה ִ‬
‫ּׁש ַ‬
‫ּת ָ‬‫ִ‬ ‫ּבְרָנה‬
‫ּתַד ֵ‬
‫ְ‬ ‫ּבְרָנה‬
‫ּתֻד ַ‬
‫ְ‬ ‫ׁשָנה‬
‫ּב ְ‬
‫ל ֵ‬
‫ּת ְ‬
‫ַ‬ ‫ׁשָנה‬
‫ּב ְ‬
‫ל ַ‬
‫ּת ְ‬
‫ָ‬ ‫ׁשָנה‬
‫ּב ְ‬
‫ל ֵ‬
‫ת ַ‬
‫ּת ְ‬
‫ִ‬
Imperative Formation
The imperative is formed by mimicking the 2nd person future-tense forms with the following
modifications:
In the Kal and Piʻel, the ‫ּת‬-prefix is dropped. In the Kal, the sheva naḥ under √1 is converted to a
sheva naʻ or ḥirik as required (and if there is a sheva naʻ under √2 it is reduced to a sheva
meraḥef):
Piʻel imperative Piʻel future Kal imperative Kal future

‫ּבר‬
ֵ ‫ּד‬
ַ ‫ּבר‬
ֵ ‫ּתַד‬
ְ ‫מר‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫מר‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּת‬
ִ
‫ּבִרי‬
ְ ‫ּד‬
ַ ‫ּבִרי‬
ְ ‫ּתַד‬
ְ ‫מִרי‬
ְ ‫ׁש‬
ִ ‫מִרי‬
ְ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּת‬
ִ
‫ּברּו‬
ְ ‫ּד‬
ַ ‫ּברּו‬
ְ ‫ּתַד‬
ְ ‫מרּו‬
ְ ‫ׁש‬
ִ ‫מרּו‬
ְ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּת‬
ִ
‫ּבְרָנה‬
ֵ ‫ּד‬
ַ ‫ּבְרָנה‬
ֵ ‫ּתַד‬
ְ ‫מְרָנה‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫מְרָנה‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּת‬
ִ
In the Niphʻal, Hiphʻil, and Hitpaʻel, and Piʻel, the ‫ּת‬-prefix is replaced by a ‫ה‬-prefix in order to
retain the accompanying vowel. In Hiphʻil masculine singular, there is also a slight vowel
reduction in the final syllable:
Hitpaʻel Hitpaʻel Hiphʻil Hiphʻil Niphʻal Niphʻal

imperative future imperative future imperative future
‫ּבׁש‬
ֵ ‫ל‬
ַ ‫ת‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ ‫ּבׁש‬
ֵ ‫ל‬
ַ ‫ת‬
ְ ‫ּת‬
ִ ‫ּבׁש‬
ֵ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ַ ‫ּביׁש‬
ִ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ּת‬
ַ ‫מר‬
ֵ ‫ּׁש‬
ָ ‫ה‬ ִ ‫מר‬
ֵ ‫ּׁש‬
ָ ‫ּת‬ִ
‫ׁשי‬
ִ ‫ּב‬
ְ ‫ל‬
ַ ‫ת‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ ‫ׁשי‬
ִ ‫ּב‬
ְ ‫ל‬
ַ ‫ת‬
ְ ‫ּת‬
ִ ‫ׁשי‬
ִ ‫ּבי‬
ִ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ַ ‫ׁשי‬
ִ ‫ּבי‬
ִ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ּת‬
ַ ‫מִרי‬
ְ ‫ּש‬
ָ ‫ה‬ִ ‫מִרי‬
ְ ‫ּש‬
ָ ‫ּת‬
ִ
‫ּבׁשּו‬
ְ ‫ל‬
ַ ‫ת‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ ‫ּבׁשּו‬
ְ ‫ל‬
ַ ‫ת‬
ְ ‫ּת‬
ִ ‫ּביׁשּו‬
ִ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ַ ‫ּביׁשּו‬
ִ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ּת‬
ַ ‫מרּו‬
ְ ‫ּש‬
ָ ‫ה‬ִ ‫מרּו‬
ְ ‫ּש‬
ָ ‫ּת‬
ִ
‫ׁשָנה‬
ְ ‫ּב‬
ֵ ‫ל‬
ַ ‫ת‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ ‫ׁשָנה‬
ְ ‫ּב‬
ֵ ‫ל‬
ַ ‫ת‬
ְ ‫ּת‬
ִ ‫ׁשָנה‬
ְ ‫ּב‬
ֵ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ַ ‫ׁשָנה‬
ְ ‫ּב‬
ֵ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ּת‬
ַ ‫מְרָנה‬
ַ ‫ּׁש‬
ָ ‫ה‬ ִ ‫מְרָנה‬
ַ ‫ּׁש‬
ָ ‫ּת‬ִ
There is no imperative in the Puʻal or Hophʻal binyanim.

Present Tense Formation
The present tense is atypical of the Hebrew verb formations, in that it uses neither pronominal
prefixes nor suffixes. Indeed, it behaves grammatically as a noun or adjective, and like them it
uses standard masculine-feminine and singular-plural forms without specification of persons.
Indeed, any present-tense form may be used, given the proper circumstances:
• As noun: ‫הּיֹוֵרׁש‬
ַ — “the heir” (II Samuel 14:7)
• As adjective: ‫“ — נֹוָרא‬awesome”
• As participle: ‫מד‬ ֵ ‫ע‬
ֹ — “standing” (Genesis 41:1)
It is indeed typical (especially in the Kal) that an adjectival form can be be used either as a straight
adjective or as a verb:
adjectival past future

to be strong ‫חָזק‬
ָ ‫חְזָקה‬
ָ ‫חַזק‬
ֱ ‫ֶי‬
to be courageous ‫ּמיץ‬
ִ ‫א‬
ַ ‫מץ‬
ַ ‫א‬
ָ ‫מץ‬
ַ ‫א‬
ֱ ‫ֶי‬
to be full ‫לא‬
ֵ ‫מ‬
ָ ‫לאּו‬
ְ ‫מ‬
ָ ‫לאּו‬
ְ ‫מ‬
ְ ‫ִי‬
to grow, be great ‫ ָּגדֹול‬,‫ָּגֵדל‬ ‫ּתי‬

ִ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ָּגַד‬ ‫ּדל‬
ַ ‫ִיְג‬
In principle, all present-tense forms can form the feminine singular with either the ‫םה‬ ָ or the
‫םת‬ֶ ‫ם‬
ֶ suffix. In practice, the ‫םה‬ ָ is preferred for ‫ ע“ו‬and ‫ ע“ע‬verbs, for Hiphʻil, and for √3-hei
verbs (except in Niphʻal), whereas the ‫םת‬ ֶ ‫ם‬
ֶ suffix is preferred in most other instances. There is
vowel reduction before plural suffixes in Kal, Piʻel and Hitpaʻel, but the characteristic kametz
under √2 is retained in all passive binyanim.
Kal Niphʻal Piʻel Puʻal Hiphʻil Hophʻal Hitpaʻel
m. s. ‫מר‬
ֵ ‫ׁשֹו‬ ‫מר‬
ָ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ִנ‬ ‫ּבר‬
ֵ ‫מַד‬
ְ ‫ּבר‬
ָ ‫מֻד‬
ְ ‫ּביׁש‬
ִ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫מ‬
ַ ‫ּבׁש‬
ָ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫מ‬
ָ ‫ּבׁש‬
ֵ ‫ל‬
ַ ‫ת‬
ְ ‫מ‬
ִ
f. s. ‫מֶרת‬
ֶ ‫ׁשֹו‬ ‫מֶרת‬
ֶ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ִנ‬ ‫ּבֶרת‬
ֶ ‫מַד‬
ְ ‫ּבֶרת‬
ֶ ‫מֻד‬
ְ (‫ׁשת‬
ֶ ‫ּב‬
ֶ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫מ‬
ַ ) ‫ׁשת‬
ֶ ‫ּב‬
ֶ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫מ‬
ָ ‫ׁשת‬
ֶ ‫ּב‬
ֶ ‫ל‬
ַ ‫ת‬
ְ ‫מ‬
ִ
f. s. (2) (‫מָרה‬
ְ ‫מָרה( )שֹו‬
ָ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּבָרה( )ִנ‬
ְ ‫מַד‬
ְ ) (‫ּבָרה‬
ָ ‫מֻד‬
ְ ) ‫ׁשה‬
ָ ‫ּבי‬
ִ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫מ‬
ַ (‫ׁשה‬
ָ ‫ּב‬
ָ ‫ל‬ ָ ) (‫ׁשה‬
ְ ‫מ‬ ָ ‫ּב‬
ְ ‫ל‬
ַ ‫ת‬
ְ ‫מ‬
ִ )
m. pl. ‫מִרים‬
ְ ‫מִרים ׁשֹו‬
ָ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּבִרים ִנ‬
ְ ‫מַד‬
ְ ‫ּבִרים‬
ָ ‫מֻד‬
ְ ‫ׁשים‬
ִ ‫ּבי‬
ִ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫מ‬
ַ ‫ׁשים‬
ִ ‫ּב‬
ָ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫מ‬
ָ ‫ׁשים‬
ִ ‫ּב‬
ְ ‫ל‬
ַ ‫ת‬
ְ ‫מ‬
ִ
f. pl. ‫מרֹות‬
ְ ‫מרֹות ׁשֹו‬
ָ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּברֹות ִנ‬
ְ ‫מַד‬
ְ ‫ּברֹות‬
ָ ‫מֻד‬
ְ ‫ּביׁשֹות‬
ִ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫מ‬
ַ ‫ּבׁשֹות‬
ָ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫מ‬
ָ ‫ּבׁשֹות‬
ְ ‫ל‬
ַ ‫ת‬
ְ ‫מ‬
ִ
Regular Kal Verb Formation
The specific forms of the Kal conjugations—past, future, imperative, and present—have all been
analyzed above. We add only the following notes:
The term “Kal” can best be understood in contradistinction to the kaved of the binyanim kevedim
(Piʻel, Puʻal, Hitpaʻel). Unlike them, the Kal presents the verb in simple, unadorned format,
without any added emphases.
In syllable-structure the Kal binyan belongs to the family of the Niphʻal, Hiphʻil, and Hophʻal (as
the later analysis on page 109 will show). But unlike them, it has no standard prefix of nun or hei,
nor even a mem of the present tense. It is as basic as we can get.
About the past-tense and present-tense stems (‫מר‬

ֵ ‫ ׁשֹו‬,‫מר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ָ ) we have nothing more to say.
We have a word, however, about the future-tense forms. We have seen the “eph’ol” form ,‫מר‬ ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫א‬ֶ
‫מר‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ִי‬. There is an alternate form, with √2 vowel pataḥ: ‫מד‬
ַ ְ‫ ִיל‬,‫מד‬
ַ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫א‬
ֶ . The following comments
are in order:
• When there is no phonetic irregularity involved (such as √2 or √3 gutteral, √1 yod, or √3

aleph or hei), the eph’ol form indicates a transitive verb (one that takes a direct object) and
the eph’al form an intransitive or stative (adjectival) verb.
• √2 and √3 gutteral letters dictate adoption of the eph’al form.
• √3 aleph and hei forms, though unique to those formations, are based on an eph’al pattern.
• Some irregular forms (such as √1-nun) are capable of combining with either an eph’ol or
eph’al pattern (see ‫אַּגׁש‬
ֶ ,‫פל‬
ֹ ‫א‬
ֶ ). Similarly the geminates (‫ּדל‬
ַ ‫א‬
ֶ ,‫חג‬
ֹ ‫א‬
ָ ).
Analysis of Basic Kal Verb Forms
The secret of understanding the phonetic structure of the Hebrew verb in all its variety is to
perform a basic analysis of each form using the concepts we have already learned: syllables, long
and short vowels, varieties of sheva and dagesh, and vowel reduction. The following tables apply
these analytical concepts to the standard regular verb conjugation in the binyan Paʻal (Kal).
Syllables Vowel
VERB Classified: Syllable Shevas changes
Accent (‫מ‬,‫ח‬,‫( )ע‬reduction, REMARKS
FORM open/closed Parsing
short/long etc.)
ַ on accented syllable is
‫א‬
characteristic of past tense in 1st and
‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫מְר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ָ 2 OL-CS-OL 1ā-2ă3-tī ‫ח‬ 2nd persons of all binyanim, as well
as 3rd person masculine singular of
Kal and the passive binyanim
ָ ‫מְר‬
ָ 2 OL-CS-OL 1ā-2ă3-tā ‫ח‬
See note on explanation of the ‫ּת‬
ְ
ְ ‫מְר‬
ָ 2 OL-CS 1ā-2ă3t ‫חח‬
suffix, page 28.
‫מר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ָ 2 OL-CS 1ā-2ă3
‫מָרה‬
ְ ‫ׁש‬
ָ 3 OL-F-OL 1ā-2ǝ-3ā ‫ע‬ yes, √2
sheva naʻ will provide opportunity
for ḥataf-vowel in gutteral √2
‫מְרנּו‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ָ 2 OL-CS-OL 1ā-2ă3-nū ‫ח‬
‫ּתם‬
ֶ ‫מְר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ְ 3 F-CS-CS 1ǝ-2ă3-tĕm ‫חח‬ yes, √1
‫ּתן‬
ֶ ‫מְר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ְ 3 F-CS-CS 1ǝ-2ă3-tĕn ‫חח‬ yes, √1
‫מרּו‬
ְ ‫ׁש‬
ָ 3 OL-F-OL 1ā-2ǝ-3ū ‫ע‬ yes, √2
Syllables Vowel
short/long etc.)
‫מר‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫א‬ֶ 2 CS-CL ʼĕ1-2ō3 ‫ח‬
‫מר‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּת‬
ִ 2 CS-CL tĭ1-2ō3 ‫ח‬
‫מִרי‬
ְ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּת‬
ִ 3 CS-F-OL tĭ1-2ǝ-3ĭy ‫חע‬ yes, √2
‫מר‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ִי‬ 2 CS-CL yĭ1-2ō3 ‫ח‬
‫מר‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּת‬
ִ 2 CS-CL tĭ1-2ō3 ‫ח‬
‫מר‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ִנ‬ 2 CS-CL nĭ1-2ō3 ‫ח‬
‫מרּו‬
ְ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּת‬
ִ 3 CS-F-OL tĭ1-2ǝ-3ū ‫חע‬ yes, √2
‫מְרָנה‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּת‬
ִ 2 CS-CL-CS tĭ1-2ō3-nā ‫חח‬
‫מרּו‬
ְ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ִי‬ 3 CS-F-OL yĭ1-2ǝ-3ū ‫חע‬ yes, √2
‫מְרָנה‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּת‬
ִ 2 CS-CL-CS tĭ1-2ō3-nā ‫חח‬
Syllables Vowel
short/long etc.)
‫מר‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ 2 F-CL 1ǝ-2ō3 ‫ע‬
Roth’s Rule: When 2 ‫ שואים נעים‬are
consecutive, the first becomes a short
vowel and the second becomes a ‫שוא‬
‫מרחף‬. Note progression:
‫מִרי‬
ְ ‫ׁש‬
ִ 2 CS-OL 1ĭ2-3īy ‫מ‬ ‫מִרי‬
ְ ‫ׁש‬
ִ <- ‫מִרי‬ ְ ‫ׁש‬
ְ
NOTE: √3 ‫ בגד כפת‬will lose dagesh
kal: ‫בי‬ ִ ‫ת‬
ְ ‫ּכ‬
ִ -- this itself is a diagnostic
sign of the ‫שוא מרחף‬.
‫מרּו‬
ְ ‫ׁש‬
ִ 2 CS-OL 1ĭ2-3ū ‫מ‬ Ditto previous note.
‫מְרָנה‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ 2 F-CL-OL 1ǝ-2ō3-nā ‫ע‬
Syllables Vowel
short/long etc.)
‫מר‬
ֵ ‫ׁשֹו‬ 2 OL-CL 1ō-2ē3
‫מֶרת‬
ֶ ‫ׁשֹו‬ 2 OL-OS-CS 1ō-2ĕ-3ĕt alternate form ‫מָרה‬
ְ ‫שֹו‬
‫מִרים‬
ְ ‫ׁשֹו‬ 3 OL-F-CL 1ō-2ǝ-3īm ‫ע‬ yes, √2
‫מרֹות‬
ְ ‫ׁשֹו‬ 3 OL-F-CL 1ō-2ǝ-3ōt ‫ע‬ yes, √2
Syllables Vowel
short/long etc.)
‫ׁשמּור‬
ָ 2 OL-CL 1ā-2ū3
‫ׁשמּוָרה‬
ְ 3 F-OL-OL 1ǝ-2ū-3ā ‫ע‬
‫ׁשמּוִרים‬
ְ 3 F-OL-CL 1ǝ-2ū-3īm ‫ע‬
‫ׁשמּורֹות‬
ְ 3 F-OL-CL 1ǝ-2ū-3ōt ‫ע‬
Syllables Vowel
Accent REMARKS
FORM open/closed Parsing (‫מ‬,‫ח‬,‫)ע‬ (reduction,
short/long etc.)
In alternate infinitive forms ,‫מר‬ ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּב‬
ִ
‫מר‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּכ‬ִ , there is a ‫שוא מרחף‬, and in
‫מר‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ל‬ִ 2 CS-CL lĭ1-2ō3 ‫ח‬
‫מר‬ֹ ‫ּׁש‬
ְ ‫מ‬ ִ there is a ‫ שוא נא‬and a ‫דגש חזק‬
in √1.
‫מיָרה‬
ִ ‫ׁש‬
ְ 3 F-OL-OL 1ǝ-2ī-3ā ‫ע‬
Implications for ‫בגד כפת‬: Kal (Pa‘al)
The verb ‫ כתב‬has the interesting property that all three root letters take a dagesh kal in the
appropriate positions. Using this verb for conjugation will therefore illustrate where any verb with
a ‫ בגד כפת‬letter in any position of the various binyanim will or will not take a dagesh kal.
Without giving the entire paradigm, the following select remarks will help you make this
determination:
Syllables
VERB Classified: Syllable Shevas
Binyan (‫מ‬,‫ח‬,‫)ע‬ Dagesh REMARKS
short/long
‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫ב‬
ְ ‫ת‬
ַ ‫ּכ‬
ָ Paʻal OL-CS-OL 1ā-2ă3-tī ‫ח‬ Kal In √1
Rule: Dagesh is present in beginning
of word
‫תבּו‬
ְ ‫ּכ‬
ָ ,‫בה‬
ָ ‫ת‬
ְ ‫ּכ‬
ָ Paʻal OL-F-OL 1ā-2ǝ-3ā/ū ‫ע‬ Kal in √1
The sheva naʻ in √2 prevents a dagesh
kal in √3.
‫תב‬
ֵ ‫ּכֹו‬ Paʻal OL-CL 1ō-2ē3 ‫ח‬ Kal in √1
The pronominal prefixes ‫י‬,‫ת‬,‫“ א‬knock
,‫ּתב‬
ֹ ‫כ‬ ְ ‫א‬ֶ out” the dagesh kal in √1. The
Paʻal closing of the syllable with the sheva
‫ּתב‬
ֹ ‫כ‬ ְ ‫ּת‬
ִ , CS-CL Xǝ1-2ō3 ‫ח‬ Kal in √2
future naḥ under √1 enables the placement of
‫ּתב‬ֹ ‫כ‬ ְ ‫ִי‬ a dagesh kal in √2 in all forms of the
Kal future.
,‫בי‬
ִ ‫ּת‬
ְ ‫כ‬ְ ‫ּת‬ִ Paʻal Xǝ1-2ǝ-3ī/
Note the two consecutive shevas:
CS-F-OL ‫חע‬ Kal in √2 naḥ, naʻ. This pattern enables
‫ּתבּו‬
ְ ‫כ‬ְ ‫ּת‬
ִ future ū preservation of the dagesh kal in √2.
Note that when the prefix ‫ ת‬is
dropped in transforming the future
into the imperative, √1 becomes the
Paʻal start of the word, and the dagesh kal is
‫תב‬
ֹ ‫ּכ‬
ְ F-CL 1ǝ-2ō3 ‫ע‬ Kal in √1
imper restored in that letter. However, the
sheva naḥ under √1 becomes a sheva
naʻ so the dagesh kal in √2 is
dropped.
Even though the sheva under √2 is

silent (and the first syllable is closed),
there is no dagesh kal in √3. This
may have historical reasons (if for
1ĭ2(ǝ)-3ī, instance ‫בי‬
ִ ‫ת‬
ְ ‫ּכ‬
ִ evolved from ‫בי‬ ִ ‫ת‬
ֹ ‫ּכ‬
ְ ).
1ĭ2(ǝ)-3ū In any case, a silent sheva followed by
‫בי‬
ִ ‫ת‬ְ ‫ּכ‬ִ , Paʻal where a soft ‫ בגד כפת‬letter is the
CS-OL ‫מ‬ Kal in √1
‫תבּו‬ְ ‫ּכ‬
ִ imper (ǝ) paradigmatic case of a ‫שוא מרחף‬.
indicates Roth’s Rule: When 2 ‫ שואים נעים‬are
‫שוא מרחף‬ consecutive, the first becomes a short
vowel and the second becomes a ‫שוא‬
‫בי‬
ִ ‫ת‬
ְ ‫ּכ‬
ִ <- ‫בי‬
ִ ‫ת‬
ְ ‫ּכ‬
ְ
When prefix ‫ּב‬ְ is added to the
infinitive root ‫תב‬
ֹ ‫ּכ‬
ְ we have another
‫תב‬
ֹ ‫כ‬
ְ ‫ּב‬
ִ Paʻal ‫מ‬ application of Roth’s Rule: the vowel
CS-OL Xĭ1(ǝ)-2ō3 None in √
infin under the prefix becomes a ‫ חיריק‬and
the sheva under √1 becomes meraḥef.
We would expect the same pattern in
‫ּתב‬
ֹ ‫כ‬
ְ ‫ל‬
ִ as in ‫תב‬
ֹ ‫כ‬
ְ ‫ּב‬
ִ . However (perhaps
through historical evolution after
‫ּתב‬
ֹ ‫כ‬
ְ ‫ל‬
ִ Paʻal ‫ח‬ much use of the form) the first
CS-OL Xĭ1-2ō3 Kal in √2
infin syllable has become closed entirely
and the dagesh kal has been restored
to √2.
Implications for ‫בגד כפת‬: Other Binyanim
The verb ‫ כתב‬has the interesting property that all three root letters take a dagesh kal in the
appropriate positions. Using this verb for conjugation will therefore illustrate where any verb with
a ‫ בגד כפת‬letter in any position of the various binyanim will or will not take a dagesh kal.
Without giving the entire paradigm, the following select remarks will help you make this
determination:
Syllables
VERB Classified: Syllable Shevas
Binyan (‫מ‬,‫ח‬,‫)ע‬ Dagesh REMARKS
short/long
‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫ב‬
ְ ‫ּת‬
ַ ‫כ‬
ְ ‫ִנ‬ Nif’al
CS-CS-OL nĭ1-2ă3-tī ‫חח‬ Kal In √2
Rule: Dagesh is present after 1st
past closed syllable
‫ּתב‬
ָ ‫כ‬
ְ ‫ִנ‬ Nif’al
CS-CL nĭ1-2ā3 ‫ח‬ Kal in √2
Rule: Dagesh is present after 1st
present closed syllable
The dagesh in √1 is the characteristic
dagesh ḥazak of the Nif’al future
,‫תב‬ֵ ‫ּכ‬ָ ‫א‬ֶ tense, representing the assimilation
‫תב‬ֵ ‫ּכ‬ָ ‫ּת‬
ִ , Nif’al
CS-OL-CL Xǝ̆1-1ā-2ē3 Hazak in √1 of the ‫ נ‬of the Nif’al that appears in
future
‫תב‬ ֵ ‫ּכ‬ָ ‫ִי‬ the past and present tenses. There
can be no dagesh kal in √2 after the
long vowel kametz.
,‫תב‬ֵ ‫ּכ‬
ָ ‫ה‬ִ Nif’al
The same pattern appears in
‫בי‬
ִ ‫ת‬ְ ‫ּכ‬
ָ ‫ה‬ ִ CS-OL-CL hĭ1-1ā-2ē3 Hazak in √1 imperative as in future, and the same
imper
analysis applies.
The same pattern appears in infinitive
Nif’al
‫תב‬
ֵ ‫ּכ‬
ָ ‫ה‬ִ ‫ל‬
ְ F-CS-OL-CL lǝ-hĭ1-1ā-2ē3 Hazak in √1 as in future, and the same analysis
infin
applies.
Piʻel
√1 is kal because it is in start-of-
‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫ב‬
ְ ‫ּת‬
ַ ‫ּכ‬
ִ Piʻel
CS-CS-OL 1ĭ2-2ă3-tī ‫ח‬ Kal In √1 word position. √2 is the
past Hazak in √2 characteristic dagesh ḥazak of the
Piʻel binyan.
√1 dagesh kal drops out because of
the sheva naʻ under the present-tense
‫ּתב‬
ֵ ‫כ‬
ַ ‫מ‬
ְ Piʻel
F-CS-CL mǝ-1ă2-2ē3 ‫ע‬ Hazak in √2 ‫ מ‬prefix. √2 dagesh ḥazak of the
present
Piʻel remains.
√1 dagesh kal drops out because of
,‫ּתב‬
ֵ ‫כ‬ ַ ‫א‬ֲ the sheva naʻ under the future-tense
‫ּתב‬
ֵ ‫כ‬ ַ ‫ּת‬
ְ , Piʻel
F-CS-CL Xǝ-1ă2-2ē3 ‫ע‬ Hazak in √2 prefixes ‫אית“ן‬.
future
‫ּתב‬ֵ ‫כ‬ ַ ‫ְי‬ √2 dagesh ḥazak of the Piʻel
remains.
√1 is kal because it is in start-of-

word position. √2 is the
‫בי‬
ִ ‫ּת‬
ְ ‫ּכ‬
ַ ,‫ּתב‬
ֵ ‫ּכ‬
ַ Piʻel CS-CL 1ă2-2ē3 ‫ע‬ Kal In √1 characteristic dagesh ḥazak of the
imper CS-F-OL 1ă2-2ǝ-3ī Ḥazak in √2 Piʻel binyan. There is no dagesh in
feminine form because the dagesh
kal does not occur after a sheva naʻ.
In the ‫ מרובעים‬two separate
‫ּדק‬ֵ ‫ּדְק‬
ִ CS-CL 1ĭ2-3ē4 consonants take the place of the
‫ּדק‬
ֵ ‫מַדְק‬ ְ Piʻel F-CS-CL mǝ-1ă2-3ē4 ‫ע‬ Kal in √1 and doubled √2. √3 will always take a
‫ּדק‬
ֵ ‫ְיַדְק‬ ‫מֻרבע‬ F-CS-CL Xǝ-1ă2-3ē4 √3 dagesh kal. √1 will take a dagesh kal
when not preceded by a prefix ‫ מ‬or
‫ּדק‬ ֵ ‫ּדְק‬ַ CC 1ă2-3ē4
‫אית“ן‬.
The same pattern appears in infinitive

‫ּתב‬
ֵ ‫כ‬
ַ ‫ל‬
ְ Piʻel
F-CS-CL ǝ
l -1ă2-2ē3 ‫ע‬ Hazak in √1 as in future, and the same analysis
infin
applies.
√1 is soft (without dagesh) because it
closes the syllable that starts with the
,‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫ב‬
ְ ‫ּת‬
ַ ‫כ‬ְ ‫ה‬ִ CS-CS-OL hĭ1-2ă3-tī ִ prefix. √2 has a dagesh kal
‫ה‬
Hiphil ‫חח‬ Kal in √2 because it follows a closed syllable.
‫ּתיב‬
ִ ‫כ‬ְ ‫ה‬ִ Past CS-CL hĭ1-2ī3
√3 is soft because it is at the end of
the syllable that starts with √2.
,‫ּתיב‬ִ ‫כ‬ ְ ‫מ‬ ַ Hiphil

,‫ּתיב‬ ִ ‫כ‬ ְ ‫א‬ ַ Present,
CS-CL Xă1-2ī3 See previous box. The same pattern
Future, ‫ח‬ Kal in √2 (√1 and √3 soft, √2 with dagesh kal)
,‫ּתב‬
ֵ ‫כ‬ ְ ‫ה‬ ַ F-CS-CL lǝ-Xă1-2ī3
Imper, persists throughout the Hiphʻil.
‫ּתיב‬
ִ ‫כ‬ ְ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ל‬ ְ Infin.
When √1 is gutteral and takes a ‫חטף‬
,‫ביד‬ִ ‫ע‬ ֱ ‫ה‬ ֶ Hiphil
,‫ביד‬ ִ ‫ע‬ ֲ ‫מ‬ ַ
ĕ
Xĕ-l -2ī3 √1 gutteral, then all root letters are soft—√3 for
√1 OS-F-CL
Xă-lă-2ī3 √2√3 soft the reasons mentioned, and √2
‫ביד‬
ִ ‫ע‬ ֲ ‫א‬ ַ gutteral because it follows the ‫ חטף‬vowel.
Same pattern as Hiphʻil regular: √1

is soft (without dagesh) because it
Hophal
,‫ּתב‬ַ ‫כ‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ֻ Xŭ1-2ă3 closes the syllable that starts with the
Past, CS-CS ‫ח‬ ֻ‫ ה‬prefix. √2 has a dagesh kal
‫כּתַב‬
ְ ‫ ֻי‬,‫ּתב‬ ָ ‫כ‬
ְ ‫מ‬
ֻ present, Xŭ1-2ā3 Kal in √2
CS-CL because it follows a closed syllable.
future √3 is soft because it is at the end of
the syllable that starts with √2.
Same pattern as Hiphʻil: When √1 is
gutteral and takes a ‫ חטף‬then all root
,‫בד‬ ַ ‫ע‬
ֳ ‫ה‬
ָ Hophal
OS-F-CS Xŏ-lŏ-2ă3 √1 gutteral, letters are soft—√3 for the reasons
√1
‫עבַד‬
ֳ ‫ ָי‬,‫בד‬ ָ ‫ע‬
ֳ ‫מ‬
ָ OS-F-CL Xŏ-lŏ-2ā3 √2√3 soft mentioned, and √2 because it follows
gutteral
the ‫ חטף‬vowel.
Analysis of Verb Forms - Kal Gutteral
The following tables will alert you to certain irregularities in Kal verbs with gutterals in 1st, 2nd or
3rd letter root positions:
Syllables Vowel
Past Classified: Syllable Shevas changes
Tense open/closed Parsing
short/long etc.)
First sheva naḥ becomes pataḥ under
3rd-position ‫ע‬,‫ח‬,‫ ּה‬in ‫ּת‬
ְ ‫א‬
ַ form,
ְ ‫ח‬
‫ּת‬ַ ‫ל‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ָ 2 OL-OS-CS 1ā-2ă-3ăt ‫ח‬
possibly mimicking present tense
feminine form
,‫לה‬ָ ‫א‬ֲ ‫ׁש‬

ָ Sheva naʻ becomes ‫ חטף‬under
1ā-2ă-3ā ‫חטף‬ second-position gutteral in ‫ הם‬,‫היא‬
3 OL-F-OL yes
‫אלּו‬ֲ ‫ׁש‬
ָ . 1ā-2ă-3ū forms
Sheva naʻ becomes ‫ חטף‬under first-
‫ּתם‬
ֶ ‫אַגְר‬
ֲ . 3 F-CS-CS 1ă-2ă3-tĕm ‫חטף‬ yes position gutteral in ‫ אתן‬,‫ אתם‬forms
Syllables Vowel
Future Classified: Syllable Shevas changes
Tense open/closed Parsing
short/long etc.)
Sheva naʻ under first-position root ‫א‬
,‫אֹגר‬ֱ ‫א‬ ֶ gives way to ‫סגול‬-‫ חטף‬in most
3 OS-F-CL Xĕ-1ĕ-2ō3 ‫חטף‬
‫אֹגר‬
ֱ ‫ּת‬
ֶ future forms, with the prefix-vowel
following suit.
In forms with a vowel suffix, the
,‫אְגִרי‬ַ ‫ּת‬ַ Xă-1ă2(ǝ)-3ī segol-pattern of this form gives way
to a pataḥ pattern in ‫על‬ ֹ ‫פ‬
ְ ‫א‬
ֶ but
,‫אְגרּו‬ ַ ‫ּת‬ ַ 3 OS-CS-OL Xă-1ă2(ǝ)-3ū ‫מ‬
remains segol in ‫על‬ַ ‫פ‬
ְ ‫א‬
ֶ . May be
‫אְגרּו‬ ַ ‫ַי‬ (ǝ) = ‫מרחף‬
influenced by the example of ‫בִדי‬ ְ ‫ע‬
ַ ‫ּת‬
ַ
(see below).
In certain 1st-letter gutteral verbs,
,‫חֹּגר‬ְ ‫א‬ ֶ Xĕ1-2ō3 the sheva is retained under the
2 CS-CL ‫ח‬
‫חֹּגר‬
ְ ‫ּת‬
ַ Xă1-2ō3 gutteral but the prefix vowel still
shifts to pataḥ (except for ‫)אני‬
In other 1st-letter gutteral verbs, the

,‫בד‬ֹ ‫ע‬ֱ ‫א‬ ֶ Xĕ-1ĕ-2ō3 sheva under the gutteral becomes a
2 OS-F-CL ‫חטף‬
‫בד‬
ֹ ‫ע‬ֲ ‫ּת‬
ַ Xă-1ă-2ō3 ‫פתח‬-‫( חטף‬ḥataf-segol for the ‫אני‬
form).
Roth’s rule: When 2 ‫שואים נעים‬
,‫בִדי‬ְ ‫ע‬ ַ ‫ּת‬ַ Xă-1ă2(ǝ)-3ī are consecutive, the first becomes a
,‫בדּו‬ ְ ‫ע‬ ַ ‫ּת‬ ַ 3 OS-CS-OL Xă-1ă2(ǝ)-3ū ‫מ‬ short vowel and the second becomes
a ‫שוא מרחף‬. Note progression:
‫בדּו‬ ְ ‫ע‬ ַ ‫ַי‬ (ǝ) = ‫מרחף‬
‫בִדי‬
ְ ‫ע‬
ַ ‫ּת‬
ַ <- ‫בִדי‬
ְ ‫ע‬
ֲ ‫ּת‬
ַ
The same split (sheva or ḥataf) is
,‫חַזק‬
ֱ ‫ֶי‬ OS-F-CS Xĕ-1ĕ-2ă3 found in ‫על‬
ַ ‫פ‬
ְ ‫א‬
ֶ verbs except the
2
‫ּכם‬
ַ ‫ח‬ְ ‫ֶי‬ CS-CS Xĕ1-2ă3 vowel preference is for segol rather
than pataḥ in all forms.
,‫אל‬ַ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫א‬ ֶ Xĕ1-2ă3
If the 2nd or 3rd root letter is
CS-CS gutteral, then the future generally
‫אל‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּת‬
ִ Xĭ1-2ă3 takes the ‫על‬ַ ‫פ‬
ְ ‫א‬
ֶ pattern.
A certain number of ‫ פ”א‬verbs take

‫כל‬ַ ‫א‬
ֹ , ʼ(1)ō-2ă3 a different future pattern: ,‫ אכל‬,‫אבד‬
OL-CS ‫ אפה‬,‫ אבה‬,‫ אחז‬,‫ אמר‬,‫אהב‬. See
‫כל‬
ַ ‫ּתא‬ֹ Xō(1)-2ă3
‫נחי פ“א‬, page 89.
Syllables Vowel
Classified: Syllable Shevas changes
Imperative Accent (‫מ‬,‫ח‬,‫( )ע‬reduction, REMARKS
open/closed Parsing
short/long etc.)
In ‫ פ”א‬verbs the initial sheva-naʻ
‫אֹגר‬
ֱ . 2 F-CL 1ĕ-2ō3 becomes ḥataf-segol.
In other ‫גרונית‬-‘‫ פ‬verbs the initial
‫חֹגר‬
ֲ . 2 F-CL 1ă-2ō3 sheva-naʻ becomes ḥataf-pataḥ.
1ĭ2(ǝ)-3ī, Vocalization of feminine and plural
‫חְגרּו‬
ִ ,‫חְגִרי‬
ִ 2 CS-OL 1ĭ2(ǝ)-3ū ‫מ‬ reverts to the regular ‫ חיריק‬in √1
(ǝ) = ‫מרחף‬ despite the gutteral.
Syllables Vowel
Present Shevas changes
Classified: Syllable
Active Accent (‫מ‬,‫ח‬,‫( )ע‬reduction, REMARKS
open/closed Parsing
Participle short/long etc.)
,‫לים‬
ִ ‫א‬ֲ ‫ׁשֹו‬ In ‫גרונית‬-‘‫ ע‬verbs the sheva-naʻ
1ō-2ă-3īm of the plural becomes ḥataf-
3 OL-F-CL
‫אלֹות‬ֲ ‫ׁשֹו‬. 1ō-2ă-3ōt pataḥ.
In 3rd-position ‫ע‬,‫ח‬,‫ ּה‬the segol
‫חת‬
ַ ‫ל‬
ַ ‫ׁשֹו‬. 2 OL-OS-CS 1ō-2ă-3ăt of the feminine-singular turns to
pataḥ.
Comparison of Kal and Niph‘al
Syllables Vowel
Basic Shevas
Classified: Syllable changes
Root Accent (‫מ‬,‫ח‬,‫)ע‬ REMARKS
open/closed Parsing (reduction,
Forms short/long etc.)
ַ ‫א‬
characteristic
‫מר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ָ OL-CS 1ā-2ă3
of all past
tenses esp. basic root of past tense
on accented
syllable
ֵ ‫א‬
characteristic
‫מר‬
ֵ ‫ׁשֹו‬ OL-CL 1ō-2ē3 of ‫ קל‬and
other active
basic root of present
present tense
forms
‫מר‬ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ , F-CL 1ǝ-2ō3
‫ ע‬turns to ‫ח‬
basic root of future &
in pronoun
‫מר‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּת‬
ִ CS-CL Xĭ1-2ō3 forms imperative
ַ ‫א‬
‫מר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ִנ‬ CS-CS Nĭ1-2ă3 ‫ח‬ characteristic ‫נ‬- basic root of past
of past tense
ָ ‫א‬
characteristic
‫מר‬
ָ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ִנ‬ CS-CL Nĭ1-2ā3 ‫ח‬ of ‫ נפעל‬and ‫נ‬- basic root of present
other passive
present tense
forms
‫ ְנ‬absorbed
in 1st root
‫מר‬
ֵ ‫ּׁש‬
ָ ‫ה‬ ִ basic root of future &
CS-OL-CL Hĭ1-1ā-2ē3 letter as
dagesh imperative
ḥazak
Irregularities in Niph‘al: Gutterals

Syllables Vowel
Cases Accent (‫מ‬,‫ח‬,‫( )ע‬reduction, REMARKS
open/closed Parsing
short/long etc.)
1st root letter This is variously described or
dagesh ḥazak explained as ‫תשלום דגש‬
,‫אָרֵדם‬ ֵ (in ‫מר‬
ֵ ‫ּׁש‬
ָ ‫א‬ ֶ , (compensation for dagesh that cannot
3 OL-OL-CL Xē-1ā-2ē3 etc.) replaced
‫ּתָרֵדם‬
ֵ by lengthening
occur in ‫)אהחער‬, or “open
of preceding unaccented syllable must take a long
vowel vowel” or “rule of three.”
This occurs with nearly all ‫ אהע‬in
1st position. 1st-position ‫ח‬
‫ שוא נח‬under
occasionally takes ‫( חטף‬ex. ‫חַרב‬ ֱ ‫)ֶנ‬
gutteral in 1st
but often takes ‫ שוא נח‬especially
‫סף‬
ַ ‫א‬
ֱ ‫ֶנ‬. 3 OS-F-CS Nĕ-1ĕ-2ă3 ‫חטף‬ position
changes to when followed by hard consonant
‫חטף‬ (‫ּתם‬
ַ ‫ח‬
ְ ‫ ֶנ‬,‫ּבא‬
ָ ‫ח‬
ְ ‫ ֶנ‬,‫חַקר‬
ְ ‫—)ֶנ‬but note
that vowel before ‫ ח‬still changes to
segol!
‫ חטף‬under 1st Roth’s rule: When 2 ‫ שואים נעים‬are
root turns to consecutive, the first becomes a short
,‫פה‬ָ ‫ס‬
ְ ‫א‬ֶ ‫ֶנ‬ Nĕ-1ĕ2(ǝ)-3ā short vowel vowel and the second becomes a ‫שוא‬
3 OS-CS-OL ‫מ‬
‫ספּו‬ ְ ‫א‬ֶ ‫ֶנ‬ Nĕ-1ĕ2(ǝ)-3ū
when followed
by another
‫שוא‬ ‫פה‬
ָ ‫ס‬
ְ ‫א‬
ֶ ‫< ֶנ‬- ‫פה‬
ָ ‫ס‬
ְ ‫א‬
ֱ ‫ֶנ‬
In 3rd-letter gutterals (‫ ּה‬,‫ ח‬,‫ )ע‬the
,‫מע‬
ַ ‫ּׁש‬
ָ ‫א‬ֶ Xĕ1-1ā-2ă3 ‫ח‬,‫ ע‬attracts final vowel changes from ‫א‬ ֵ to ‫א‬
ַ
3 CS-OL-CS Xĭ1-1ā-2ă3 ‫ּתח‬
ָ ‫ּפ‬
ַ
‫מע‬ַ ‫ּׁש‬
ָ ‫ִי‬ under influence of the final gutteral
letter.
Note how in 3rd-letter gutterals
(‫ּה‬,‫ח‬,‫ )ע‬the present tense feminine
,‫עת‬ ַ ‫מ‬ַ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ִנ‬ ‫ח‬,‫ ע‬attracts singular is always in the pattern
2 CS-OS-CS Nĭ1-2ă-3ăt ‫ח‬,‫ח‬ ‫ּתח‬
ָ ‫ּפ‬
ַ
ְ ‫ע‬
‫ּת‬ ַ ‫מ‬ַ ‫ש‬ְ ‫ִנ‬ ‫עת‬ַ ‫א‬
ַ , and the corresponding past
tense mimics this: ‫ּת‬ְ ‫ע‬
ַ ‫א‬
ַ (in all
binyanim).
‫ שוא נע‬under This change is generalizable to
,‫לה‬ָ ‫א‬
ֲ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ִנ‬ ă
Nĭ1-2 -3ā 2nd-position
3 CS-F-OL ‫חטף‬ whenever a ‫ שוא נע‬occurs under a
‫אלּו‬ ֲ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ִנ‬ Nĭ1-2ă-3ū
gutteral turns
to ‫חטף‬ gutteral letter (‫ח‬,‫ע‬,‫ה‬,‫)א‬.
Basics of Pi‘el, Pu‘al
Syllables Vowel
Cases Accent Dagesh REMARKS
open/closed Parsing (reduction,
short/long etc.)
Dagesh in √2 is defining characteristic
‫ּבר‬
ַ ‫ּד‬
ֻ ,‫ּבר‬
ֵ ‫ּד‬
ִ . CS-CL 1ĭ2-2ē3 of the ‫( בנינים כבדים‬Piʻel, Puʻal,
2 in √2
CS-CS 1ŭ2-2ă3 Hitpael)
Stem -‫ּבְר‬ַ ‫ּד‬
ִ (with ‫ּתח‬ ָ ‫ּפ‬ַ under √2) is
ַ on accented characteristic of 1st and 2nd persons
‫א‬
syllable is in Piʻel, and 3rd person when √3 (and
ָ - ,‫ּתי‬
‫ּת‬ ִ ‫ּבְר‬
ַ ‫ּד‬
ִ 2 CS-CS-OL 1ĭ2-2ă3-tī in √2 characteristic sometimes √2) is gutteral: ‫ּלח‬ ַ ‫ׁש‬
ִ and
of past tense ‫ר‬ַ ‫ה‬ִ ‫ט‬ (but ‫ׁש‬ ֵ ‫ח‬ִ ‫ּכ‬– note that ‫ך‬‫ר‬ ‫ב‬ has
both forms ְ‫ּבַר‬ ֵ ,ְ‫ּבֵר‬
ֵּ )
ֵ‫ א‬under √2
Stem ‫ּבר‬ֵ ‫ּד‬
ִ (with ‫צֶרה‬ֵ under √2) is
‫ּבָרה‬
ְ ‫ּד‬
ִ ,‫ּבר‬
ֵ ‫ּד‬
ִ CS-CL 1ĭ2-2ē3 reduces to
characteristic of 3rd person regular in
2 in √2 sheva naʻ in
CS-F-OL 1ĭ2-2ǝ-3ā Piʻel and Hitpaʻel
Fem. & Plural
Stem ‫ּבר‬ֵ ‫ּד‬
ַ - is used in Piel for present,
‫ּבר‬
ֵ ‫ּד‬
ַ - 2 CS-CL 1ă2-2ē3 in √2 future, infinitive and imperative
,‫ּבר‬
ֵ ‫מַד‬ְ ‫ מ‬prefix in present is characteristic in
mǝ-1ă2-2ē3 ‫ מ‬prefix in
3 CS-CL in √2 5 of the 7 binyanim (Piʻel, Puʻal,
‫ּבר‬
ָ ‫מֻד‬ ְ mǝ-1ŭ2-2ă3 present
Hitpaʻel, Hif’il and Hof’al)
‫ חטף‬in ‫אדבר‬, Pronominal prefix takes sheva naʻ in
,‫ּבר‬
ֵ ‫אַד‬ ֲַ ă
X -1ă2-2ē3 sheva naʻ for Piel and Pual except for 1st person
3 F-CS-CL in √2 singular where the gutteral ‫ א‬requires
‫ּבר‬
ֵ ‫ּתַד‬
ְ Xǝ-1ă2-2ē3 all other
prefixes a ‫—חטף‬in this case, a ‫חטף פתח‬
,‫ּבְרָנה‬
ֵ ‫ּתַד‬
ְ F-CS-CL- Xǝ-1ă2-2ē3
Future feminine plural generally takes
3 in √2 ‫ציֶרה‬ֵ under √2 in active binyanim and
‫ּבְרָנה‬
ַ ‫ּתֻד‬ְ CS -nā ‫ּתח‬
ָ ‫ּפ‬
ַ under √2 in passive binyanim
Note that in Puʻal, stem is ‫ּבר‬

ַ ‫ּד‬
ֻ (with
,‫ּבר‬
ַ ‫ ְיֻד‬,‫ּבר‬
ַ ‫ּד‬ֻ ‫ּתח‬
ָ ‫ּפ‬
ַ under √2) in past and future, but
F-CS-CS ǝ ‫ּבר‬
ָ ‫מֻד‬
ְ (with ‫מץ‬
ֵ ‫ )ָק‬in present. There is
2,3 X -1ŭ2-2ă3 in √2
‫ּבר‬
ָ ‫מֻד‬
ְ F-CS-CL no imperative or infinitive in the Puʻal
or Hof’al.
Gutterals in Pi‘el, Pu‘al
Syllables Vowel
Cases Accent Dagesh REMARKS
open/closed Parsing (compensation
short/long , etc.)
In stem for present, future, infinitive
<-‫ּבר‬
ַ ‫ּד‬ ַ ַ comp to ָ‫ א‬and imperative, the characteristic
‫א‬
2 OL-CL 1ā-2ē3 no compensation is from ‫ּתח‬ ָ ‫ּפ‬
ַ to ‫מץ‬ֵ ‫ ָק‬in
‫אר‬
ֵ ָ‫ ּפ‬,ְ‫בֵר‬
ָּֿ in √1
√1. This occurs before √2 ‫ א‬or ‫ר‬.
<-‫ּבר‬
ֵ ‫ּד‬ִ 1ē-2ē3 ִ comp to ‫א‬
‫א‬
In stem for past, the characteristic
ֵ compensation is from ‫חיִריק‬
2 OL-CL no ִ to ‫ציֶרה‬
ֵ in
‫אר‬
ֵ ֵ‫ ּפ‬,ְ‫ּבַר‬
ֵ 1ē-2ă3 in √1 √1. This occurs before √2 ‫ א‬or ‫ר‬.
Strangely enough, when √2 is ‫ע‬,‫ח‬,‫ה‬

,‫חׁש‬
ֵ ‫ּכ‬
ַ ,‫הר‬
ֵ ‫ט‬ַ even though there is no dagesh in √2
2 OS-CL 1ă-2ē3 no no the expected vowel compensation does
‫ער‬ֵ ‫ּב‬ַ not occur. The vowel pattern is the
same as in ‫ּבר‬
ֵ ‫ּד‬
ַ .
In the past tense of √2 ‫ע‬,‫ח‬,‫ ה‬verbs the

,‫חׁש‬
ֵ ‫ּכ‬
ִ ,‫הר‬
ַ ‫ט‬ִ 1ĭ-2ē3 first vowel remains ‫חיִריק‬ִ . The vowel
2 OS-CL or no no for √2 will either remain ‫ציֶרה‬ֵ or
‫ער‬ֵ ‫ּב‬ִ 1ī-2ē3 convert to ‫ּתח‬ָ ‫ּפ‬
ַ on an individual basis.
‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫חְר‬
ַ ‫א‬ֵ but Note there are odd and mixed cases and
2 OL-CS-OL 1ē-2ă3-tī no sometimes exceptions (‫הה‬ָ ‫ ֵק‬,‫עף‬
ֵ ‫ס‬
ָ ‫ ְי‬,‫עב‬
ֵ ‫ת‬
ָ ‫)ְי‬
‫חר‬ֵ ‫א‬
ַ ‫ל‬
ְ
Note that in Puʻal the standard
,‫אר‬ַ ‫ּפ‬
ֹ ,ְ‫ּבַר‬
ֹ ֻ comp to ֹ‫ א‬compensation is from ‫ ֻקּבּוץ‬to ‫לם‬
‫א‬ ָ ‫חֹו‬
2 OL-CS 1ō-2ă3 no ‫סר‬
ֵ ‫ח‬
ָ in all forms -- past, present and
‫הר‬ַ ‫ט‬ֹ ,‫ער‬ַ ‫ּב‬ֹ in √1
future. This occurs before √2 ‫ר‬,‫ע‬,‫ה‬,‫א‬.
The forms of ‫חם‬ ַ ‫ ֻר‬with no vowel

compensation are adequately attested
(see Hosea), but see the name ‫חם‬ ָ ‫ְיֹר‬.
‫חם‬
ַ ‫ֻר‬ 2 OS-CS 1ŭ-2ă3 no no The paucity of evidence makes it hard
to generalize further; however,
vocalization ‫פ‬
ֻ has become standard
with √2=‫ח‬: thus ‫חם‬ ַ ‫ְיֻנ‬, etc.
Summary of ‫תשלום דגש‬

For ‫על‬ ִ ,‫על‬
ֵ ‫ּפ‬ ְ ‫ִנ‬, and ‫על‬
ַ ‫פ‬ ַ ‫ּפ‬
ֻ
Definition: ‫ תשלום דגש‬is the lengthening of a vowel prior to a “gutteral” letter, compensating for
the “gutteral” letter’s inability to take a ‫ דגש חזק‬in a position where a non-gutteral letter would
ordinarily take a ‫דגש חזק‬.
Letters affected: The “gutteral” letters for this purpose are ‫ר‬,‫ע‬,‫ח‬,‫ה‬,‫א‬. (Note that the letter ‫ ר‬is
included as a “gutteral” for this purpose, but not for rules governing the substitution of ‫תנועה‬
‫[ חטופה‬that is, ‫א‬
ֱ ,‫א‬
ֳ ,‫א‬
ֲ ] for ‫שוא‬.)
Range of circumstances: The circumstances considered here include:

• Future tense ‫על‬ַ ‫פ‬ ְ ‫ ִנ‬where a ‫ דגש חזק‬normally occurs in √1 and the ‫ תשלום דגש‬will appear
in the pronominal prefix letter prior to √1. Example: In place of ‫תב‬ ֵ ‫ּכ‬
ָ ‫ ִי‬we find ‫תם‬
ֵ ‫ח‬
ָ ‫ֵי‬.
• All tenses of the ‫על‬ ֵ ‫ּפ‬
ַ ‫ת‬ְ ‫ה‬ִ ,‫על‬ ַ ‫ּפ‬
ֻ ,‫על‬ֵ ‫ּפ‬
ִ . Examples:
• Compare ‫ּבר‬ ֵ ‫ּד‬ִ to ‫אר‬ ֵ ‫ּפ‬
ֵ
• Compare ‫ּבר‬ ֵ ‫מַד‬ ְ to ‫אר‬ ֵ ‫פ‬ָ ‫מ‬ְ
• Compare ‫ּמד‬ ָ ‫ל‬ ֻ ‫מ‬ ְ to ‫אר‬ ָ ‫פ‬ֹ ‫מ‬ ְ
• Compare ‫ּבׁש‬ ֵ ‫ל‬ ַ ‫ת‬ ְ ‫מ‬ ִ to ‫אר‬ ֵ ‫ּפ‬ ָ ‫ת‬ְ ‫מ‬
ִ
Specifics of changes:
• ‫ציֶרה‬ ֵ <- ‫חיִרק‬ ִ
• ‫מץ‬ ֵ ‫< ָק‬- ‫ּתח‬ָ ‫ּפ‬
ַ
• ‫סר‬ ֵ ‫ח‬
ָ ‫לם‬ָ ‫ח‬
ֹ <- ‫ֻקּבּוץ‬
Application of changes:
• In ‫על‬ ַ ‫פ‬ ְ ‫ ִנ‬future tense, the change occurs with all five “gutterals” ‫ר‬,‫ע‬,‫ח‬,‫ה‬,‫ א‬in √1.
• In ‫על‬ ֵ ‫ּפ‬ ִ the change occurs only with √2 ‫ ר‬,‫א‬.
• In ‫על‬ ַ ‫ּפ‬ ֻ the change occurs with √2 ‫ר‬,‫ע‬,‫ה‬,‫ א‬but not ‫ח‬.
• In ‫על‬ ֵ ‫ּפ‬ ַ ‫ת‬ְ ‫ה‬
ִ the rule is the same as in ‫על‬
ֵ ‫ּפ‬
ִ : the change occurs only with √2 ‫ ר‬,‫א‬
(but see the ‫ח‬ ַ ‫ לּו‬for exceptions).
‫תשלום דגש ‪Illustrations of Rules of Applicability of‬‬

‫)‪ occurs in this form‬תשלום דגש ‪(* indicates that‬‬
‫א‬ ‫ה‬ ‫ח‬ ‫ע‬ ‫ר‬
‫על‬
‫פ ַ‬
‫ִנ ְ‬
‫‪(regular:‬‬ ‫אֵגד*‬
‫ֵי ָ‬ ‫הֵרס*‬
‫ֵי ָ‬ ‫בא*‬
‫ח ֵ‬
‫ֵי ָ‬ ‫בד*‬
‫ע ֵ‬
‫ֵי ָ‬ ‫ׁשם*‬
‫ֵיָר ֵ‬
‫מר‬
‫ּׁש ֵ‬
‫)ִי ָ‬
‫על‬
‫ּפ ֵ‬
‫ִ‬
‫‪(regular:‬‬ ‫אר‪*,‬‬‫ּב ֵ‬
‫ֵ‬ ‫ּפֵרׁש‪*,‬‬‫ֵ‬
‫ּלם‪,‬‬
‫ׁש ֵ‬
‫ִ‬ ‫הר‬
‫ט ֵ‬
‫הר‪ְ ,‬י ַ‬
‫ט ֵ‬
‫חם ִ‬
‫חם‪ְ ,‬יַר ֵ‬
‫ער ִר ֵ‬
‫ב ֵ‬
‫ער‪ְ ,‬י ַ‬
‫ּב ֵ‬
‫ִ‬
‫אר‬
‫ב ֵ‬
‫*ְי ָ‬ ‫פֵרׁש‬
‫*ְי ָ‬
‫ּלם‬
‫ׁש ֵ‬
‫)ְי ַ‬
‫על‬
‫ּפ ַ‬
‫ֻ‬
‫‪(regular:‬‬ ‫אר‪*,‬‬‫ּב ַ‬
‫ֹ‬ ‫הר‪*,‬‬‫ט ַ‬
‫ֹ‬ ‫ער‪*,‬‬‫ּב ַ‬
‫ֹ‬ ‫ּפַרׁש‪*,‬‬‫ֹ‬
‫ּלם‪,‬‬
‫ׁש ַ‬
‫ֻ‬ ‫חם‬
‫חם‪ְ ,‬יֻר ַ‬
‫ֻר ַ‬
‫אר‬
‫ב ַ‬
‫*ְי ֹ‬ ‫הר‬
‫ט ַ‬
‫*ְי ֹ‬ ‫ער‬
‫ב ַ‬
‫*ְי ֹ‬ ‫פַרׁש‬
‫*ְי ֹ‬
‫ּלם‬
‫ׁש ַ‬
‫)ְי ֻ‬
‫על‬
‫ּפ ֵ‬
‫ת ַ‬‫ה ְ‬
‫ִ‬
‫‪(regular:‬‬ ‫אר*‬
‫ּב ֵ‬
‫ת ָ‬
‫ה ְ‬
‫ִ‬ ‫הט‬
‫ל ֵ‬
‫ת ַ‬
‫ה ְ‬
‫ִ‬ ‫חם‬
‫תַנ ֵ‬
‫ה ְ‬
‫ִ‬ ‫ער‬
‫תַנ ֵ‬
‫ה ְ‬
‫ִ‬ ‫ּפֵרׁש*‬
‫ת ָ‬‫ה ְ‬
‫ִ‬
‫ּסר‬
‫מ ֵ‬
‫ת ַ‬
‫)ִי ְ‬
Basics of Hiph‘il, Hoph‘al
Syllables
Classified: Syllable Vowel changes
Cases Accent Shevas REMARKS
open/closed Parsing (reduction, etc.)
short/long
Characteristics of Hiphʻil are:
(1) 1st syllable with prefix
Hiphʻil has
(‫ַי‬,‫ּת‬
ַ ,‫א‬
ַ ,‫ה‬
ַ ,‫ה‬
ִ ) combining with √1
‫ חיריק גדול‬in
,‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫צְר‬
ַ ‫הְק‬ ִ CS-CS-OL Xĭ1-2ă3-tī most forms;
in a closed syllable, and (2) 2nd
syllable with √2√3 combining
,‫ציר‬ִ ‫הְק‬ ִ 2 CS-CL Xĭ1-2īy3 ‫ח‬ shortens to ‫פתח‬
with ‫ חיריק גדול‬in a closed
‫ציָרה‬ ִ ‫הְק‬ ִ CS-OL-OL Xĭ1-2īy-3ā in 1st & 2nd
syllable (the ‫חיריק גדול‬
persons of past
shortens to ‫ פתח‬in past tense
tense
1st & 2nd persons prior to
pronominal suffixes).
,‫ציר‬ִ ‫מְק‬ ַ ‫חיריק גדול‬ The characteristics #1 and #2

,‫ציר‬ ִ ‫אְק‬ ַ retained in all mentioned above are retained in
2 CS-CL Xă1-2īy3 ‫ח‬ forms (except
,(‫צְרנָה‬
ֵ ‫ּתְק‬ַ ) future ‫הן‬-‫אתן‬
all present, future and infinitive
forms (except future ‫הן‬-‫)אתן‬
‫ציר‬ִ ‫הְק‬ ַ ‫ל‬ ְ forms)
,‫צר‬
ֵ ‫הְק‬ ַ Imperative: The ‫חיריק גדול‬
,‫ציִרי‬ִ ‫הְק‬ ַ ‫חיריק גדול‬ between √2-√3 shortens to ‫צירה‬
CS-CL Xă1-2ē3 ‫ח‬ in masculine-singular and
2 shortens to ‫צירה‬
,‫צירּו‬ ִ ‫הְק‬ ַ CS-OL-OL Xĭ1-2īy-3ī feminine-plural forms of the
‫צְרָנה‬ ֵ ‫הְק‬ ַ imperative
The Hiphʻil is the only form in

,‫ציר‬
ִ ‫מְק‬ ַ which the present tense
,‫ציָרה‬ִ ‫מְק‬ ַ ‫חיריק גדול‬ feminine singular follows the
‫ח‬ retained in all same pattern as the plural, with
,‫ציִרים‬ ִ ‫מְק‬ ַ 2, 3 CS-CL Xă1-2īy3
forms suffix ‫םה‬ָ ‫םי‬ִ parallel to suffixes
‫צירֹות‬ ִ ‫מְק‬ ַ ‫םיםֹות‬ִ ,‫םים‬ִ ‫םי‬
ִ instead of the
usual pattern ‫םת‬ ֶ ‫ם‬
ֶ
Characteristics of Hiphʻil are:

(1) 1st syllable with prefix
,‫צר‬
ַ ‫הְק‬ ֻ Xŭ1-2ă3 (‫א‬
ָ ,‫מ‬
ָ ,‫ה‬
ָ or ‫א‬
ֻ ,‫מ‬
ֻ ,‫ה‬
ֻ ) combining
CS-CS Xŭ1-2ā3 with √1 in a closed syllable, and
,‫צר‬ָ ‫מְק‬ ֻ 2 ‫ח‬
(2) 2nd syllable with √2√3
CS-CL
‫צר‬ ַ ‫ֻיְק‬ combining with ‫ פתח‬in a closed
syllable (or ‫ קמץ גדול‬in present
tense).
Usage determines whether each

,‫פַקד‬
ְ ‫ה‬ָ Xŏ1-2ă3 ‫ קמץ קטן‬or ‫ ֻקּבּוץ‬verb takes ‫על‬
ַ ‫פ‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ָ or ‫על‬
ַ ‫פ‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ֻ .
2 CS-CS ‫ח‬
‫פַקד‬ְ ‫ה‬ ֻ Xŭ1-2ă3 under prefix With some verbs, both forms are
OK.
Gutterals in Hiph‘il
Syllables Vowel
open/closed Parsing (compensatio
short/long n, etc.)
In stem for past tense, ‫ׁש‬ ְ ‫ה‬
ִ pattern
,‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫ל‬ְ ‫כ‬
ַ ‫א‬ ֱ ‫ה‬ ֶ yields to ‫א‬ֱ ‫ה‬
ֶ with most √1 gutterals
,‫א‬
ֱ ‫ה‬ ֶ (see also ‫ביר‬ ִ ‫ע‬
ֱ ‫ה‬
ֶ ). In all other forms
,‫כיל‬ ִ ‫א‬ ֱ ‫ה‬ ֶ Xĕ-1ĕ-2ă3-tī ִ to ‫א‬
‫א‬ ֶ in past
2 OS-F-CL Xĕ-1ĕ-2īy3 ֲ ‫מ‬
‫א‬ ֵַ , (present, future, imperative,
,‫כיל‬ ִ ‫א‬ ֲ ‫מ‬ ַ ‫ שוא‬to ‫חטף‬
ֲ ‫ַי‬
‫א‬ infinitive) the ‫ שוא נח‬becomes ‫חטף‬
Xă-1ă-2īy3
‫כיל‬ ִ ‫א‬ ֲ ‫ַי‬ ‫ פתח‬under the gutteral letter (cf.
‫ביר‬
ִ ‫ע‬
ֲ ‫מ‬
ַ ).
In √1 ‫ ח‬followed by √2 hard
,‫ּכים‬
ִ ‫ח‬ ְ ‫ה‬ֶ consonant, the ‫ שוא נח‬is often
,‫ּכים‬
ִ ‫ח‬ ְ ‫מ‬ ַ 2 CS-CL
Xĕ1-2īy3 ‫ח‬ ֶ in past retained. There is a vowel change in
ִ to ‫א‬
‫א‬
Xă1-2īy3 past tense from ‫ חיריק קטן‬to ‫סגול‬
‫ּכים‬ִ ‫ח‬ְ ‫ַי‬ but no change at all in the present,
future, imperative or infinitive.
,‫איל‬
ִ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ה‬ִ
,‫איל‬ִ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫מ‬ ַ Xĭ1-2īy3 ‫ח‬
2 CS-CL no Hiphʻil √2 gutteral is regular.
Xă1-2īy3
‫איל‬ִ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ַי‬
,‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫ע‬ ְ ‫מ‬ ַ ‫ׁש‬ ְ ‫ה‬ ִ ‫פתח גנובה‬ Hiphʻil √3 gutteral shows the
under √3 in
,‫ּת‬
ְ ‫ע‬ ַ ‫מ‬ ַ ‫ׁש‬ ְ ‫ה‬ ִ CS-CS-OL Xĭ1-2ă3-tī many forms;
characteristic alterations of word-
CS-OS-CS Xĭ1-2ă-ă3 ending in the usual places. In the
,‫ע‬
ַ ‫מי‬ ִ ‫ׁש‬ ְ ‫ה‬ ִ 2 ‫ח‬ ְ ‫ע‬
‫ּת‬ַ ‫א‬
ַ in past present, the regular ‫ציָרה‬ ִ ‫מְק‬
ַ gives
CS-OL-CS Xĭ1-2īy-3ă
,‫ע‬ַ ‫מי‬ ִ ‫ׁש‬ ְ ‫מ‬ ַ CS-OL-CS Xă1-2īy-3ă
2nd person rise to ‫עה‬
ָ ‫מי‬
ִ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫מ‬ ַ (instead of the less-
singular common ‫עת‬ ַ ‫מ‬ַ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫מ‬ַּ ).
ִ ‫מי‬
‫ע‬ ִ ‫ׁש‬ ְ ‫ַי‬ feminine
Gutterals in Hoph‘al
Syllables Vowel
open/closed Parsing (compensatio
short/long n, etc.)
,‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫ל‬ְ ‫כ‬
ַ ‫א‬ ֳ ‫ה‬ָ OS-F-CS-OL Xŏ-1ŏ-2ă3-tī
‫שוא נח‬
under √1 √1 gutteral in Hophʻal:
,‫כל‬ ָ ‫א‬ ֳ ‫מ‬ ָ 3 OS-F-CL Xŏ-1ŏ-2ā3 ֳ ‫א‬
gutteral gives Same pattern in past, present and
‫כל‬ ַ ‫א‬ֳ ‫ָי‬ OS-F-CS Xŏ-1ŏ-2ă3 way to ‫א‬ֳ future
Same exception pattern as ,‫צָרה‬ְ ‫ע‬

ֶ ‫ֶנ‬
‫צרּו‬
ְ ‫ע‬
ֶ ‫ֶנ‬: a ‫ חטף‬cannot come directly
before a ‫ שוא‬so the ‫ חטף‬becomes a
Xŏ-1ŏ2(ǝ)-3ā full vowel and the ‫ שוא נע‬becomes
,‫לה‬ָ ‫כ‬
ְ ‫א‬ָ ‫ה‬ָ Xŏ-1ŏ2(ǝ)-3ū ֳ to ‫א‬
‫א‬ ָ before a ‫שוא מרחף‬.
3 OS-CS-OL ‫מ‬
‫כלּו‬ ְ ‫א‬ָ ‫ה‬ ָ ‫שוא נע‬
((ǝ) = ‫)מרחף‬ Debate whether first syllable is
pronounced with ‫ קמץ קטן‬or ‫קמץ‬
‫—גדול‬we go with ‫( קמץ קטן‬so too
next entry).
Same pattern as ‫צרּו‬
ְ ‫ע‬
ַ ‫ּת‬
ַ ,‫צִרי‬
ְ ‫ע‬
ַ ‫ּת‬
ַ : a
,‫לי‬ִ ‫כ‬
ְ ‫א‬ ָ ‫ּת‬ָ ‫ חטף‬cannot come directly before a
Xŏ-1ŏ2(ǝ)-3ī ֳ to ‫א‬
‫א‬ ָ before
,‫כלּו‬ ְ ‫א‬ ָ ‫ּת‬ ָ 3 OS-CS-OL ‫מ‬
‫שוא נע‬
‫ שוא‬so the ‫ חטף‬becomes a full
Xŏ-1ŏ2(ǝ)-3ū vowel and the ‫ שוא נע‬becomes a
‫כלּו‬ ְ ‫א‬ ָ ‫ָי‬ ‫שוא מרחף‬
,‫לה‬ ָ ‫ע‬ֲ ‫הְר‬ ָ √2 gutteral in Hophʻal is nearly

,‫עלּו‬ ֲ ‫הְר‬ ָ Xŏ1-2ă-3ā ‫ שוא נע‬to regular, except for those forms
3 CS-F-OL Xŏ1-2ă-3ī ‫חטף‬
,‫לי‬ ִ ‫ע‬ ֲ ‫ּתְר‬ ָ ‫חטף‬ which take a ‫ שוא נע‬under √2: as
Xŏ1-2ă-3ū expected, it changes to ‫חטף פתח‬
‫עלּו‬ ֲ ‫ָיְר‬
,‫טח‬
ַ ‫ב‬ְ ‫ה‬ֻ √3 gutteral in Hophʻal is nearly
regular: the ‫ פתח‬that the gutteral
,‫טח‬ָ ‫ב‬ְ ‫מ‬ ֻ 2
CS-CS Xŭ1-2ă3 ‫ח‬
likes is already the default vowel for
CS-CL Xŭ1-2ā3
‫טח‬ַ ‫ב‬ְ ‫ֻי‬ the Hophʻal forms (except present)
,‫ּת‬
ְ ‫ח‬
ַ ‫ט‬ַ ‫ב‬ְ ‫ה‬ֻ √3 gutteral typical forms of
2 CS-OS-CS Xŭ1-2ă-3ăt ‫ח‬ ‫עת‬
ַ ‫א‬
ַ ,‫ּת‬
ְ ‫ע‬
ַ ‫א‬
ַ
‫חת‬ַ ‫ט‬ַ ‫ב‬ְ ‫מ‬ ֻ feminine singular in all binyanim
Basics of Hitpa‘el
Syllables Vowel
Classified: Syllable Dages changes
Cases Accent REMARKS
open/closed Parsing h (reduction,
short/long etc.)
Dagesh in √2 is defining
characteristic of the ‫בנינים כבדים‬
(Piʻel, Puʻal, Hitpaʻel). Appending
‫ּסר‬
ֵ ‫מ‬
ַ ‫ת‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ 3 CS-CS-CL Xĭt-1ă2-2ē3 in √2 no some form of the prefix ‫ת‬ ְ ‫ה‬
ִ to the
Piʻel stem is characteristic of all
forms of the Hitpaʻel.
ַ on accented
‫א‬
/‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫ּסְר‬
ַ ‫מ‬
ַ ‫ת‬
ְ ‫ה‬ ִ CS-CS-CS- Xĭt-1ă2-2ă3- syllable is As in Piʻel, the vowel tzereh is
3 in √2 characteristic shortened to pataḥ in 1st and 2nd
ָ -
‫ּת‬ OL tǝ̄
of past tense persons under √2.
ֵ‫ א‬under √2
,‫ּסר‬
ֵ ‫מ‬ַ ‫ת‬ְ ‫ה‬ִ CS-CS-CL Xĭt-1ă2-2ē3 reduces to In 3rd person, the regular vowel is
3 in √2 sheva na in tzereh, which shortens to sheva naʻ
‫ּסָרה‬
ְ ‫מ‬ַ ‫ת‬ְ ‫ה‬ ִ CS-CS-F-OL Xĭt-1ă2-2ǝ-3ā
Fem. & Plural before feminine and plural suffixes.
‫ מ‬prefix in ‫ מ‬prefix is the sign of the present
‫ּסר‬
ֵ ‫מ‬
ַ ‫ת‬
ְ ‫מ‬
ִ 3 CS-CS-CL Xĭt-1ă2-2ē3 in √2 present tense, as in so many binyanim.
‫ סגול‬in Pronominal prefix takes ḥirik in
,‫ּסר‬
ֵ ‫מ‬ַ ‫ת‬ְ ‫א‬ ֶ ,‫אתמסר‬ Hitpaʻel except for 1st person
3 CS-CS-CL Xǝ̆t-1ă2-2ē3 in √2
‫ּסר‬
ֵ ‫מ‬ַ ‫ת‬ְ ‫ּת‬
ִ ‫ חיריק‬for all singular where the ‫ א‬prefers a
other prefixes segol
,‫ּסר‬
ֵ ‫מ‬ַ ‫ת‬ְ ‫ה‬ִ As in several other binyanim, the ‫ה‬
CS-CS-CL Xĭt-1ă2-2ē3 substitutes for the pronominal
3 in √2
‫ּסִרי‬
ְ ‫מ‬ַ ‫ת‬ְ ‫ה‬ ִ CS-CS-F-OL Xĭt-1ă2-2ǝ-3ī prefixes in the imperative.
,‫ּסר‬
ֵ ‫מ‬ַ ‫ת‬ְ ‫ה‬ִ ‫ל‬ ְ F-CS-CS-CL lǝ-Xĭt-1ă2-2ē3
4 in √2 Infinitive and verbal-noun forms
‫ּסרּות‬
ְ ‫מ‬ַ ‫ת‬ְ ‫ה‬ִ CS-CS-F-CL Xĭt-1ă2-2ǝ-3ūt
√2,√3 Gutterals and √1 Sibilants/Dentals in Hitpa‘el
Syllables Vowel
Classified: Syllable Dages changes
Cases Accent REMARKS
open/closed Parsing h (reduction,
short/long etc.)
In all Hitpaʻel stems, the
,‫אר‬
ֵ ‫ּפ‬ָ ‫ת‬
ְ ‫ה‬ ִ characteristic compensation is
CS-OL-CL Xĭt-1ā-2ē3 ַ comp to ָ‫ א‬from ‫ּתח‬
‫א‬
,ְ‫ּבֵר‬
ָ ‫ת‬ ְ ‫ה‬ ִ 3 no in √1
ָ ‫ּפ‬
ַ to ‫מץ‬
ֵ ‫ ָק‬in √1. This
CS-OS-CL Xĭt-1ă-2ē3 occurs before √2 ‫ א‬or ‫ ר‬but not
‫הל‬ֵ ‫תַנ‬ ְ ‫ה‬ ִ before ‫ח‬,‫ע‬,‫ה‬.
Wherever sheva naʻ occurs

,‫ארּו‬
ֲ ‫ּפ‬ָ ‫ת‬
ְ ‫ה‬ ִ CS-OL-F-OL Xĭt-1ā-2ă-3ū
under ‫ח‬,‫ע‬,‫ה‬,‫ א‬a ‫פתח‬-‫ חטף‬is
Sheva na substituted. Note: this change
,‫ּבְרכּו‬
ָ ‫ת‬ ְ ‫ה‬ ִ 4 CS-OL-F-OL Xĭt-1ā-2ǝ-3ū no turns to ‫ חטף‬does not normally occur under ‫ר‬
‫הלּו‬ֲ ‫תַנ‬ ְ ‫ה‬ ִ CS-OS-F-OL Xĭt-1ă-2ă-3ū (but see variant vocalizations of
Psalm 145:1-2)
,‫ּקע‬ ַ ‫ּב‬ַ ‫ת‬ ְ ‫ה‬ ִ Xĭt-1ă2-2ă3

Hitpaʻel √3-gutteral takes -‫פתח‬
CS-CS-CS ‫ גנובה‬in present (masc. sing.)
,‫ע‬ַ ‫ּק‬
ֵ ‫ּב‬ ַ ‫ת‬ְ ‫מ‬ ִ 3 CS-CS-OL-CS Xĭt-1ă2-2ē-ă3 in √2 ‫פתח גנובה‬
and infinitive forms but simple
ַ‫ּקע‬
ֵ ‫ּב‬ ַ ‫ת‬ְ ‫ה‬ ִ ‫ל‬ ְ F-CS-CS-OL-CS lǝ-Xĭt-1ă2-2ē-ă3 ‫ פתח‬in past and imperative
√1 ‫ז‬: When first root letter is ‫ ז‬the

,‫ּקף‬
ֵ ‫ּד‬
ַ ‫הְז‬ִ CS-CS-CL Xĭ1-Xă2-2ē3
3 in √2 transpose initial ‫ ת‬transposes with the ‫ז‬
‫ּדֵרז‬
ָ ‫הְז‬ ִ CS-OL-CL Xĭ1-Xā-2ē3 and ‫<ד‬-‫ת‬ and converts to a ‫ד‬
√1 ‫צ‬: When first root letter is ‫ צ‬the

,‫ּדק‬
ֵ ‫ט‬
ַ ‫צ‬ְ ‫ה‬ִ CS-CS-CL Xĭ1-Xă2-2ē3
3 in √2 transpose initial ‫ ת‬transposes with the ‫צ‬
‫טֵרף‬ָ ‫צ‬ְ ‫ה‬ ִ CS-OL-CL Xĭ1-Xā-2ē3 and ‫<ט‬-‫ ת‬and converts to a ‫ט‬
,‫ּדר‬ֵ ‫ּת‬ ַ ‫ס‬ ְ ‫ה‬ִ

,‫ּתֵרק‬ ָ ‫ס‬ ְ ‫ה‬ ִ When first root letter is ‫ׂש‬,‫ׁש‬,‫ס‬
CS-CS-CL Xĭ1-Xă2-2ē3 √1 ‫ׂש‬,‫ׁש‬,‫ס‬:
,‫ּמר‬
ֵ ‫ּת‬ַ ‫ׁש‬ ְ ‫ה‬ ִ 3 in √2 transpose the initial ‫ ת‬transposes with the
CS-OL-CL Xĭ1-Xā-2ē3
,‫ּתֵרׁש‬ ָ ‫ׁש‬ ְ ‫ה‬ ִ sibilant letter.
‫ּכר‬
ֵ ‫ּת‬ ַ ‫ׂש‬ ְ ‫ה‬ ִ
,‫ּבק‬ֵ ‫ּד‬ַ ‫ה‬
ִ When first root letter is ‫ת‬,‫ט‬,‫ד‬,
CS-CS-CL Xĭ1-1ă2-2ē3 in √1 ‫ת‬,‫ט‬,‫ד‬: the initial ‫ ת‬is assimilated into
,‫הר‬
ֵ ‫ּט‬ ַ ‫ה‬ ִ 4 assimilate the √1 dental letter, which then
CS-OS-CL Xĭ1-1ă-2ē3 √1,√2
‫ּמם‬ֵ ‫ּת‬
ַ ‫ה‬ ִ receives a dagesh ḥazak.
Basics of 4-Letter Roots (‫עים‬

ִ ‫ּב‬ ְ )
ָ ‫מֻר‬
Syllables
Dages
Classified: Syllable Dagesh
Cases Accent h REMARKS
open/closed Parsing Kal
Ḥazak
short/long
Note that the syllable structure
1i2-3ē4 replaces the more usual
‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫ס‬
ְ ‫ּפְרַנ‬
ִ 1i2-2ē3. Thus there is no dagesh
CS-CS-OL 1ĭ2-3ă4-tī ḥazak in √2, rather there is the
‫ּפְרֵנס‬ִ 2 none √1 and √3 succession of consonants √2√3
CS-CS 1ĭ2-3ē4
‫ּדק‬
ֵ ‫ּדְק‬ ִ with a sheva naḥ between them.
This change persists throughout
all forms of the ‫עים‬
ִ ‫ּב‬
ָ ‫מֻר‬
ְ .
Same as above. Dagesh kal in

‫פְרֵנס‬
ַ ‫מ‬ְ √1 is displaced by the preceding
sheva naʻ of the prefix, the same
‫פְרֵנס‬ַ ‫ְי‬ as in regular Piʻel. Note: there
3 F-CS-CL Xǝ-1ă2-3ē4 none √3 only
‫פְרֵנס‬ַ ‫ל‬ ְ is no ‫ תשלום דגש‬before the ‫ר‬
‫ּדק‬
ֵ ‫לַדְק‬ ְ because there is no √2 dagesh in
the ‫עים‬ִ ‫ּב‬
ָ ‫מֻר‬
ְ .
‫ּפְרֵנס‬
ַ In Imperative, the sheva naʻ in
2 CS-CL 1ă2-3ē4 none √1 and √3 √1 is restored.
‫ּדק‬
ֵ ‫ּדְק‬ַ
‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫ס‬
ֻ
‫ּפְרַנס‬ֻ CS-CS-OL 1ŭ2-3ă4-tī Puʻal exhibits same syllable
2 none √1 and √3 structure as Piʻel.
CS-CS 1ŭ2-3ă4
‫ּדק‬
ַ ‫ּדְק‬ ֻ
‫פְרָנס‬
ֻ ‫מ‬ְ
‫פְרַנס‬ ֻ ‫ְי‬ F-CS-CL Xǝ-1ŭ2-3ā4
3 none √3 only Same as above.
F-CS-CS Xǝ-1ŭ2-3ă4
‫ּדק‬
ַ ‫ְיֻדְק‬
Hitpaʻel is very similar to Piʻel
‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫ס‬
ַ ‫ת‬ְ ‫ה‬ ִ except the addition of the
‫ּפְרֵנס‬ַ ‫ת‬ְ ‫ה‬ ְ Xĭt-1ă2-3ă4-tī
CS-CS-CS-OL
3 none √1 and √3 compound prefix. As this prefix
CS-CS-CL Xĭt-1ă2-3ē4
‫לֵּגל‬
ְ ‫תַּג‬ ְ ‫ה‬ ִ is a closed syllable, √1 receives
dagesh kal.
Because of its unique syllable
ַ ‫ת‬ְ ‫מ‬ ִ structure, Hitpaʻel shows even
‫ּפְרֵנס‬ ַ ‫ת‬
ְ ‫ִי‬ 3 CS-CS-CL Xĭt-1ă2-3ē4 none √1 and √3 more similarity of present/future
‫לֵּגל‬
ְ ‫תַּג‬ְ ‫ִי‬ to past forms than the other
binyanim kevedim.
Identification Strategies
So far in this course we have been concerned with the problem: given a verb-root, binyan,
tense and person, what are the rules for producing the correct form to express it? For instance:
given that we want to express the past-tense 3rd person plural of the root ‫ שאל‬in the Hiphʻil, what
is the right form? The answer in this case is: ‫אילּו‬
ִ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ה‬ִ .
But in our language experience we are generally confronted with a text (oral or written)
with given forms, and we have to decipher them, answering the questions: What part of speech?
If it is a verb, what root? what binyan? What tense? What person?
We have been presented along the way with a lot of clues for these identification tasks.
But the clues are often ambiguous or hard to differentiate. Here we will go at the problem in the
reverse direction, listing the clues that are present to our attention, and how to analyze and
decipher them to decode the words presented to us.
Consider the following verb forms:
G F E D C B A
1 ‫ּסר‬
ֵ ַ‫תמ‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ ‫מסַר‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ֻ ‫מסִיר‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ ‫מּסַר‬
ֻ ‫מּסֵר‬
ִ ‫מסַר‬
ְ ‫ִנ‬ ‫מסַר‬
ָ
2 ‫ּסר‬
ֵ ‫מ‬
ַ ‫ת‬
ְ ‫מ‬
ִ ‫סר‬
ָ ‫מ‬
ְ ‫מ‬
ֻ ‫סיר‬
ִ ‫מ‬
ְ ‫מ‬
ַ ‫ּסר‬
ָ ‫מ‬
ֻ ‫מ‬
ְ ‫ּסר‬
ֵ ‫מ‬
ַ ‫מ‬
ְ ‫סר‬
ָ ‫מ‬
ְ ‫ִנ‬ ‫סר‬
ֵ ‫מֹו‬
3 ‫ּסר‬
ֵ ‫מ‬
ַ ‫ת‬
ְ ‫ִי‬ ‫סר‬
ַ ‫מ‬
ְ ‫ֻי‬ ‫סיר‬
ִ ‫מ‬
ְ ‫ַי‬ ‫ּסר‬
ַ ‫מ‬
ֻ ‫ְי‬ ‫ּסר‬
ֵ ‫מ‬
ַ ‫ְי‬ ‫סר‬
ֵ ‫ּמ‬
ָ ‫ִי‬ ‫סר‬
ֹ ‫מ‬
ְ ‫ִי‬
4 ‫ּסרּו‬
ְ ‫מ‬
ַ ‫ת‬
ְ ‫ִי‬ ‫סרּו‬
ְ ‫מ‬
ְ ‫ֻי‬ ‫סירּו‬
ִ ‫מ‬
ְ ‫ַי‬ ‫ּסרּו‬
ְ ‫מ‬
ֻ ‫ְי‬ ‫ּסרּו‬
ְ ‫מ‬
ַ ‫ְי‬ ‫סרּו‬
ְ ‫ּמ‬
ָ ‫ִי‬ ‫סרּו‬
ְ ‫מ‬
ְ ‫ִי‬
5 ‫ּפְרדּו‬
ָ ‫ת‬ְ ‫ִי‬ ‫פְרדּו‬
ְ ‫ֻי‬ ‫פִרידּו‬
ְ ‫ַי‬ ‫פְרדּו‬
ֹ ‫ְי‬ ‫פְרדּו‬
ָ ‫ְי‬ ‫ּפְרדּו‬
ָ ‫ִי‬ ‫פְרּדּו‬
ְ ‫ִי‬
6 ‫אְרגּו‬
ָ ‫ת‬
ְ ‫ִי‬ ‫אְרגּו‬
ָ ‫ָי‬ ‫אִריגּו‬
ֲ ‫ַי‬ ‫אְרגּו‬
ֹ ‫ְי‬ ‫אְרגּו‬
ָ ‫ְי‬ ‫אְרגּו‬
ָ ‫ֵי‬ ‫אְרגּו‬
ַ ‫ַי‬
This arrangement of forms suggests the following observations:
1. The first three rows present the regular forms of past, present and future in all seven
binyanim. These are so familiar to the student that they (and their identifying
characteristics) are readily recognizable.
2. As we progress down to Row 6, the forms on a given row come to resemble each other
more. Some of the identifying characteristics are eroded by exceptional circumstances
until fewer are left.
3. It would be in order, therefore, to compile a list of all the identifying characteristics of each
binyan and sub-paradigm within it, as well as to learn to be able to recognize the forms
when only some of the characteristics are present.
Characteristics of Kal
I. The Kal past almost always has the following structure (1ā-2ǎ3):
A. First syllable ‫ּפ‬
ָ (reduced to ‫פ‬ ְ in 2-pl)
B. Second syllable ‫על‬ ַ (reduced to ‫לה‬ ָ ‫ע‬
ְ ,‫עלּו‬
ְ in 3-f and 3-pl).
II. The Kal present almost always has the following structure (1ō-2ē3):
A. First syllable ‫פֹו‬
B. Second syllable ‫עלֹות‬ ְ ,‫לים‬ִ ‫ע‬
ְ ‫לת‬ֶ ‫ע‬
ֶ ,‫על‬ ֵ
III. The Kal future almost always has the following structure (Yi1-2ō3 / Yi1-2ă3):
A. First syllable ‫ איתן‬prefix with vocalization ‫פ‬ ְ ‫ ִי‬,‫פ‬
ְ ‫א‬
ֶ (modified if √1 is a gutteral). Note: no
other binyan has a ‫פ‬ ְ ‫ ִי‬pattern in the initial syllable of the future tense.
B. Second syllable ‫על‬ ֹ or ‫על‬ ַ , with reduction for suffixes
Characteristics of Niph’al
I. The Niphʻal past and present almost always have the following structure (Ni1-2a3):
A. Prefix ‫פ‬
ְ ‫ִנ‬
B. Second syllable ‫על‬ ַ in present, ‫על‬
ָ in present, plus suffixes
II. The Niphʻal future almost always has the following structure (Yi1-1a-2ē3):
A. Pronominal ‫ איתן‬prefix with vocalization: ‫ ִנ‬,‫ ִי‬,‫ּת‬
ִ ,‫א‬
ֶ
B. √1 vocalized: ‫ּפ‬ָ with kametz and dagesh ḥazak (or compensation in “A” if √1 =
‫ר‬,‫ע‬,‫ח‬,‫ה‬,‫)א‬. No other binyan exhibits the composite initial pattern ‫ּפ‬ ָ ‫ ;ִי‬this is a reliable
identifier of Niphal future tense. (Exception: Hitpael of ‫ תאר‬is ‫אר‬
ֵ ‫ּת‬
ָ ‫ ִי‬with assimilation of the ‫ ת‬and
dagesh-compensation for the √2 ‫א‬, and similarly ‫תאב‬, but this is a “perfect storm” and sui generis.)
C. ‫על‬
ֵ with reduction for prefixes
Characteristics of Hiph‘il, Hoph‘al
I. The Hiphʻil and Hophʻal are always identified primarily by the following syllable structure
(Hi1-2īy3 / Xă1-2īy3, Xŏ1-2ă3 / Xŭ1-2ă3) :
A. First syllable: a closed syllable ‫פ‬ ְ X where X is either ‫ מ‬,‫ה‬, or ‫ אית”ן‬and ‫ פ‬is the first root
letter √1, and where the prefix is vocalized ‫ה‬ ִ for Hiphʻil past tense, ‫א‬
ַ for all other Hiphʻil
forms, and ‫א‬ָ /‫ה‬
ָ or ‫א‬
ֻ /‫ה‬
ֻ for Hophʻal / Huphʻal all tenses.
1. No other binyan has a ‫פ‬ ְ ‫ה‬ִ first syllable (except Kal future which is distinguishable by
the ‫ אית”ן‬prefixes, and Niph’al by the ‫פ‬ ְ ‫ ִנ‬prefix).
2. No other binyan has an ‫פ‬ ְ ‫ה‬ָ ,‫פ‬ְ ‫א‬
ַ , or ‫פ‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ֻ prefix.
a) The key to differentiating Puʻal and Hophʻal: Puʻal has the vowel ‫א‬ ֻ or ‫א‬
ֹ on the √1
root letter, Hophʻal/Huph’al has it on the prefix-consonant before the √1 letter.
Example: ‫ּטל‬ ַ ‫ּב‬
ֻ or ‫ּטל‬
ַ ‫ב‬ֻ ‫ ְי‬is Puʻal, ‫טל‬
ַ ‫ב‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ֻ or ‫טל‬
ַ ‫ב‬
ְ ‫ ֻי‬is Hophʻal.
B. Second syllable:
1. Hiphʻil has characteristic embedded yod (‫עיל‬ ִ ) which is reduced to ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ע‬
ַ before 1st and
2nd-person pronominal suffixes of the past tense.
2. Hophʻal has ‫על‬ ַ in most forms (‫על‬ ָ in present tense).
C. Both Hiphʻil and Hophʻal are characterized by strong, bi-consonantal syllables without the
use of dagesh ḥazak.
Characteristics of Pi‘el, Pu‘al, Hitpa‘el
I. The Piʻel, Puʻal and Hitpaʻel are all identified primarily by a dagesh hazak in √2, or
compensation for it in the previous vowel (or if there is no compensation, by the regular Piʻel
or Puʻal vowel pattern, as in ‫חם‬
ַ ‫ ְיֻנ‬,‫חם‬
ֵ ‫)ְיַנ‬. (Syllable structure: 1i2-2ē3 / Xe-1ă2-2ē3,
e
1ŭ2-2ă3 / X -1ŭ2-2ă3, Xit-1ă2-2ē3.)
II. The Hitpaʻel is furthermore primarily identified by the prefix ‫ת‬ ְ ‫ה‬
ִ (where ‫ ה‬may be replaced by
the ‫ מ‬of the present or the pronominal prefix-letter ‫ איתן‬of the future). This is sometimes slightly
disguised when initial ‫ ת‬transposes with a sibilant or dental letter as in ְ‫טֵר‬
ָ ‫צ‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ ,‫ּמן‬
ֵ ‫ּד‬
ַ ‫הְז‬
ִ ,‫ּמש‬
ֵ ‫ּת‬
ַ ‫ש‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ .
III. Present and future tenses: The Piʻel and Puʻal are furthermore identified by a ‫( שוא נע‬e) under
the prefix ‫ מ‬or ‫אית”ן‬. This is a nearly 100% criterion that remains when other signs have
been “eroded.”
IV. Vowel patterns (all tenses):
A. Piʻel: ‫ּטל‬ ֵ ‫ ִק‬in past, ‫ּטל‬
ֵ ‫ ַק‬in all other tenses.
1. ‫אר‬ ֵ ‫ּפ‬ֵ if √2 = ‫ר‬,‫א‬
B. Puʻal: ‫טל‬ ַ ‫( ֻק‬present: ‫ּטל‬ ָ ‫ )ֻק‬in all tenses.
1. ‫אר‬ ַ ‫ּפ‬ֹ if √2 = ‫ר‬,‫ע‬,‫ה‬,‫א‬
V. There is a sub-class of verbs of this class, called ‫עים‬ ִ ‫ּב‬
ָ ‫מֻר‬
ְ or “4-letter roots.” (Examples:
ִ ,‫ּתְרֵּגל‬
ִ ,‫ּבד‬ ֵ ‫ע‬
ְ ‫ׁש‬
ִ ,‫ּדק‬
ֵ ‫ּדְק‬
ִ .) Syllable structure is closely analogous to regular verbs: 1i2-3ē4 /
e e
X -1ă2-3ē4, 1ŭ2-3ă4 / X -1ŭ2-3ă4, Xit-1ă2-3ē4, except that the doubled √2 is replaced by the
consonant-pair √2-√3. As there is no dagesh ḥazak, there is no ‫ תשלום דגש‬in this form.
Further Observations on the Above Verb Forms
With these identification markers in mind, we can review the above forms and see how they shed
light on the problem of verb-form identification:
1. The dagesh ḥazak serves as a reliable marker of the Piʻel and Puʻal forms in Rows 1-4 of
the previous table. In Rows 5-6, this is lacking, but there is still the initial ‫ שוא נע‬that
helps identify these binyanim.
2. The ‫ּפ‬
ָ ‫ ִי‬pattern at the beginning of 3B-5B is a reliable marker of the Niphʻal future tense.
In line 6, the pattern ‫א‬ ָ ‫ ֵי‬is not quite so obvious but still reliable.
3. In all forms of Column E, the embedded yod and initial syllable-shape ‫פ‬ ְ ‫ה‬
ִ or ‫פ‬ְ ‫א‬
ַ are both
reliable indicators of the Hiphʻil.
4. In nearly all forms of Column F, the initial syllable-shapes ‫פ‬ ְ ‫א‬
ָ or ‫פ‬
ְ ‫א‬
ֻ are reliable indicators
of Hophʻal-Huphʻal. In 6F, the unusual configuration ‫א‬ ָ ‫( ָי‬both kametzim ketannim) is also
unique to the Hophʻal binyan.
5. Even though forms 6A, 6B, 6C and 6F differ only by a single vowel, still they have
markers that enable reliable identification of their respective binyanim.
We shall take this list of identifying features as a benchmark, and we shall see later how well these
identifying markers hold up while we add the “irregular” verb paradigms to these forms.
Welcome to the World of Irregular Verbs!
The World of Irregular Verbs
The verbs we have studied so far are clear, relatively well-behaved members of the kingdom of
regular Hebrew verbs (even those with gutterals in √1, √2, or √3). Each has a clearly
distinguishable 3-letter root, whose letters are generally present in all forms.
The verbs we are about to study next are of a different order. Some root letters change forms from
one conjugation to another (especially transforming ‫ ה‬into ‫ י‬, ‫ י‬into ‫)ו‬. Others are assimilated into
a dagesh ḥazak (especially initial ‫ נ‬or a doubled last letter) or into a long vowel (initial ‫ י‬or final
‫ )ה‬or disappear altogether (middle-position ‫ ו‬or ‫ י‬or doubled last letter).
As a result, a lot of these verb-forms will often behave as if they have 2-letter roots, and you will
have to rely on subtle cues to tell apart the forms of different binyanim and gezarot. With practice
you will hopefully learn the differences between:
Tense Root, ‫בנין‬ Form

Future 1s ‫ קל‬,‫ישב‬ ‫ׁשב‬
ֵ ‫א‬ֵ
Future 1s ‫ הפעיל‬,‫שוב‬ ‫ׁשיב‬

ִ ‫א‬ָ
Future 1s ‫ הפעיל‬,‫ישב‬ ‫ׁשיב‬

ִ ‫אֹו‬
Present sing. ‫ הפעיל‬,‫נשב‬ ‫ּׁשיב‬

ִ ‫מ‬ ַ
Future 3s ‫ קל‬,‫נגע‬ ‫ִיַּגע‬
Future 3s ‫ הפעיל‬,‫נגע‬ ַ ‫ַיִּגי‬

‫ע‬
Present sing ‫ נפעל‬,‫בון‬ ‫ָנבֹון‬
Present sing ‫ הפעיל‬,‫בון‬ ‫בין‬

ִ ‫מ‬
ֵ
Future 3 pl. ‫ קל‬,‫בנה‬ ‫בנּו‬

ְ ‫ִי‬
√1 Nun Verbs (‫)גזרת פ“נ‬
General Characteristics of ‫ פ“נ‬verbs
The outstanding characteristic of this family is that in forms where the would letter nun would be
vocalized with a sheva naḥ, the nun is assimilated into the next letter, which then receives a
dagesh ḥazak. This happens under the circumstances enumerated in the table below. Note that the
syllable structure remains basically the same as in the regular form, except that the doubling of √2
is substituted for √1 in all forms.
Hypothetical Actual ‫פ“נ‬ Change in Syllable

‫ בנין‬/ tense Regular Form
Form Form Structure
Kal Future ‫מר‬

ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫א‬ֶ ‫ּפל‬
ֹ ‫אְנ‬
ֶ ‫ּפל‬
ֹ ‫ ִי‬,‫ּפל‬
ֹ ‫א‬ֶ Xǝ̆1-2ō3 -> Xǝ̆2-2ō3
Kal Future √3 gutt. ‫מע‬

ַ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫א‬ֶ ‫אְנַּגע‬
ֶ ‫ ִיַּגע‬,‫אַּגע‬
ֶ Xǝ̆1-2ă3 -> Xǝ̆2-2ă3
Niphʻal past ‫מר‬

ַ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ִנ‬ ‫צל‬
ִ ‫ִנְנ‬ ‫ּצל‬
ַ ‫ ִנ‬,‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ּצ‬
ִ ‫ִנ‬ Nĭ1-2ă3 -> Nĭ2-2ă3
Niphʻal present ‫מר‬

ָ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ִנ‬ ‫צל‬
ָ ‫ִנְנ‬ ‫לת‬
ֶ ‫ּצ‬
ֶ ‫ ִנ‬,‫ּצל‬
ָ ‫ִנ‬ Nĭ1-2ā3 -> Nĭ2-2ā3
Hiphʻil past ‫ּתי‬

ִ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּב‬
ַ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ ‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫צ‬
ַ ‫הְנ‬
ִ ‫ּציל‬
ִ ‫ה‬
ִ ,‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ּצ‬
ַ ‫ה‬
ִ Hĭ1-2ă3-tǝ -> Hĭ2-2ă3-tǝ
Hĭ1-2īy3 -> Hĭ2-2īy3
Hiphʻil present ‫ּביׁש‬
ִ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫מ‬
ַ ‫צ יל‬
ִ ‫מְנ‬
ַ ‫ּציל‬
ִ ‫מ‬
ַ Mă1-2īy3 -> Mă2-2īy3
Hiphʻil future ‫ּביׁש‬

ִ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫א‬
ַ ‫צ יל‬
ִ ‫אְנ‬
ַ ‫ּציל‬
ִ ‫ ַי‬,‫ּציל‬
ִ ‫א‬
ַ Xă1-2īy3 -> Xă2-2īy3
Hophʻal past ‫ּבׁש‬

ַ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ָ ‫צל‬
ַ ‫הְנ‬
ֻ ‫ּצל‬
ַ ‫ה‬
ֻ ,‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ּצ‬
ַ ‫ה‬
ֻ Hŭ1-2ă3 -> Hŭ2-2ă3
Hophʻal present ‫ּבׁש‬

ָ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫מ‬
ָ ‫צל‬
ָ ‫מְנ‬
ֻ ‫ּצל‬
ָ ‫מ‬
ֻ Mŭ1-2ā3 -> Mŭ2-2ā3
Hophʻal future ‫ּבׁש‬

ַ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫א‬
ָ ‫צל‬
ַ ‫אְנ‬
ֻ ‫ּצל‬
ַ ‫ ֻי‬,‫ּצל‬
ַ ‫א‬
ֻ Xŭ1-2ă3 -> Xŭ2-2ă3
Note that the remainder of cases are regular, as the combination ‫ ְנ‬does not occur in them:
• Kal past and present: ‫ע‬ ַ ‫ נֹוֵג‬,‫ּתי‬ ִ ‫ע‬ ְ ‫ ָנַג‬,‫פל‬ ֵ ‫ נֹו‬,‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫פ‬
ַ ‫ָנ‬
• Niphʻal future: ‫צל‬ ֵ ‫ ִיָּנ‬,‫צל‬ ֵ ‫אָּנ‬ ֶ
• Piel all tenses: ‫ּצל‬
ֵ ‫ ְיַנ‬,‫צל‬ ֵ ‫מַנ‬ ְ ,‫ּצל‬ ֵ ‫ ִנ‬,‫ּתי‬ ִ ‫ל‬ְ ‫ּצ‬
ַ ‫ִנ‬
• Pual all tenses: ‫ּצל‬ ַ ‫ ְיֻנ‬,‫ּצל‬ ָ ‫מֻנ‬ ְ ,‫ּצל‬ ַ ‫ֻנ‬
• Hitpaʻel all tenses: ‫ּצל‬ ֵ ‫תַנ‬ ְ ‫ ִי‬,‫ּצל‬ֵ ‫תַנ‬ ְ ‫מ‬ ִ ,‫ּצל‬ ֵ ‫תַנ‬
ְ ‫ה‬ִ
Beware the ambiguity:
Note that the Niphʻal and Piʻel past tense forms for ‫ חסרי פ“נ‬are identical except for the 3rd
person masculine singular:
‫ּצלּו‬
ְ ‫ ִנ‬,‫ּתן‬
ֶ - ,‫ּתם‬
ֶ - ,‫לנּו‬
ְ ‫ּצ‬
ַ ‫ ִנ‬,‫לה‬
ָ ‫ּצ‬
ְ ‫ ִנ‬,‫ּת‬
ְ - ,‫ּת‬
ָ - ,‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ּצ‬
ַ ‫ ִנ‬but: ‫ּצל‬
ַ ‫ ִנ‬/ ‫ּצל‬
ֵ ‫ִנ‬. The etiology is different: in the
Niphʻal, the nun of the √1 is absorbed into the √2 and the nun of the Niphʻal is prefixed, whereas
in the Piʻel the nun of √1 is retained and the √2 is doubled as a sign of the Piel—but the result is
the same.
You will have to rely on context to tell which form is operative:
‫ּתי את ההזדמנות‬
ִ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ּצ‬
ַ ‫ — ִנ‬I exploited the opportunity (Piʻel)
‫ּתי מן האסון‬
ִ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ּצ‬
ַ ‫ —ִנ‬I was spared from the calamity (Niphʻal)
√1 Nun Verbs (‫“ )גזרת פ“נ‬Regular”
When ‫ פ“נ‬verbs keep the ‫נ‬
The assimilation of ‫ ְנ‬does not take place when √2 is a gutteral letter that cannot take a dagesh.
Examples:
Kal future: ‫הג‬

ַ ‫אְנ‬
ֶ
Niphʻal past and present: ‫ער‬ ַ ‫ִנְנ‬
Hiphʻil and Hophʻal: ‫חל‬ַ ‫הְנ‬
ָ ,‫חיל‬ ִ ‫מְנ‬
ַ ,‫חיל‬
ִ ‫הְנ‬
ִ
√1 Nun Verbs (‫ )גזרת פ“נ‬in Kal
Specific Paradigms of ‫ פ“נ‬Verbs in the Kal
The ‫ פ“נ‬verbs in Kal fall into the following classes:

• ‫על‬ ֹ ‫פ‬ ְ ‫א‬ ֶ basic (see Barkali ‫ח‬ ַ ‫ לּו‬line 22, Tarmon #32)
• ‫על‬ ַ ‫פ‬ ְ ‫א‬ ֶ basic (see Barkali ‫ח‬ ַ ‫ לּו‬line 23, Tarmon #33)
• ‫על‬ ַ ‫פ‬ ְ ‫א‬ ֶ with √3 gutteral (see Barkali ‫ח‬ ַ ‫ לּו‬lines 24-25, Tarmon #34)—‫ לקח‬uses this
paradigm, even though it has a different √1 letter
• √2 gutteral: these are “regular” (following the pattern of √2 gutteral Kal) because the ‫נ‬
cannot assimilate to a letter that cannot take a ‫( דגש חזק‬see Barkali ‫ח‬ ַ ‫ לּו‬line 26, Tarmon
#19)
Root / Line ‫נ‬

Other
Form Tense or Table in assimila REMARKS
changes
‫ֹלוח‬ tion
‫פל‬
ֵ ‫נֹו‬ present all no no regular
‫פל‬
ַ ‫ָנ‬ past all no no regular
‫ּפל‬
ֹ ‫ּת‬
ִ ,‫ּפל‬
ֹ ‫א‬
ֶ
future ‫נ פל‬ same as ‫מר‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫א‬ֶ except with nun assimilation
‫על‬
ֹ ‫פ‬
ְ ‫א‬
ֶ yes no
L22, #32
‫לי‬
ִ ‫פ‬
ְ ‫ ִנ‬.‫פל‬
ֹ ‫ְנ‬ imperative “ no no Nun is retained in imperative
(‫ּפל‬
ֹ ‫ל‬
ִ ) ‫ּפל‬
ֹ ‫לְנ‬
ִ infinitive “ no no Nun is retained in infinitive
‫ּׁשק‬
ַ ‫ּת‬ִ ,‫ּׁשק‬
ַ ‫א‬ ֶ
future ‫נ שק‬ same as ‫מד‬
ַ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫א‬
ֶ except with nun assimilation
‫על‬
ַ ‫פ‬
ְ ‫א‬
ֶ yes no
L23, #33
‫ׁשִקי‬
ְ ,‫ׁשק‬
ַ imperative “ partial no
Nun drops but there is no dagesh in √2 because
it comes at the beginning of the word.
‫ׁשק‬
ֹ ‫לְנ‬
ִ imperative “ no no Nun is retained in imperative (but see ‫ׁשת‬
ֶ ‫לֶג‬
ָ )
future ‫נסע‬ Transformation for √3 gutteral is same as for

‫ּסע‬
ַ ‫ּת‬
ִ ,‫ּסע‬
ַ ‫א‬
ֶ ‫על‬
ַ ‫פ‬
ְ ‫א‬
ֶ L24-25, yes no regular ‫על‬
ַ ‫פ‬
ְ ‫א‬
ֶ
√3 gutteral #34
‫נסע‬
‫עי‬
ִ ‫ס‬
ְ ,‫סע‬
ַ imperative L24-25, partial no
Nun drops but there is no dagesh in √2 because
it comes at the beginning of the word.
#34
There are two forms for the infinitive in certain

common irregular verbs. In the more regular
‫פתח‬ form ‫ע‬ ַ ‫ס‬
ֹ ‫לְנ‬
ִ there is retention of the nun and the
,‫ע‬
ַ ‫ס‬ֹ ‫לְנ‬
ִ no / ‫גנובה‬/ final gutteral takes a ‫פתח גנובה‬. The more
infinitive “ idiomatic ‫עת‬ ַ ‫ט‬ַ ‫ל‬
ָ behaves like a 2-letter root: the
‫עת‬ ַ ‫ס‬ַ ‫ל‬ ָ partial suffix -‫ת‬
nun disappears without a trace (no dagesh in √2)
and the suffix -‫ ת‬is added. Compare ,‫עת‬ ַ ‫ט‬
ַ ‫ל‬
ָ
‫ׁשת‬
ֶ ‫לֶג‬
ָ ,‫חת‬ ַ ‫לַק‬
ָ , and also infinitives of ‫חסרי פ“י‬.
Note that when √2 is a gutteral letter

,‫הג‬ַ ‫אְנ‬ ֶ future,
Same as
(‫ר‬,‫ע‬,‫ח‬,‫ה‬,‫)א‬, assimilation does not take place
,!‫ ְנהַג‬,‫הג‬ ַ ‫ ִיְנ‬imperative, ‫נהג‬ √2
(for the gutteral letter cannot take a dagesh).
no gutterals:
L 26
‫הג‬
ֹ ‫לְנ‬ִ infinitive ‫הִגי‬
ֲ ‫ּתְנ‬
ִ etc.
The verb is conjugated according to the
“regular” paradigm for √2 gutterals.
Irregular Verbs of the √1 Nun Paradigm (‫)גזרת פ“נ‬
• The verb ‫ ִנַּגׁש‬is conjugated as a ‫ פ“נ‬Niphʻal in the present and past tenses, and as a ‫ פ“נ‬Kal
‫על‬
ַ ‫פ‬
ְ ‫א‬
ֶ verb in the future, imperative and infinitive. (See Barkali line 60, Tarmon #61.)
• The verb ‫ נתן‬is doubly irregular in that there is assimilation of the first nun in the future,
and of the final nun in the past tense, as well as other changes.
Root / Line
‫ נ‬assimilation Other
Form Tense or Table in REMARKS
changes
‫ֹלוח‬
,‫ּקח‬ַ ‫ ִי‬,‫ּקח‬ ַ ‫א‬

ֶ Note how the verb ‫ לקח‬follows the
‫ פ“נ‬paradigm in the Kal future,
,‫חי‬
ִ ‫ ְק‬,‫ַקח‬ ‫לקח‬ yes (‫)ל‬
imperative and infinitive, with the ‫ל‬
‫חת‬ ַ ‫לַק‬
ָ being assimilated as if it were a ‫נ‬.
The verb ‫ נגש‬adopts the Niphʻal

‫ ִנַּגׁש‬,‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ִנַּג‬ ‫נגש‬ form in the past and present, and
past yes no
L60, #61 the Kal form in the future.
The present tense proves that ‫ נגש‬is
‫ׁשת‬
ֶ ‫ ִנֶּג‬,‫ִנָּּגׁש‬ present “ yes no behaving like a Niphʻal, not like a
Piʻel verb.
‫ּתַּּגׁש‬
ִ ,‫אַּגׁש‬
ֶ future “ yes no Behaving like a standard ‫על‬
ַ ‫פ‬
ְ ‫א‬
ֶ .
Like ‫על‬
ַ ‫פ‬
ְ ‫א‬
ֶ ‫ פ“נ‬verbs, ‫ נגש‬drops
‫ׁשי‬
ִ ‫ ְּג‬,‫ַּגׁש‬ imperative “ partial no the nun in the imperative.
See notes on ‫עת‬
ַ ‫ס‬
ַ ‫ל‬
ָ ,‫ע‬
ַ ‫ס‬
ֹ ‫לְנ‬
ִ above.
‫ׁשת‬
ֶ ‫לֶג‬
ָ infinitive “ partial no
,‫תן‬
ַ ‫ ָנ‬,‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫ת‬
ַ ‫ָנ‬ The √3 ‫ נ‬is assimilated to the
‫נגש‬ yes (except pronoun suffix in 1st and 2nd
past no
‫תָנה‬ְ ‫ָנ‬ L61, #58 3rd) persons of the past tense.
The √3 ‫ נ‬and the ‫ נ‬of the 1st-person
plural pronominal suffix -‫ נו‬are
‫תּנּו‬
ַ ‫ָנ‬ past 1 pl. “ yes no merged here, as in other ‫ ל“נ‬verbs
(‫מּנּו‬
ַ ‫ט‬
ָ , etc.)
,‫תן‬
ֵ ‫נֹו‬ ‫ נתן‬is regular in the present tense.
present “ no no
‫תֶנת‬
ֶ ‫נֹו‬
The √1 ‫ נ‬is assimilated into the √2
‫ ת‬in the future. The vowel of √2 is
‫ציֶרה‬ֵ which is different from the
‫ּתן‬
ֵ ‫ּת‬
ִ ,‫ּתן‬
ֵ ‫א‬
ֶ future “ yes no more “regular” ‫על פ“נ‬ ֹ ‫פ‬
ְ ‫א‬
ֶ and
‫על‬
ַ ‫פ‬
ְ ‫א‬ֶ forms shown above (and
actually reminiscent of the ‫פ“י‬
future form).
‫ּתָּנה‬
ֵ ‫ּת‬
ִ future 2-3 f. pl. “ yes no
There is double assimilation of √1
and √3 nuns.
,‫ּתִני‬
ְ ,‫ּתן‬
ֵ The initial nun disappears but there
imperative “ partial no is no compensating dagesh (as we
‫ּתָּנה‬
ֵ ,‫ּתנּו‬
ְ saw in the ‫על פ“נ‬ַ ‫פ‬
ְ ‫א‬
ֶ forms above).
See notes on ‫עת‬

ַ ‫ס‬
ַ ‫ל‬
ָ ,‫ע‬
ַ ‫ס‬
ֹ ‫לְנ‬
ִ above.
‫תת‬
ֵ ‫ל‬
ָ infinitive “ partial no
√1 Nun Verbs (‫ )גזרת פ“נ‬in Niph‘al
Specific Paradigms of ‫ פ“נ‬Verbs in the Niph’al
The ‫ פ“נ‬verbs in Niphʻal fall into the following classes:

• Basic ‫( פ“נ‬see Barkali Line 15, Tarmon #81)
• ‫ פ“נ‬with √3 gutteral (see Barkali Line 16)
• ‫“ פ“נ‬Regular” with √2 gutteral (see Barkali Line 17)

Other
changes
‫ֹלוח‬ tion
Contraction from hypothetical form: ‫ּתי‬ ִ ‫פ‬

ְ ‫ִנְנַּג‬
‫ ִנַּגף‬,‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫פ‬
ְ ‫ִנַּג‬ ‫נגף‬ The ‫ ְנ‬is assimilated into √2, represented by
past yes no the ‫דגש חזק‬. Looks like a Piʻel except the
L15
3rd person singular masculine form.
‫פת‬
ֶ ‫ ִנֶּג‬,‫ִנָּגף‬ present “ yes no Same pattern as past tense.
Future is regular; there is no assimilation as
‫אָּנֵגף‬
ֶ future “ no no the ‫ נ‬is “protected” with its own vowel
‫הָּנֵגף‬
ִ imperative “ no no Imperative is regular for same reason.
‫הָּנִגף‬
ִ ‫ל‬
ֶ infinitive “ no no Infinitive is regular for same reason.
‫נטע‬
‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫ע‬
ְ ‫ּט‬
ַ ‫ִנ‬ past yes no Same pattern as ‫ִנַּגף‬
L16
This variant common to all past-tense ‫ּת‬
ְ ‫א‬
ִ
ְ ‫ע‬
‫ּת‬ַ ‫ּט‬
ַ ‫ִנ‬ past 2 fs. “ yes yes forms with √3 ‫ּה‬,‫ח‬,‫ע‬.
This variant common to all present-tense ‫ּת‬

ְ ‫א‬
ִ
‫עת‬
ַ ‫ּט‬
ַ ‫ִנ‬ present fs. “ yes yes forms with √3 ‫ּה‬,‫ח‬,‫ע‬.
‫חטף‬
,‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫עְר‬ַ ‫ִנְנ‬ ‫פתח‬
(‫ר‬,‫ע‬,‫ח‬,‫ה‬,‫)א‬, assimilation does not take place
,‫ער‬ַ ‫ִנְנ‬ past and ‫נער‬ replaces
(for the gutteral letter cannot take a dagesh).
no ‫שוא נע‬:
present L 17
‫ער‬ָ ‫ִנְנ‬ see The verb is conjugated according to the
‫עָרה‬
ֲ ‫ִנְנ‬ “regular” paradigm for √2 gutterals.
√1 Nun Verbs (‫ )גזרת פ“נ‬in Hiph‘il
Specific Paradigms of ‫ פ“נ‬Verbs in the Hiph‘il
The ‫ פ“נ‬verbs in Hiphʻil fall into the following classes:

• ‫ פ“נ‬with √3 gutteral (see Barkali Line 14, Tarmon #200)
• ‫ פ“נ‬with √3 ‫( א‬Tarmon #199)
• ‫ פ“נ‬with √3 ‫( ה‬Tarmon #201)

assimila Other
‫ֹלוח‬ tion changes
Contraction from hypothetical form: ‫ּפיל‬ ִ ‫הְנ‬

ִ .
,‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ּפ‬
ַ ‫ה‬ִ ‫נ פל‬
past yes no The ‫ ְנ‬is assimilated into √2, represented by
‫פיל‬ִ ‫ה‬ִ L13, #198 the ‫דגש חזק‬.
‫ּפיל‬
ִ ‫מ‬
ַ present “ yes no Contraction from hypothetical form: ‫ּפיל‬
ִ ‫מְנ‬
ַ .
‫ּפיל‬
ִ ‫ ַי‬,‫ּפיל‬
ִ ‫א‬
ֵ future “ yes no Contraction from hypothetical form: ‫ּפיל‬
ִ ‫אְנ‬
ַ .
‫לי‬
ִ ‫ּפי‬
ִ ‫ה‬
ַ ,‫ּפל‬
ֵ ‫ה‬
ַ imperative “ yes no Contraction from hypothetical form: ‫ּפל‬
ֵ ‫הְנ‬
ִ .
‫ּפיל‬
ִ ‫ה‬
ַ ‫ל‬
ְ infinitive “ yes no Contraction from hypothetical form: ‫ּפיל‬
ִ ‫הְנ‬
ַ ‫ל‬
ְ
Contraction from hypothetical form:

‫לה‬
ָ ‫ּפ‬
ָ ‫ה‬
ַ verbal
“ yes no ‫לה‬
ָ ‫פ‬
ָּ ‫הְנ‬
ִ .
noun
‫נסע‬ ‫ פתח גנובה‬where √3 ‫ּה‬,‫ע‬,‫ ח‬has no suffix,
ַ ‫ּסי‬
‫ע‬ ִ ‫ה‬
ִ past, √3
yes yes as in past tense 3 ms.
gutteral L14, #200
‫ פתח גנובה‬where √3 ‫ּה‬,‫ע‬,‫ ח‬has no suffix,
ַ ‫ּסי‬
‫ע‬ ִ ‫מ‬
ַ present “ yes yes as in present ms.
,‫ע‬
ַ ‫ּסי‬
ִ ‫ ַי‬,‫ע‬ַ ‫ּסי‬
ִ ‫א‬
ַ future, ‫ פתח גנובה‬where √3 ‫ּה‬,‫ע‬,‫ ח‬has no suffix,
“ yes yes
ַ ‫ּסי‬
‫ע‬ ִ ‫ה‬
ַ ‫ל‬ְ infinitive as in most future-tense forms and infinitive
This variant common to all past-tense ‫ּת‬

ְ ‫א‬
ִ
ְ ‫ע‬
‫ּת‬ַ ‫ּס‬
ַ ‫ה‬
ִ past 2 fs. “ yes yes forms with √3 ‫ּה‬,‫ח‬,‫ע‬.
This variant common to all present-tense ‫ּת‬

ְ ‫א‬
ִ
‫עת‬
ַ ‫ּס‬
ַ ‫מ‬
ַ present fs. “ yes yes forms with √3 ‫ּה‬,‫ח‬,‫ע‬.
√1 Nun Verbs (‫ )גזרת פ“נ‬in Hiph‘il—With Other Irregularities

Other
changes
‫ֹלוח‬ tion

,‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫הְג‬ַ ‫הְנ‬ִ (‫ר‬,‫ע‬,‫ח‬,‫ה‬,‫)א‬, assimilation does not take
,‫היג‬ִ ‫מְנ‬ַ √2 gutteral ‫נהג‬ place (for the gutteral letter cannot take a
no no
“Regular” L 15
‫היג‬ִ ‫ַיְנ‬ dagesh). The verb is conjugated according
to the “regular” paradigm.
,‫תי‬
ִ ‫ּׂשא‬
ֵ ‫ה‬ ִ Note characteristic vowel changes for ‫ל“א‬:
past, √3 ‫א‬ ‫נׂשא‬ tzeireh and omission of dagesh kal for
yes yes
ָ ‫ּׂשא‬
‫ת‬ ֵ ‫ה‬ִ T #199 pronominal suffix.
,‫ּׂשאָנה‬
ֶ ‫ּת‬ַ future and Note characteristic vowel changes for ‫ל“א‬:
imperative T #199 yes yes tzeireh becomes segol in 2-3 feminine
‫ּׂשאָנה‬
ֶ ‫ה‬ַ 2-3 fpl. plural in future and imperative.
,‫תי‬
ִ ‫ּכי‬ ֵ ‫ה‬ ִ
Note characteristic vowel changes for ‫ל“ה‬
,‫ּכה‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ִ past √3 ‫ה‬ ‫נכה‬ (these will be detailed in a later unit).
yes yes
,‫תה‬ ָ ‫ּכ‬ ְ ‫ה‬ ִ T #201 These override the characteristic embedded
yod of the Hiphʻil.
‫הּכּו‬ִ
present
‫ּכה‬
ָ ‫מ‬ַ ,‫ּכה‬
ֶ ‫מ‬ַ √3 ‫ה‬ “ yes yes Note characteristic vowel changes for ‫ל“ה‬
future
‫ּכה‬
ֶ ‫ּת‬
ַ ,‫ּכה‬
ֶ ‫א‬ַ √3 ‫ה‬ “ yes yes Note characteristic vowel changes for ‫ל“ה‬
,‫ּכי‬
ִ ‫ה‬ַ ,‫ּכה‬ ֵ ‫ה‬
ַ
imperative
,‫הּכּו‬ַ √3 ‫ה‬ “ yes yes Note characteristic vowel changes for ‫ל“ה‬
‫ּכיָנה‬ ֶ ‫ה‬ַ
infinitive
‫הּכֹות‬
ַ ‫ל‬
ְ √3 ‫ה‬ “ yes yes Note characteristic vowel changes for ‫ל“ה‬
√1 Nun Verbs (‫ )גזרת פ“נ‬in Hoph‘al
Specific Paradigms of ‫ פ“נ‬Verbs in the Hoph‘al
The ‫ פ“נ‬verbs in Hophʻal fall into the following classes:

• ‫ פ“נ‬with √3 gutteral (see Barkali Line 14, Tarmon #200)
• ‫ פ“נ‬with √3 ‫( א‬Tarmon #199)
• ‫ פ“נ‬with √3 ‫( ה‬Tarmon #201)

assimila Other
changes
‫ֹלוח‬ tion
,‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫ל‬ְ ‫ּפ‬ַ ‫ה‬
ֻ ‫נ פל‬
past yes no ‫ּפל‬
ַ ‫הְנ‬
ֻ . The ‫ ְנ‬is assimilated into √2,
‫ּפל‬
ַ ‫ה‬ֻ L13, #198 represented by the ‫דגש חזק‬.

‫ּפל‬
ָ ‫מ‬
ֻ present “ yes no ‫ּפל‬
ַ ‫מְנ‬
ֻ .

‫ּפל‬
ַ ‫ ֻי‬,‫ּפל‬
ַ ‫א‬
ֻ future “ yes no ‫ּפל‬
ַ ‫אְנ‬
ֻ .
‫נסע‬
ַ ‫ּס‬
‫ע‬ ַ ‫ה‬
ֻ past, √3
yes yes No irregularities except ‫ּת‬
ְ ‫ע‬
ַ ‫ּס‬
ַ ‫ה‬
ֻ .
gutteral L14, #200
‫ּסע‬
ָ ‫מ‬
ֻ present “ yes yes No irregularities except ‫עת‬
ַ ‫ּס‬
ַ ‫מ‬
ֻ .
‫ּסע‬
ַ ‫ ֻי‬,‫ּסע‬
ַ ‫א‬
ֻ future “ yes yes
‫חטף פתח‬ (‫ר‬,‫ע‬,‫ח‬,‫ה‬,‫)א‬, assimilation does not take
,‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫ל‬ְ ‫ח‬
ַ ‫הְנ‬
ָ all tenses ‫נחל‬ replaces ‫שוא‬ place (for the gutteral letter cannot take
no ‫נע‬: see
‫ ָיְנחַל‬,‫חל‬ָ ‫מְנ‬
ָ √2 gutteral L 13 a dagesh). The verb is conjugated
‫לה‬
ָ ‫ח‬
ֲ ‫הְנ‬
ָ according to the “regular” paradigm for
√2 gutterals.
√1 Yod Verbs (‫)גזרת פ“י‬
General Characteristics of ‫ פ“י‬verbs
The presence of a yod in √1 position may have a number of different significances, and may be
treated differently in different circumstances. As with the ‫ פ“נ‬configuration, this is a situation that
raises problems in some contexts and not others. Specifically, the Piʻel, Puʻal, Hitpaʻel binyanim
treat this situation regularly, while in the Kal (future, imperative, infinitive), Niph’al, Hiphʻil and
Hophʻal one must be prepared for deviations. But here the similarity ends.
The treatment of ‫ פ“י‬verbs in the Kal future and imperative is not uniform but follows three
different paradigms:
1. In eight verbs (termed ‫)חסרי פ“י‬, the yod is dropped, and we find a new vowel pattern
following the paradigm of ‫ׁשב‬
ֵ ‫ ֵי‬,‫ׁשב‬
ֵ ‫א‬ֵ (or ‫אַדע‬ֵ if √2 or √3 is gutteral). These verbs are:
‫ יקע‬,‫ יחד‬,‫ ידע‬,‫ ישב‬,‫ ירד‬,‫ יצא‬,(‫ ילך )הלך‬,‫( ילד‬see HGG “More” p. 29).
2. In certain ‫ פ“י‬verbs with √2 ‫( צ‬or ‫ )ז‬the Kal future (as well as Niphʻal, Hiphʻil and
Hophʻal) conjugation resembles ‫פ“נ‬. These verbs include ‫ יזע‬,‫ יצת‬,‫ יצק‬,‫ יצע‬,‫ יצג‬,‫יצב‬.
The verb ‫ יצר‬sometimes uses this paradigm and sometimes the next one.
3. The remainder of ‫ פ“י‬verbs are termed ‫ נחי פ“י‬i.e. “√1 yod which rests [remains but is
silent].” These follow the paradigm ‫סד‬ ַ ‫אי‬
ִ .
In the Niphʻal and Hiphʻil-Hophʻal the √1 ‫ י‬of Paradigms 1 and 3 is transformed into a ‫( ו‬which
historical grammarians hypothesize may have been its original form). This ‫ ו‬presents usually in
the form of a vowel (as in the forms ‫ הּוַרד‬,‫ הֹוִריד‬,‫סד‬
ַ ‫ )נֹו‬but sometimes as a consonant (especially
in the Niphʻal future ‫סד‬
ֵ ‫אָּו‬
ִ ).
Syllable Structure Changes in ‫ פ“י‬verbs
Unlike the case of ‫ פ“נ‬verbs, the presence of a yod in √1 position occasions a major and not just
cosmetic change in the syllable structure of many forms. This is because of the ambiguous status
of the yod as vowel as well as consonant. Whether the yod remains and behaves as a vowel, or is
transformed into its sister-vowel-consonant vav, or disappears altogether, the 3-consonant root is
liable to lose one of its consonants, thus changing the architecture of the verb-form altogether.
Most prominently, whenever a form such as Kal future-tense is counting on the √1-consonant to
form part of a closed syllable, this assumption is undermined. Instead of a short, closed syllable,
what we are most likely to get is either an open long syllable with the persevering yod as part of
the long vowel (as in ‫סד‬ ַ ‫אי‬
ִ ), or else an open long syllable that makes do with the absence of the
yod (as in ‫ׁשב‬
ֵ ‫א‬
ֵ ).
As the Niphʻal (past-and-present) and Hiphʻil and Huphʻal (all forms) are structured similarly to
the Kal future-tense, similar changes occur in these forms as well. The initial closed syllable gives
way to the open-long syllable ‫ נֹו‬in Niphʻal, ‫ הֹו‬in Hiphʻil, and ‫ הּו‬in Huphʻal. Each of these co-
opts the √1 yod of the root, transformed into a vav. These all become signatures of the ‫ פ“י‬form in
these respective binyanim.
The future tense of the Niphʻal presents a rather different phenomenon. Here the √1 root-letter
yod is transformed into a vav but (apparently under pressure to undergo doubling, to absorb the
nun of the Niphʻal) assumes the form of a consonant rather than a vowel. Once this change is
accomplished, the regular Niphʻal future-tense rules apply.
Table of Syllable Structure Changes in ‫ פ“י‬verbs
Change in
‫ בנין‬/ tense Regular Hypoth. Actual ‫פ“י‬ Change in Syllable
Form Syllable
Form Form Parsing
Structure
Kal Future ‫מר‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫א‬ֶ ‫ׁשב אישב‬
ֵ ‫א‬ֵ CS-CL -> OL-CL Xǝ̆1-2ō3 -> Xē-2ē3
Kal Future √3 ‫מע‬

ַ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫א‬ֶ ‫אידע‬ ‫ ֵיַדע‬,‫אַדע‬
ֵ CS-CS -> OL-CS Xǝ̆1-2ă3 -> Xē-2ă3
gutt.
Kal Future ‫מד‬
ַ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫א‬
ֶ ‫סד‬ ִ ‫סד‬
ַ ‫אְי‬ ַ ‫ ִיי‬,‫סד‬
ַ ‫אי‬
ִ CS-CS -> OL-CS Xǝ̆1-2ō3 -> Xī(y)-2ă3
Kal Future √3 ‫מע‬

ַ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫א‬ֶ ‫אְיַגע‬
ִ ‫ ִייַגע‬,‫איַגע‬
ִ CS-CS -> OL-CS Xǝ̆1-2ă3 -> Xī(y)-2ă3
gutt.
Niphʻal past ‫מר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ִנ‬ ‫ניסד‬ ‫סד‬
ַ ‫נֹו‬ CS-CS -> OL-CS Nĭ1-2ă3 -> Nō(w)-2ă3
Niphʻal present ‫מר‬

ָ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ִנ‬ ‫ניסד‬ ‫סד‬
ָ ‫נֹו‬ CS-CL -> OL-CL Nĭ1-2ā3 -> Nō(w)-2ā3
‫סד‬
ֵ ‫אָּו‬
ִ
Niphʻal future ‫מר‬
ֵ ‫ּׁש‬
ָ ‫ִי‬ ‫ייסד‬ CS-OL-CL Xĭ1-1ā-2ē3
‫סד‬
ֵ ‫ִיָּו‬ (unchanged) (unchanged)
‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫הֹוַרְד‬
ִ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּב‬
ַ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ ‫היריד‬ CS-CL -> OL-CL
Hĭ1-2ă3-tǝ -> Hō(w)-2ă3-tǝ
‫הֹוִריד‬ Hĭ1-2īy3 -> Hō(w)-2īy3
‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫ב‬
ְ ‫ט‬ַ ‫הי‬ֵ
ִ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּב‬
ַ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ ‫היטיב‬ CS-CL -> OL-CL
Hĭ1-2ă3-tǝ -> Hē(y)-2ă3-tǝ
‫טיב‬
ִ ‫הי‬ֵ Hĭ1-2īy3 -> Hē(y)-2īy3
Hiphʻil present- ‫ּביׁש‬

ִ ‫ל‬ְ ‫מ‬ַ ‫מיריד‬ ‫מֹוִריד‬
CS-CL -> OL-CL Xă1-2īy3 -> Xō(w)-2īy3
future ‫ּביׁש‬
ִ ‫ל‬ְ ‫א‬ ַ ‫איריד‬ ‫אֹוִריד‬
Hiphʻil present- ‫ּביׁש‬

ִ ‫ל‬ְ ‫מ‬ַ ‫מיטיב‬ ‫טיב‬
ִ ‫מי‬ֵ
CS-CL -> OL-CL Xă1-2īy3 -> Xē(y)-2īy3
future ‫ּביׁש‬
ִ ‫ל‬ְ ‫א‬ ַ ‫איטיב‬ ‫טיב‬ִ ‫אי‬ ֵ
‫הירד‬
ֻ ‫הּוַרד‬
Hophʻal past ‫ּבׁש‬
ַ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ָ CS-CS -> OL-CS Hŭ1-2ă3 -> Hū(w)-2ă3
‫היטב‬ ֻ ‫טב‬
ַ ‫הּו‬
Hophʻal present ‫ּבׁש‬

ָ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫מ‬
ָ ‫מירד‬
ֻ ‫מּוָרד‬ CS-CL -> OL-CL Mŭ1-2ā3 -> Mū(w)-2ā3
Hophʻal future ‫ּבׁש‬

ַ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫א‬
ָ ‫אירד‬
ֻ ‫טב‬
ַ ‫ יּו‬,‫אּוַרד‬ CS-CS -> OL-CS Xŭ1-2ă3 -> Xū(w)-2ă3
√1 Yod Verbs (‫ )גזרת פ“י‬in Kal
‫ בנין‬/ tense Regular Form ‫ פ“י‬Form Remarks

Kal ‫ חסרי פ“י‬future ‫מר‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫א‬ֶ ‫ׁשב‬
ֵ ‫א‬ֵ Yod disappears in future for verbs
of this sub-class
Verb ‫ הלך‬exhibits traits of root
Kal ‫הלך = ילך‬ ְ‫ל‬
ֵ ‫ ֵי‬,ְ‫ל‬
ֵ ‫א‬
ֵ ‫ ילך‬in Kal future (and also in
Hiphʻil: ‫ליך‬ִ ‫ יֹו‬,ְ‫לי‬
ִ ‫ מֹו‬,ְ‫לי‬
ִ ‫)הֹו‬
Kal ‫חסרי פ“י‬

‫ל‘ גרונית‬
‫מע‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫א‬ֶ ‫ ֵיַדע‬,‫אַדע‬
ֵ Same as prior except that √3
gutteral attracts pataḥ
!‫מר‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ !‫לְ! ַדע‬
ֵ !‫שב‬
ֵ In imperatives of ‫ חסרי פ“י‬the yod
Imperatives is dropped in the imperative also.
Kal ‫פ“י ע“צ‬ ‫ּפל‬

ֹ ‫ ִי‬,‫ּפל‬
ֹ ‫א‬ֶ ‫ּצק‬
ֹ ‫ ִי‬,‫ּצק‬
ֹ ‫א‬
ֶ Yod is assimilated into tzade
similarly to nun
In imperatives of *‫ יצ‬verbs the yod
Kal ‫ פ“י ע“צ‬imperative !‫פ ל‬
ֹ ‫ְנ‬ !‫צ ק‬
ֹ ‫ְי‬ is treated the same as the
corresponding nun would be.
,‫כת‬ֶ ‫ל‬
ֶ ‫ל‬
ָ ,‫בת‬ ֶ ‫ׁש‬
ֶ ‫ל‬
ָ
Kal ‫חסרי פ“י‬ ַ ‫מ‬
‫ע‬ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ל‬ִ ,‫מר‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ל‬ִ ,(‫חת‬
ַ ‫לַק‬ ָ ) ,‫עת‬ ַ ‫לַד‬ָ Yod is dropped and -‫ ת‬suffix is
Infinitives added.
‫צֶקת‬ֶ ‫ל‬
ָ
Yod is retained; vowel of
Kal ‫נחי פ“י‬ ‫ּכב‬
ַ ‫ ִיְר‬,‫ּכב‬
ַ ‫אְר‬
ֶ ‫סד‬
ַ ‫ ִיי‬,‫סד‬
ַ ‫אי‬
ִ pronominal prefix accommodates
to yod by becoming ḥirik gadol
Kal ‫נחי פ“י‬
‫ל‘ גרונית‬
‫מע‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ ִי‬,‫מע‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫א‬ֶ ‫ ִייַגע‬,‫איַגע‬
ִ Same as non-gutteral form
Yod is retained and vowel of ‫ל‬-

Kal ‫נחי פ“י‬ ַ ‫ליֹג‬
‫ע‬ ִ ,‫סד‬
ֹ ‫לי‬
ִ
‫מר‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ל‬ִ prefix accommodates to yod by
Infinitives
becoming ḥirik gadol.
√1 Yod Verbs (‫ )גזרת פ“י‬in Niph‘al
Niphʻal past, present ‫מר‬

ָ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ ִנ‬,‫מר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ִנ‬ ‫סד‬
ָ ‫ נֹו‬,‫סד‬
ַ ‫נֹו‬ Yod becomes vav; in present and past, is
expressed as ḥolam malē
Yod becomes vav; in future is expressed as
ֵ ‫ּׁש‬
ָ ‫ ַי‬,‫מר‬
ֵ ‫ּׁש‬
ָ ‫א‬ ֶ ‫סד‬
ֵ ‫ ִיָּו‬,‫סד‬
ֵ ‫אָּו‬
ִ consonant; vocalization is like a regular Niph’al
future-tense form
In √2 ‫ צ‬verbs the conjugation follows the ‫פ“נ‬
Niphʻal *‫יצ‬ ‫מר‬
ָ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ִנ‬ ‫ּצב‬
ָ ‫ִנ‬
pattern.
√1 Yod Verbs (‫ )גזרת פ“י‬in Hiph‘il: Basic

Yod becomes vav; is expressed as
Hiphʻil ‫חסרי פ“י‬ ‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּב‬ַ ‫ל‬ְ ‫ה‬ִ
‫ הֹוִריד‬,‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫הֹוַרְד‬ ḥolam malē in all Hiphʻil forms
past ‫ּביׁש‬
ִ ‫ל‬ְ ‫ה‬ִ except for the pattern ‫( נחי פ“י‬see
below)
Note how the ‫ פ“י‬pattern resembles
the regular Hiphʻil from √2 to the end
Hiphʻil ‫חסרי פ“י‬
‫ּביׁש‬
ִ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫מ‬
ַ ‫מֹוִריד‬ of the word, while the first syllable
present (incorporating the prefix and the ‫ו‬
standing in for the ‫ )י‬is dramatically
different.
Hiphʻil ‫חסרי פ“י‬ ‫ יֹוִריד‬,‫אֹוִריד‬
‫ּביׁש‬
ִ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫א‬
ַ Same as previous.
future
The √3 gutteral form differs primarily
‫—ל‘ גרונית‬past
ַ ‫ הֹוִדי‬,‫ּתי‬
‫ע‬ ִ ‫ע‬
ְ ‫הֹוַד‬ in using the ‫ פתח גנובה‬wherever
there is no suffix after the √3 letter.
‫—ל‘ גרונית‬present & future
ַ ‫ יֹוִדי‬,‫ע‬
‫ע‬ ַ ‫ אֹוִדי‬,‫ע‬
ַ ‫מֹוִדי‬ “
√1 Yod Verbs (‫ )גזרת פ“י‬in Hiph‘il: Advanced

In √2 ‫ צ‬verbs the conjugation follows the ‫פ“נ‬
,‫ּציל‬
ִ ‫מ‬
ַ ,‫ּציל‬ִ ‫ה‬
ִ ,‫ּציב‬
ִ ‫מ‬
ַ ,‫ּציב‬ִ ‫ה‬
ִ pattern. Note that the future tense Hiphʻil ‫ּציב‬
ִ ‫ ַי‬is
Hiphʻil *‫יצ‬
‫ּציל‬
ִ ‫ַי‬ ‫ּציב‬
ִ ‫ֵי‬ homophonic with an adjective of the same root
(compare ‫ּציב‬
ִ ‫ ַי‬with ‫ּמיץ‬
ִ ‫א‬
ַ ).
The doubly-irregular ‫ פ“י ל“ה‬is so dramatically

different in both the beginning and end of the word
that it constitutes its own unique form. Obliteration
of the embedded ‫ י‬between √2 and √3 is the most
,‫תי‬ִ ‫הֹוֵרי‬
Hiphʻil ‫חסרי פ“י‬ ‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּב‬ַ ‫ל‬ְ ‫ה‬ִ radical change here. It resembles the regular
,‫הֹוָרה‬ Hiphʻil only in its broad phonetic structure:
‫—ל“ה‬past ‫ּביׁש‬
ִ ‫ל‬ְ ‫ה‬ִ
‫ הֹוָדה‬,‫תי‬ִ ‫הֹוֵדי‬ • Syllable 1: prefix + √1
• Syllable 2: √2 + √3
• no ‫דגשים חזקים‬
• suffixes in selected forms
Only Hiphʻil and Hophʻal exhibit this structure.
The present-tense Hiphʻil ‫ פ“י ל“ה‬looks
Hiphʻil ‫חסרי פ“י‬ ,‫ מֹוָרה‬,‫מֹוֶרה‬
‫ּביׁש‬
ִ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫מ‬
ַ deceptively like a Kal present tense (such as
‫—ל“ה‬present ‫ מֹוָדה‬,‫מֹוֶדה‬ ‫חה‬ֶ ‫)מֹו‬, only here the initial ‫ מ‬is the present-tense
prefix, not the √1 root letter.
All the suffix transformations regularly follow the
‫—ל“ה‬future
‫ּביׁש‬
ִ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫א‬
ַ ‫ יֹוֶדה‬,‫אֹוֶדה‬ ‫ ל“ה‬transformations (which will be detailed in the
‫ ל“ה‬unit below).
As strange as these forms appear, they follow

Hiphʻil ‫חסרי פ“י‬ ,‫ הֹוִדי‬,‫הֹוֵדה‬ logically from combining two sets of
‫ּבׁש‬
ֵ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ַ
‫—ל“ה‬future ‫ הֹוֶדיָנה‬,‫הֹודּו‬ transformations: the ‫פ“ו‬-‫ פ“י‬at the beginning of the
word, and the ‫ ל“ה‬ending forms in the latter part.
In some parts of the verb, only the √2 letter remains

Infinitive ‫ּביׁש‬
ִ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ַ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫להֹודֹות‬
ְ intact (here, ‫)ד‬.
In the “regular” form of the verbal noun, the √3 ‫י‬/‫ה‬

Verbal noun ‫ׁשה‬
ָ ‫ּב‬
ָ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ַ ‫ ּתֹוָדה‬,‫אה‬
ָ ‫ הֹוָד‬can be transformed into an ‫( א‬but see also ‫)הֹוָדָיה‬.
Compare: ‫ ּתֹוָרה‬,‫אה‬
ָ ‫הֹוָר‬.
,‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫ב‬ְ ‫ט‬ ַ ‫הי‬ ֵ In ‫ נחי פ”י‬the yod remains and the initial vowel
,‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫ׁש‬ ְ ‫ּב‬
ַ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ accommodates to it by becoming a tzeireh in all
Hiphʻil ‫נחי פ“י‬ ,‫טיב‬ ִ ‫הי‬ ֵ tenses. Two common verbs, ‫היניק‬, and ‫היטיב‬, use
,‫ּביׁש‬
ִ ‫ל‬ְ ‫מ‬ ַ ,‫ּביׁש‬ ִ ‫ל‬ ְ ִ‫ה‬
past, present, future
‫ּביׁש‬
ִ ‫ל‬ ְ ‫ ַי‬,‫לּבִיׁש‬ ְ ‫א‬ַ ,‫טיב‬ ִ ‫מי‬ ֵ it. It is also used less commonly with the roots ,‫ימן‬
‫ ילל‬,‫ישר‬, and even once with ‫( יצא‬normally ‫הוצא‬:
‫טיב‬
ִ ‫ ֵיי‬,‫טיב‬ ִ ‫אי‬
ֵ
see Genesis 8:17).
√1 Yod Verbs (‫ )גזרת פ“י‬in Hoph‘al
‫ בנין‬/ tense Regular ‫ פ“י‬Form Remarks

Form
By comparison with the Hiphʻil, the Hophʻal
seems almost regular. The ‫ ּו‬does double-
,‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫הּוַרְד‬ duty as the √1 root letter yod transformed to
‫פַקד‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ֻ vav and the “ū” vowel of the Huph’al. (To
Hophʻal past
‫הּוַרד‬ be sure, one may hypothesize a
transformation from a primeval ‫הְוַרד‬ֻ to
‫הּוַרד‬.)
Note that the ‫ פ“י‬form of the Huphʻal is
Hophʻal present,
,‫פָקד‬ְ ‫מ‬ ֻ ,‫ אּוַרד‬,‫מּוָרד‬ identical in form to the ‫ע“ו‬: the root ‫ישר‬
takes a form indistinguishable from that of
future ‫פַקד‬
ְ ‫א‬ֻ ‫יּוַרד‬ ‫שור‬. We are in the world of the “biliteral
root” (only 2 effective root letters).
,‫ּצל‬ַ ‫ה‬
ֻ ,‫ּצב‬
ָ ‫מ‬
ֻ ,‫ּצב‬ ַ ‫ה‬
ֻ In √2 ‫ צ‬verbs the conjugation follows the
Hophʻal *‫יצ‬
‫ ֻיּצַל‬,‫ּצל‬ָ ‫מ‬
ֻ ‫ּצב‬
ַ ‫ֻי‬ ‫ פ“נ‬pattern.
√3 Hei Verbs (‫)גזרת ל“ה‬

General Characteristics of ‫ ל“ה‬verbs (except mappik-hei)
The deviations of verb-conjugation for presence of 3rd-position hei are nearly identical across all binyanim.
However, there are a number of distinct variations that apply in different tenses. If one learns them for the
Kal formation, application to the other binyanim should be rather routine.
A historical note: The √3 letter of these verbs is thought to be originally yod (on the analogy of related
Semitic languages such as Aramaic: compare ‫)ָקִני‬. Eventually the yod was replaced by hei in the majority
of forms, but in some forms the primordial yod is still visible.
Some phonetic notes: The final hei is silent throughout this gizrah. Therefore any vowel preceding it
becomes a long vowel (though this is not obvious in the case of a final segol—such as ‫אְקֶנה‬ ֶ ). Also, any
dagesh kal in a pronominal suffix is lost, together with the characteristic ending sheva naḥ in the 2nd
person feminine (‫ּת‬
ְ ‫מְר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ָ but ‫)ָקִנית‬.
There are several distinct transformations that occur in different parts of the conjugation:
• The √3 hei becomes yod before consonantal suffixes, i.e. (a) in the past-tense 1st and 2nd persons,
(b) in the future/imperative plural feminine, and (c) in the -‫ ת‬form of the feminine present tense,1 as
well as in verbal noun forms and the passive participle:
• ‫ ָקנּוי‬,‫ ְקִנָּיה‬,‫ ִנְקֵנית‬,‫ ְקֶניָנה‬,‫ּתְקֶניָנה‬
ִ ,‫ת‬ָ ‫ ָקִני‬,‫תי‬
ִ ‫ָקִני‬
• The regular vowel before the hei in present-masculine-singular and future forms without suffix
becomes segol, and tzeireh in the masculine-singular imperative, but kametz in the present-
feminine-singular:
• ‫ ְקֵנה‬,‫ ִיְקֶנה‬,‫אְקֶנה‬ ֶ ,‫ קֹוָנה‬,‫קֹוֶנה‬
• The regular vowel before the hei in 3rd-person past (in Kal and passive binyanim) becomes
lengthened from patah to kametz:
• ‫הְקָנה‬ ֻ ,‫צָּוה‬
ֻ ,‫ ִנְקָנה‬,‫ָקָנה‬
• The hei is replaced by a tav in the 3rd-person past feminine singular:
• ‫תה‬ ָ ‫ָקְנ‬
• The hei is omitted entirely before all other vowel suffixes in present, past, future, and imperative
tenses:
• ‫ ְקנּו‬,‫ ְקִני‬,‫ ִיְקנּו‬,‫ּתְקנּו‬
ִ ,‫ּתְקִני‬
ִ ,‫ ָקנּו‬,‫ קֹונֹות‬,‫קֹוִנים‬
• The infinitive is formed with the suffix -‫ֹות‬:
• ‫לְקנֹות‬ ִ
Across the binyanim, note that the helping vowel with ‫ י‬in the past tense is (a) tzeireh for most binyanim—
but (b) always ḥirik for 1st person plural—while (c) it is hirik for Kal and Piʻel. Hiphʻil uses both ḥirik
and tzeireh (Biblical Hebrew uses both forms—tseireh seems to be winning out in modern usage):
‫תי‬
ִ ‫ּלי‬
ֵ ‫תַּג‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ ,‫תי‬
ִ ‫הְקֵני‬ֻ ,‫תי‬ ִ ‫צֵּוי‬
ֻ ,‫תי‬
ִ ‫ — ִנְקֵני‬,‫תי‬ ִ ‫צִּוי‬
ִ ,‫תי‬
ִ ‫— ָקִני‬
(but ‫צִּוינּו‬
ֻ ,‫ִנְקִנינּו‬, etc.) and: ‫תי‬ ִ ‫הְקִני‬ִ / ‫תי‬ ִ ‫הְקֵני‬
ִ
All these changes will be discussed further in the following paradigm tables.
1 The -‫ ת‬form of the feminine-singular present (‫ )ִנְקֵנית‬is standard in Niphʻal and optional for certain other binyanim
(especially Hiphʻil and Hitpaʻel) for ‫ ל“ה‬verbs. In Kal, the ‫םה‬

ָ form is universal: ‫קֹוָנה‬.
√3 Hei Verbs (‫ )גזרת ל“ה‬in Kal
Tense / person Regular Form ‫ ל“ה‬Form Remarks

Primordial yod reappears instead of later
,‫ת‬
ָ ‫ ָקִני‬,‫תי‬ִ ‫ָקִני‬ hei before consonantal suffixes ‫ת‬ָ ,‫תי‬
ִ .
Past, 1st-2nd persons ‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫מְר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ָ ,‫ ָקִנינּו‬,‫ָקִנית‬ Note that the dagesh kal in the tav of the
‫תן‬
ֶ - ,‫תם‬ ֶ ‫ְקִני‬ suffix drops out after the preceding long
vowel.
‫על‬ַ is lengthened to ‫אה‬
ָ before the silent
Past 3rd person singular ‫מר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ָ ‫ָקָנה‬
masculine final hei.
Final ‫ ת‬is one of the common signals of the
Past 3rd person singular ‫מָרה‬
ְ ‫ׁש‬
ָ ‫תה‬
ָ ‫ָקְנ‬ feminine. (Note that suffix ‫אה‬ָ is a later
feminine transformation of an original ‫את‬ָ .)
Past 3rd person plural ‫מרּו‬

ְ ‫ׁש‬
ָ ‫ָקנּו‬ Hei drops before vowel suffix ‫ּו‬.
‫מָרה‬
ְ ‫ ׁשֹו‬,‫מר‬
ֵ ‫ׁשֹו‬ ‫ קֹוָנה‬,‫קֹוֶנה‬ ‫אה‬ָ ,‫אה‬ֶ —Typical vowel changes before
Present singular final hei.
,‫מִרים‬ְ ‫ׁשֹו‬ Hei drops before these vowel suffixes: —

‫ קֹונֹות‬,‫קֹוִנים‬
Present plural
‫מרֹות‬
ְ ‫ׁשֹו‬ ‫ אֹות‬,‫אים‬
ִ .
,‫ּתְקֶנה‬
ִ ,‫אְקֶנה‬ ֶ
Future forms without ‫מר‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ ִי‬,‫מר‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫א‬ֶּ ‫אה‬
ֶ —typical vowel change before final hei.
suffixes ‫ ִנְקֶנה‬,‫ִיְקֶנה‬
Future forms with vowel

,‫מִרי‬ְ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּת‬ִ ,‫ּתְקנּו‬
ִ
Hei drops before vowel suffixes ‫ אּו‬,‫אי‬
ִ .
suffixes ‫מרּו‬ְ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּת‬
ִ ‫ִיְקנּו‬
Primordial yod reappears instead of later
Future forms with ‫מְרָנה‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּת‬
ִ ‫ּתְקֶניָנה‬
ִ hei before consonantal suffix ‫ָנה‬.
consonantal suffixes
,‫מִרי‬
ְ ‫ׁש‬
ִ ,‫מר‬ ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ,‫ ְקנּו‬,‫ ְקִני‬,‫ְקֵנה‬ Imperative forms follow regularly from
future-tense forms except the first form:
Imperative
‫מְרָנה‬ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ,‫מרּו‬ְ ‫ׁש‬
ִ ‫ְקֶניָנה‬ ‫ְקֵנה‬
,‫ ְקנּוָיה‬,‫ָקנּוי‬
‫ׁשמּוָרה‬
ְ ,‫ׁשמּור‬
ָ Primordial yod appears as √3 in passive
Passive participle
‫ ְקנּויֹות‬,‫ְקנּוִיים‬ participle
Infinitive ‫מר‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ל‬ִ ‫לְקנֹות‬
ִ Suffix ‫ ֹות‬in the infinitive.
Verbal noun ‫מיָרה‬

ִ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ְקִנָּיה‬ Primordial yod appears in verbal noun
√3 Hei Verb Changes: A Structural View

The big change: the √3 hei turns the final closed syllable into an open syllable.
Note: (y) and (h) indicate silent letters, producing open syllables with long vowels
Regular ‫ ל“ה‬Form Change of Change of
Tense / person
Form Syllable Structure Syllable Parsing
ִ ‫מְר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ָ ‫תי‬
ִ ‫ָקִני‬ OL-CS-OL >
1ā-2ă3-tǝ > 1ā-2ī(y)-tǝ
OL-OL-OL
Past 3rd person ‫מר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ָ ‫ָקָנה‬ OL-CS > OL-OL 1ā-2ă3 > 1ā-2ā(h)
singular masculine
Past 3rd person ‫מָרה‬
ְ ‫ׁש‬
ָ ‫תה‬
ָ ‫ָקְנ‬ OL-F-OL >
1ā-2ǝ-3ā > 1ā-2ǝ-Tā
singular feminine OL-F-OL
Past 3rd person ‫מרּו‬
ְ ‫ׁש‬
ָ ‫ָקנּו‬ OL-F-OL >
1ā-2ǝ-3ū > 1ā-2ū
plural OL-OL
,‫מר‬
ֵ ‫ׁשֹו‬
‫ קֹוָנה‬,‫קֹוֶנה‬ OL-CL > OL-OL 1ō-2ē3 > 1ō-2ê(y/h)
Present singular
‫מָרה‬
ְ ‫ׁשֹו‬
,‫מִרים‬ְ ‫ׁשֹו‬
‫ קֹונֹות‬,‫קֹוִנים‬ OL-F-CL > OL-CL 1ō-2ǝ-3īm > 1ō-2īm
Present plural
‫מרֹות‬
ְ ‫ׁשֹו‬
,‫מד‬
ַ ‫ל‬ְ ‫א‬ֶּ
Future forms without ‫ּתְקֶנה‬
ִ CS-CS > CS-OL Xǝ̆1-2ă3 > Xǝ̆1-2ê(y/h)
suffixes ‫מד‬ַ ‫ל‬ְ ‫ִי‬
,‫מִדי‬ְ ‫ל‬ְ ‫ּת‬ִ

Future forms with ‫ּתְקנּו‬
ִ , CS-F-OL > CS-OL
Xĭ1-2ǝ-3ī > Xĭ1-2ī
vowel suffixes ‫מדּו‬ְ ‫ל‬ְ ‫ּת‬
ִ Xĭ1-2ǝ-3ū> Xĭ1-2ū
Xǝ̆1-2ă3-nā >
Future forms with ‫מְדָנה‬
ַ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ּת‬
ִ CS-CS-OL >
Xǝ̆1-2ê(y)-nā
consonantal suffixes CS-OL-OL
,‫ ְקִני‬,‫ְקֵנה‬
‫מִרי‬
ְ ‫ׁש‬
ִ ,‫מר‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ see above 3 lines see above 3 lines
Imperative
‫ ְקֶניָנה‬,‫ְקנּו‬
,‫ ְקנּוָיה‬,‫ָקנּוי‬
,‫ׁשמּור‬
ָ
,‫ְקנּוִיים‬ OL-CS > OL-OL 1ā-2ū3 > 1ā-2ūy
Passive participle
‫ׁשמּוָרה‬ְ
‫ְקנּויֹות‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ִ CS-CL > CS-CL 1ĭ1-2ō3 > 1ĭ1-2ōt
Verbal noun ‫מיָרה‬

ִ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ְקִנָּיה‬ F-OL-OL >
1ǝ-2ī-3ā > 1ǝ-2ī-yā
F-OL-OL
‫‪): Kal & Other Binyanim Compared‬גזרת ל“ה( ‪√3 Hei Verbs‬‬

‫תי‪,‬‬‫ָקִני ִ‬ ‫תי‪,‬‬‫ִנְקֵני ִ‬ ‫תי‪,‬‬‫צִּוי ִ‬‫ִ‬ ‫תי‪,‬‬‫צֵּוי ִ‬‫ֻ‬ ‫תי ‪/‬‬ ‫הְקֵני ִ‬ ‫ִ‬ ‫תי‪,‬‬‫הְקֵני ִ‬‫ֻ‬ ‫תי‪,‬‬‫ּלי ִ‬
‫תַּג ֵ‬
‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫תי‪,‬‬ ‫הְקִני ִ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫ָקִנינּו‬ ‫ִנְקִנינּו‬ ‫צִּוינּו‬
‫ִ‬ ‫צִּוינּו‬
‫ֻ‬ ‫הְקִנינּו‬‫ִ‬ ‫הְקִנינּו‬
‫ֻ‬ ‫ּלינּו‬
‫תַּג ִ‬
‫ה ְ‬‫ִ‬
‫ָקָנה‬ ‫ִנְקָנה‬ ‫צָּוה‬

‫ִ‬ ‫צָּוה‬
‫ֻ‬ ‫הְקָנה‬
‫ִ‬ ‫הְקָנה‬
‫ֻ‬ ‫ּלה‬
‫תַּג ָ‬
‫ה ְ‬
‫ִ‬
‫תה‬
‫ָקְנ ָ‬ ‫תה‬
‫ִנְקְנ ָ‬ ‫תה‬
‫צְּו ָ‬
‫ִ‬ ‫תה‬
‫צְּו ָ‬
‫ֻ‬ ‫תה‬
‫הְקְנ ָ‬
‫ִ‬ ‫תה‬
‫הְקְנ ָ‬
‫ֻ‬ ‫תה‬
‫ּל ָ‬
‫תַּג ְ‬
‫ה ְ‬
‫ִ‬
‫ָקנּו‬ ‫ִנְקנּו‬ ‫צּוּו‬
‫ִ‬ ‫צּוּו‬
‫ֻ‬ ‫הְקנּו‬
‫ִ‬ ‫הְקנּו‬
‫ֻ‬ ‫תַּגּלּו‬
‫ה ְ‬
‫ִ‬
‫קֹוֶנה‪,‬‬ ‫ִנְקֶנה‪,‬‬ ‫צֶּוה‪,‬‬‫מ ַ‬ ‫ְ‬ ‫צֶּוה‪,‬‬‫מ ֻ‬ ‫ְ‬ ‫מְקֶנה‪,‬‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫מְקֶנה‪,‬‬ ‫ֻ‬ ‫ּלה‪,‬‬
‫תַּג ֶ‬‫מ ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫ִנְקֵנית‬
‫קֹוָנה‬ ‫)ִנְקָנה(‬
‫צָּוה‬
‫מ ַ‬‫ְ‬ ‫צָּוה‬
‫מ ֻ‬‫ְ‬ ‫מְקָנה‬
‫ַ‬ ‫מְקָנה‬
‫ֻ‬ ‫לה‬‫תַּג ָ‬‫מ ְ‬‫ִ‬
‫קֹוִנים‪,‬‬ ‫ִנְקִנים‪,‬‬ ‫צִּוים‪,‬‬‫מ ַ‬ ‫ְ‬ ‫צִּוים‪,‬‬‫מ ֻ‬ ‫ְ‬ ‫מְקִנים‪,‬‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫מְקִנים‪,‬‬ ‫ֻ‬ ‫ּלים‪,‬‬
‫תַּג ִ‬‫מ ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫קֹונֹות‬ ‫ִנְקנֹות‬ ‫צּוֹות‬
‫מ ַ‬‫ְ‬ ‫צּוֹות‬
‫מ ֻ‬‫ְ‬ ‫מְקנֹות‬
‫ַ‬ ‫מְקנֹות‬
‫ֻ‬ ‫תַּגּלות‬
‫מ ְ‬‫ִ‬
‫אְקֶנה‪,‬‬ ‫ֶ‬ ‫ּקֶנה‪,‬‬

‫א ָ‬ ‫ֶ‬ ‫צֶּוה‪,‬‬‫א ַ‬ ‫ֲ‬ ‫צֶּוה‪,‬‬‫א ֻ‬ ‫ֲ‬ ‫אְקֶנה‪,‬‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫אְקֶנה‪,‬‬ ‫ֻ‬ ‫ּלה‪,‬‬
‫תַּג ֶ‬‫א ְ‬ ‫ֶ‬
‫ּתְקֶנה‬
‫ִ‬ ‫ּקֶנה‬
‫ּת ָ‬
‫ִ‬ ‫צֶּוה‬‫ּת ַ‬
‫ְ‬ ‫צֶּוה‬‫ּת ֻ‬
‫ְ‬ ‫ּתְקֶנה‬
‫ַ‬ ‫ּתְקֶנה‬
‫ֻ‬ ‫לה‬‫תַּג ֶ‬‫ּת ְ‬
‫ִ‬
‫ּתְקִני‪,‬‬
‫ִ‬ ‫ּקִני‪,‬‬
‫ּת ָ‬
‫ִ‬ ‫ּתְקִני‪,‬‬
‫ַ‬ ‫ּתְקִני‬
‫ֻ‬ ‫ּלי‪,‬‬
‫תַּג ִ‬
‫ּת ְ‬‫ִ‬
‫צִּוי‪,‬‬
‫ּת ַ‬
‫ְ‬ ‫צִּוי‪,‬‬
‫ּת ֻ‬
‫ְ‬
‫ּתְקנּו‪,‬‬‫ִ‬ ‫ּתָקנּו‪,‬‬ ‫ִ‬ ‫ּתְקנּו‪,‬‬‫ַ‬ ‫ּתְקנּו‪,‬‬‫ֻ‬ ‫תַּגּלּו‪,‬‬‫ּת ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫צּוּו‪ְ ,‬יצַּוּו‬
‫ּת ַ‬
‫צּוּו ְ‬
‫צּוּו‪ְ ,‬י ֻ‬
‫ּת ֻ‬
‫ְ‬
‫ִיְקנּו‬ ‫ּקנּו‬
‫ִי ָ‬ ‫ַיְקנּו‬ ‫ֻיְקנּו‬ ‫תַּגּלּו‬ ‫ִי ְ‬
‫ּתְקֶניָנה‬
‫ִ‬ ‫ּקֶניָנה‬
‫ּת ָ‬
‫ִ‬ ‫צֶּויָנה‬
‫ּת ַ‬
‫ְ‬ ‫צֶּויָנה‬
‫ּת ֻ‬
‫ְ‬ ‫ּתְקֶניָנה‬
‫ַ‬ ‫ּתְקֶניָנה‬
‫ֻ‬ ‫ּליָנה‬
‫תַּג ֶ‬
‫ּת ְ‬
‫ִ‬
‫ְקֵנה‪,‬‬ ‫ּקֵנה‪,‬‬
‫ה ָ‬‫ִ‬ ‫הְקֵנה‪,‬‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫ּלה‪,‬‬ ‫תַּג ֵ‬‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫צִּוי‪,‬‬
‫צֵּוה‪ַ ,‬‬
‫ַ‬
‫ּקִני‪- ,‬נּו ְקִני‪ְ ,‬קנּו‪,‬‬
‫ה ָ‬ ‫ִ‬ ‫הְקִני‪/‬נּו‪,‬‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫לי‪ַּ- ,‬גּלּו‪,‬‬ ‫תַּג ִ‬ ‫ה ְ‬‫ִ‬
‫צֶּוינָה‬
‫צּוּו‪ַ ,‬‬
‫ַ‬
‫ּקֶניָנה ְקֶניָנה‬ ‫ה ָ‬ ‫ִ‬ ‫הְקֶניָנה‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫ליָנה‬ ‫תַּג ֶ‬‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫לְקנֹות‬
‫ִ‬ ‫ּקנֹות‬
‫ה ָ‬‫ל ִ‬
‫ְ‬ ‫צּוֹות‬
‫ל ַ‬
‫ְ‬ ‫הְקנֹות‬
‫ל ַ‬
‫ְ‬ ‫תַּגלֹות‬
‫ה ְ‬
‫ל ִ‬
‫ְ‬
‫צּוּוי‪,‬‬
‫ִ‬
‫ְקִנָּיה‪,‬‬
‫אה‪,‬‬‫צָּו ָ‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫אה‬
‫הְקָנ ָ‬
‫ַ‬ ‫תַּגּלּות‬
‫ה ְ‬
‫ִ‬
‫מְקֶנה‬ ‫ִ‬
‫צָוה‬‫מ ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫‪) With Other Features‬גזרת ל“ה( ‪√3 Hei Verbs‬‬
‫‪Kal √1‬‬ ‫‪Niphʻal √1 Hiphʻil √1‬‬ ‫‪Hiphʻil‬‬ ‫‪Hiphʻil‬‬ ‫‪Hitpaʻel √2‬‬

‫פ“י ‪Kal‬‬
‫‪Gutteral‬‬ ‫‪Gutteral Gutteral‬‬ ‫פ“נ‬ ‫פ“י‬ ‫‪Gutteral‬‬
‫ת י‪,‬‬
‫ׂשי ִ‬
‫ע ִ‬ ‫ָ‬ ‫תי‪,‬‬‫ָיִרי ִ‬ ‫תי‪,‬‬‫הֵני ִ‬
‫ֶנ ֱ‬ ‫תי‪,‬‬‫לי ִ‬
‫ע ֵ‬
‫ה ֱ‬ ‫ֶ‬ ‫תי‬
‫ּכי ִ‬
‫ה ֵ‬ ‫ִ‬ ‫תי‪,‬‬‫הֹוֵרי ִ‬ ‫תי‪,‬‬‫אי ִ‬
‫תָר ִ‬
‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫ׂשינּו‬
‫ע ִ‬ ‫ָ‬ ‫תי(‪,‬‬‫ּכי ִ‬
‫ה ִ‬ ‫) ִ‬
‫תם‬ ‫ׂשי ֶ‬
‫ע ִ‬ ‫ֲ‬
‫ָיִרינּו‬ ‫הִנינּו‬
‫ֶנ ֱ‬ ‫אינּו‬
‫הְר ִ‬‫ֶ‬ ‫ּכינּו‬
‫ה ִ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫הֹוִרינּו‬ ‫אינּו‬
‫תָר ִ‬
‫ה ְ‬‫ִ‬
‫לה ‪/‬‬‫ע ָ‬
‫ה ֱ‬ ‫ֶ‬
‫ׂשה‬
‫ע ָ‬‫ָ‬ ‫ָיָרה‬ ‫הָנה‬
‫ֶנ ֱ‬ ‫אה‬‫הְר ָ‬‫ֶ‬
‫ּכה‬
‫ה ָ‬
‫ִ‬ ‫הֹוָרה‬ ‫אה‬
‫תָר ָ‬
‫ה ְ‬
‫ִ‬
‫תה‬
‫ׂש ָ‬
‫ע ְ‬‫ָ‬ ‫תה‬
‫ָיְר ָ‬ ‫תה‬
‫הְנ ָ‬
‫ֶנ ֶ‬ ‫תה‬
‫ל ָ‬
‫ע ְ‬
‫ה ֶ‬
‫ֶ‬ ‫תה‬
‫ּכ ָ‬
‫ה ְ‬
‫ִ‬ ‫תה‬
‫הֹוְר ָ‬ ‫תה‬
‫א ָ‬
‫תָר ֲ‬
‫ה ְ‬
‫ִ‬
‫עׂשּו‬
‫ָ‬ ‫ָירּו‬ ‫הנּו‬
‫ֶנ ֱ‬ ‫הְראּו‬
‫עלּו‪ֶ ,‬‬
‫ה ֱ‬
‫ֶ‬ ‫הּכּו‬
‫ִ‬ ‫הֹורּו‬ ‫תָראּו‬
‫ה ְ‬
‫ִ‬
‫ׂשה‪,‬‬
‫עֹו ֶ‬ ‫יֹוֶרה‪,‬‬ ‫הֶנה‪,‬‬
‫ֶנ ֱ‬ ‫לה‪,‬‬‫ע ֶ‬
‫מ ֲ‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫ּכה‪,‬‬
‫מ ֶ‬ ‫ִ‬ ‫מֹוֶרה‪,‬‬ ‫אה‪,‬‬
‫תָר ֶ‬‫מ ְ‬‫ִ‬
‫ׂשה‬
‫עֹו ָ‬ ‫יֹוָרה‬ ‫הֵנית‬‫ֶנ ֱ‬ ‫אה‬‫מְר ָ‬‫ַ‬ ‫ּכה‬
‫מ ָ‬‫ַ‬ ‫מֹוָרה‬ ‫אית‬‫תָר ֵ‬‫מ ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫ׂשים‪,‬‬
‫עֹו ִ‬ ‫יֹוִרים‪,‬‬ ‫הִנים‪,‬‬‫ֶנ ֱ‬ ‫לים‪,‬‬
‫ע ִ‬
‫מ ֲ‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫ּכים‪,‬‬
‫מ ִ‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫מֹוִרים‪,‬‬ ‫אים‪,‬‬
‫תָר ִ‬‫מ ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫עֹוׂשֹות‬ ‫יֹורֹות‬ ‫הנֹות‬
‫ֶנ ֱ‬ ‫מְראֹות‬‫ַ‬ ‫מּכֹות‬
‫ַ‬ ‫מֹורֹות‬ ‫תָראות‬‫מ ְ‬‫ִ‬
‫ׂשה‪,‬‬
‫ע ֶ‬‫א ֱ‬ ‫ֶ‬ ‫איָרה‪,‬‬ ‫ִ‬ ‫הֶנה‪,‬‬‫א ָ‬ ‫ֵ‬ ‫לה‪,‬‬‫ע ֶ‬
‫א ֲ‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫ּכה‪,‬‬
‫א ֶ‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫אֹוֶרה‪,‬‬ ‫אה‪,‬‬‫תָר ֶ‬
‫א ְ‬ ‫ֶ‬
‫ׂשה‬
‫ע ֶ‬‫ּת ֲ‬
‫ַ‬ ‫ּתיָרה‬
‫ִ‬ ‫הֶנה‬‫ּת ָ‬
‫ֵ‬ ‫אה‬‫ּתְר ֶ‬
‫ַ‬ ‫ּכה‬
‫ּת ֶ‬
‫ַ‬ ‫ּתֹוֶרה‬ ‫אה‬‫תָר ֶ‬
‫ּת ְ‬
‫ִ‬
‫ׂשי‪,‬‬
‫ע ִ‬
‫ּת ֲ‬‫ַ‬ ‫הִני‪,‬‬
‫ּת ָ‬‫ֵ‬ ‫לי‪,‬‬‫ע ִ‬
‫ּת ֲ‬
‫ַ‬ ‫אי‪,‬‬‫תָר ִ‬‫ּת ְ‬‫ִ‬
‫ּתיִרי‪,‬‬‫ִ‬ ‫ּתּכּו‪,‬‬
‫ּכי‪ַ ,‬‬ ‫ּת ִ‬
‫ַ‬ ‫ּתֹוִרי‪,‬‬
‫עׂשּו‪,‬‬‫ּת ֲ‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫הנּו‪,‬‬‫ּת ָ‬ ‫ֵ‬ ‫עלּו‪,‬‬ ‫ּת ֲ‬‫ַ‬ ‫תָראּו‪,‬‬ ‫ּת ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫ּתירּו‪ִ ,‬יירּו‬
‫ִ‬ ‫ַיּכּו‬ ‫ּתֹורּו‪ ,‬יֹורּו‬
‫עׂשּו‬ ‫ַי ֲ‬ ‫הנּו‬ ‫ֵי ָ‬ ‫ַיְראּו‬ ‫אּו‬‫תָר ֶ‬ ‫ִי ְ‬
‫ׂשיָנה‬
‫ע ֶ‬‫ּת ֲ‬
‫ַ‬ ‫ּתיֶריָנה‬
‫ִ‬ ‫הֶניָנה‬
‫ּת ָ‬
‫ֵ‬ ‫ליָנה‬
‫ע ֶ‬
‫ּת ֲ‬
‫ַ‬ ‫ּכיָנה‬
‫ּת ֶ‬
‫ַ‬ ‫ּתֹוֶריָנה‬ ‫איָנה‬
‫תָר ֶ‬
‫ּת ְ‬
‫ִ‬
‫ׂשה‪,‬‬
‫ע ֵ‬ ‫ֲ‬ ‫הֵנה‪,‬‬‫ה ָ‬ ‫ֵ‬ ‫לה‪,‬‬ ‫ע ֵ‬ ‫ה ֲ‬‫ַ‬ ‫ּכה‪,‬‬
‫ה ֵ‬‫ַ‬ ‫הֹוֵרה‪,‬‬ ‫אה‪,‬‬ ‫תָר ֵ‬
‫ה ְ‬‫ִ‬
‫ְיֵרה‪ְ ,‬יִרי‪,‬‬
‫עׂשּו‬
‫ׂשי ֲ‬‫ע ִ‬ ‫ֲ‬ ‫הִני ‪/‬נּו‬‫ה ָ‬ ‫ֵ‬ ‫אי ‪ּ /‬ו‬
‫הְר ִ‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫הּכּו‬
‫ּכי ַ‬ ‫ה ִ‬‫אי‪ַּ- ,‬גּלּו‪ ,‬הֹוִרי הֹורּו ַ‬
‫תָר ִ‬ ‫ה ְ‬‫ִ‬
‫ְירּו‪ְ ,‬יֶרינָה‬
‫ׂשיָנה‬
‫ע ֶ‬ ‫ֲ‬ ‫הֶניָנה‬ ‫ה ָ‬ ‫ֵ‬ ‫לינָה‬ ‫ע ֶ‬‫ה ֲ‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫ּכיָנה‬
‫ה ֶ‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫איָנה הֹוֶריָנה‬ ‫תָר ֶ‬
‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫עׂשֹות‬
‫ל ֲ‬
‫ַ‬ ‫לירֹות‬
‫ִ‬ ‫הנֹות‬
‫ה ָ‬
‫ל ֵ‬
‫עלֹות ְ‬
‫ה ֲ‬
‫ל ַ‬
‫ְ‬ ‫הּכֹות‬
‫ל ַ‬
‫ְ‬ ‫להֹורֹות‬
‫ְ‬ ‫תָראֹות‬
‫ה ְ‬
‫ל ִ‬
‫ְ‬
‫ׂשָּיה‪,‬‬
‫ע ִ‬ ‫ֲ‬
‫ְיִרָּיה‬ ‫אה‬
‫ל ָ‬
‫ע ָ‬
‫ה ֲ‬
‫ַ‬ ‫אה‬
‫ּכ ָ‬
‫ה ָ‬
‫ַ‬ ‫אה‬
‫הֹוָר ָ‬ ‫תָראּות‬
‫ה ְ‬
‫ִ‬
‫ׂשה‬
‫ע ֶ‬ ‫מ ֲ‬
‫ַ‬
√3 Aleph Verbs (‫)גזרת נחי ל“א‬
General Characteristics of ‫ נחי ל“א‬verbs
The pattern of changes for √3-Aleph verbs is similar to that with √3-Hei with some differences.
As in √3-Hei, the changes are global across all binyanim and more or less uniform. Unlike the
case with √3-Hei, the aleph in 3rd position never drops out, but is typically silent (even more
silent than alephs generally are, if you can imagine that), with resulting differences. The silent
aleph is written without any vowel (like the yod in ‫נחי פ“י‬: compare ‫ת‬ ָ ‫ ָקָרא‬,‫סד‬
ַ ‫אי‬
ִ ).
Some phonetic notes: The total silencing of the aleph at the end of the word requires that the
vowel preceding it become a long vowel (usually kametz or tzeireh) if it is not so already. Also, if
there are any ‫ ת‬suffixes after the aleph, they will lose their dagesh kal (as occurred after √3 hei
which was transformed to yod) as well as the 2nd-person feminine sheva naḥ (‫ּת‬ ְ ‫מְר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ָ but ‫)ָקָראת‬.
Here, then, are the characteristic changes that occur in ‫ ל“א‬verbs:

• In final position (where there is no suffix), pataḥ is lengthened to kametz: (a) in 3rd person
singular past tense, and (b) in future/imperative Kal (always ‫על‬ ַ ‫פ‬ְ ‫א‬ֶ ) and passive tenses:
• ‫צא‬ ָ ‫מ‬
ְ ‫ ֻי‬,‫ּלא‬ ָ ‫מ‬
ֻ ‫ ְי‬,‫ ֶקָרא‬,‫ ִיְקָרא‬,‫צא‬ ָ ‫מ‬ ְ ‫ה‬ ֻ ,‫ּלא‬ ָ ‫מ‬
ֻ ,‫ ִנְקָרא‬,‫ָקָרא‬
• The pataḥ of the past tense in 1st and 2nd persons in Kal, before pronominal suffixes, also
becomes kametz:
• ‫ ָקָראת‬,‫תי‬ ִ ‫ָרא‬ ֻ ‫ָק‬
• But the pataḥ of the past tense before suffixes in other binyanim becomes tzeireh:
• ‫ת‬ ָ ‫ּצא‬ֵ ‫מ‬ ַ ‫ת‬ ְ ‫ה‬ִ ,‫ת‬ ָ ‫צא‬ ֵ ‫מ‬ ְ ‫ה‬ ֻ ,‫ת‬ ָ ‫צא‬ ֵ ‫מ‬ְ ‫ה‬ ִ ,‫ת‬ ָ ‫ּלא‬ ֵ ‫מ‬ ֻ ,‫ת‬ ָ ‫ּלא‬ ֵ ‫מ‬
ִ ,‫ת‬ָ ‫ִנְקֵרא‬
• This applies also to Kal stative verbs: ‫תי‬ ִ ‫ׂשֵנא‬ ָ ,‫תי‬
ִ ‫מא‬ֵ ‫צ‬ָ ,‫תי‬
ִ ‫לא‬ ֵ ‫מ‬ָ ,‫תי‬ ִ ‫מא‬
ֵ ‫ט‬
ָ ,‫תי‬
ִ ‫ָיֵרא‬
• Present-tense feminine ‫לת‬ ֶ ‫ע‬
ֶ forms are “smoothed out” to ‫עאת‬ ֵ :
• ‫ּלאת‬ ֵ ‫מ‬ ַ ‫מ‬ ְ ,‫ ִנְקֵראת‬,‫קֹוֵראת‬, etc.
• All future tense and imperative ‫הן‬ ֵ / ‫ּתן‬ ֶ ‫א‬ ַ forms take the ending ‫עאָנה‬ ֶ (possibly mimicking
the ‫עיָנה‬ ֶ of ‫ ל“ה‬verbs like ‫ּתְקֶניָנה‬ ִ ):
• ‫ּלאָנה‬ ֶ ‫מ‬ ַ ‫ּת‬ְ ,‫ּקֶראָנה‬ ָ ‫ּת‬ִ ,‫ּתְקֶראָנה‬ ִ , etc.
• Where the ‫( א‬i) already has a preceding long vowel and is without a suffix, or (ii) is
followed by a vowel-suffix (‫ אֹות‬,‫אים‬ ִ ,‫ אּו‬,‫אה‬ ָ ), there are no further changes:
• ‫לְקֹרא‬ ִ ,‫ ָקרּוא‬,‫ּלא‬ ֵ ‫מ‬ ַ ‫ת‬ ְ ‫ה‬
ִ ,‫ציא‬ ִ ‫מ‬ ְ ‫ה‬ ִ ,‫ּלא‬ ֵ ‫מ‬ִ ,‫ּקֵרא‬ ָ ‫ ִי‬,‫קֹוֵרא‬
• ‫ קֹוְראֹות‬,‫אים‬ ִ ‫ קֹוְר‬,‫ ָקְראּו‬,‫אה‬ ָ ‫ָקְר‬
The basic changes will be discussed further in the following paradigm tables.
√3 Aleph Verbs (‫ )גזרת נחי ל“א‬in Kal
Tense / person Regular Form ‫ ל“א‬Form Remarks

,‫ת‬
ָ ‫ ָקָרא‬,‫תי‬ִ ‫ָקָרא‬ Pataḥ of the past-tense lengthens to

ִ ‫מְר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ָ ,‫ ָקָראנּו‬,‫ָקָראת‬ kametz. Aleph is written without a vowel.
Dagesh kal of the ‫ ת‬drops out after the
‫תן‬
ֶ - ,‫תם‬
ֶ ‫ְקָרא‬ preceding long vowel.
Past 3rd person singular ‫מר‬

ַ ‫ׁש‬
ָ ‫ָקָרא‬ Pataḥ lengthens to kametz.
masculine
Past 3rd person singular ‫מרּו‬
ְ ‫ׁש‬
ָ ,‫מָרה‬
ְ ‫ׁש‬
ָ ‫ ָקְראּו‬,‫אה‬
ָ ‫ָקְר‬ Regular (followed by vowel-suffix).
feminine & plural
Present-tense feminine ‫לת‬
ֶ ‫ע‬
ֶ forms are
Present ‫מֶרת‬
ֶ ‫ ׁשֹו‬,‫מר‬
ֵ ‫ קֹוֵראת ׁשֹו‬,‫קֹוֵרא‬ “smoothed out” to ‫עאת‬ ֵ
‫ קֹוְראֹות‬,‫אים‬
ִ ‫ קֹוְר‬Regular (followed by vowel-suffix).
Present plural ‫מרֹות‬
ְ ‫ׁשֹו‬
Future forms without ‫מר‬

ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫א‬ֶּ ‫ ִיְקָרא‬,‫אְקָרא‬
ֶ The Kal future adopts the eph’al form, but
suffixes lengthens the pataḥ to a kametz
Future forms with vowel

,‫מִרי‬ְ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּת‬ִ ,‫ּתְקְראּו‬
ִ ,‫אי‬
ִ ‫ּתְקְר‬
ִ
suffixes ‫מרּו‬ְ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּת‬
ִ ‫ִיְקְראּו‬ Regular (followed by vowel-suffix).
Future forms with ‫מְרָנה‬

ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּת‬
ִ ‫ּתְקֶראָנה‬
ִ ‫הן‬
ֵ / ‫ּתן‬
ֶ ‫א‬
ַ forms take the ending ‫עאָנה‬
ֶ
consonantal suffixes
,‫מִרי‬
ְ ‫ׁש‬
ִ ,‫מר‬ ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ,‫אי‬
ִ ‫ ִקְר‬,‫ְקָרא‬ See previous 3 lines: adapt future to
Imperative
‫מְרָנה‬ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ,‫מרּו‬ְ ‫ׁש‬
ִ ‫ ְקֶראָנה‬,‫ִקְראּו‬ imperative in all cases.
Passive participle ‫ׁשמּוָרה‬

ְ ,‫ׁשמּור‬
ָ ‫אה‬
ָ ‫ ְקרּו‬,‫ָקרּוא‬ Regular (long-vowel ending or followed by
vowel-suffix)
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ל‬ִ ‫לְקֹרא‬
ִ Regular (long-vowel ending)
,‫מיָרה‬
ִ ‫ׁש‬ְ
‫מְקָרא‬
ִ ,‫אה‬
ָ ‫ְקִרי‬ (1) Regular (followed by vowel suffix);
Verbal noun
‫מר‬
ָ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫מ‬ִ (2) Regular (long-vowel ending)
√3 Aleph Verb Changes: A Structural View

The big change: the √3 aleph (like the hei) turns the final closed syllable into an open syllable.
Note: (ʼ) indicates the silent aleph, producing an open syllable with long preceding vowel
Regular ‫ ל“ה‬Form Change of Change of
Tense / person
Form Syllable Structure Syllable Parsing
,‫תי‬
ִ ‫ָקָרא‬
‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫מְר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ָ OL-CS-OL >
1ā-2ă3-tǝ > 1ā-2ā(ʼ)-tǝ
Past, 1st-2nd persons
ָ ‫ָקָרא‬
‫ת‬ OL-OL-OL
Past 3rd person ‫מר‬

ַ ‫ׁש‬
ָ ‫ָקָרא‬ OL-CS > OL-OL 1ā-2ă3 > 1ā-2ā(ʼ)
singular masculine
Past 3rd person ,‫מָרה‬ְ ‫ׁש‬ָ
‫ ָקְראּו‬,‫אה‬
ָ ‫ָקְר‬ OL-F-OL >
1ā-2ǝ-3ā > 1ā-2ǝ-ʼā
singular feminine &
‫מרּו‬
ְ ‫ׁש‬
ָ OL-F-OL
plural
,‫מר‬
ֵ ‫ׁשֹו‬
‫ קֹוֵראת‬,‫קֹוֵרא‬ OL-CL > OL-OL 1ō-2ē3 > 1ō-2ē(ʼ)
Present
‫מֶרת‬
ֶ ‫ׁשֹו‬ OL-OS-CS > OL-CL 1ō-2ĕ-3ĕt > 1ō-2ē(ʼ)t
,‫מִרים‬ְ ‫ׁשֹו‬ ,‫אים‬ִ ‫קֹוְר‬ OL-F-CL 1ō-2ǝ-3īm / 3ōt

Present plural ‫מרֹות‬
ְ ‫ׁשֹו‬ ‫קֹוְראֹות‬ unchanged unchanged
‫מד‬
ַ ‫ל‬ְ ‫א‬ֶּ
Future forms without ‫ ִיְקָרא‬,‫אְקָרא‬
ֶ CS-CS > CS-OL Xǝ̆1-2ă3 > Xǝ̆1-2ā(ʼ)
suffixes ‫מד‬
ַ ‫ל‬ ְ ‫ִי‬
,‫אי‬ִ ‫ּתְקְר‬
ִ
,‫מִדי‬ְ ‫ל‬ְ ‫ּת‬ִ Xĭ1-2ǝ-3ī
Future forms with ,‫ּתְקְראּו‬ ִ CS-F-OL
vowel suffixes ‫מדּו‬ְ ‫ל‬ְ ‫ּת‬
ִ unchanged Xĭ1-2ǝ-3ū
‫ִיְקְראּו‬ unchanged
Xǝ̆1-2ă3-nā >
Future forms with ‫מְדָנה‬
ַ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ּת‬
ִ CS-CS-OL >
Xǝ̆1-2ê(ʼ)-nā
consonantal suffixes CS-OL-OL
,‫אי‬
ִ ‫ ִקְר‬,‫ְקָרא‬
‫מִרי‬
ְ ‫ׁש‬
ִ ,‫מר‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ see above 3 lines see above 3 lines
Imperative
‫ ְקֶראָנה‬,‫ִקְראּו‬
Passive participle ‫ׁשמּור‬

ָ ‫אה‬
ָ ‫ ְקרּו‬,‫ָקרּוא‬ OL-CS > OL-OL 1ā-2ū3 > 1ā-2ūʼ
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ל‬ִ ‫לְקֹרא‬
ִ CS-CL > CS-OL 1ĭ1-2ōʼ
,‫מיָרה‬
ִ ‫ׁש‬ְ ,‫אה‬
ָ ‫ְקִרי‬ F-OL-OL 1ǝ-2ī-3ā
Verbal noun
‫מר‬
ָ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫מ‬ִ ‫מְקָרא‬
ִ unchanged unchanged
‫ ל“ה‬and ‫ ל“א‬Compared
Regular ‫ ל“ה‬Form ‫ ל“א‬Form
Tense / person Remarks
Form
,‫ת‬
ָ ‫ ָקִני‬,‫תי‬ִ ‫ָקִני‬ ,‫ת‬
ָ ‫ ָקָרא‬,‫תי‬ִ ‫ָקָרא‬ Hei converts to yod, but aleph
Past, 1st-2nd ‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫מְר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ָ ,‫ ָקִנינּו‬,‫ָקִנית‬ ,‫ ָקָראנּו‬,‫ָקָראת‬ remains. Both make open
persons syllables, knocking out dagesh kal
‫תן‬
ֶ - ,‫תם‬ ֶ ‫ְקִני‬ ‫תן‬
ֶ - ,‫תם‬
ֶ ‫ְקָרא‬
in tav.
Past 3rd person
singular ‫מר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ָ ‫ָקָנה‬ ‫ָקָרא‬ Pataḥ lengthens to kametz in both.
masculine
Past 3rd person
singular feminine ‫מָרה‬
ְ ‫ׁש‬
ָ ‫תה‬
ָ ‫ָקְנ‬ ‫אה‬
ָ ‫ָקְר‬ Hei converts to tav, but aleph
remains.
& plural
‫מרּו‬
ְ ‫ׁש‬
ָ ‫ָקנּו‬ ‫ָקְראּו‬ Hei drops out before vowel-suffix,
but aleph remains.
,‫מר‬
ֵ ‫ׁשֹו‬ In feminine form, √3-hei prefers
‫ קֹוָנה‬,‫קֹוֶנה‬ ‫ קֹוֵראת‬,‫קֹוֵרא‬
Present ‫מֶרת‬
ֶ ‫ׁשֹו‬ kametz-hei ending, √3-aleph
prefers tav ending
Present plural ‫ קֹונֹות‬,‫קֹוִנים‬ ‫ קֹוְראֹות‬,‫אים‬
ִ ‫ קֹוְר‬Hei drops, aleph remains.
‫מרֹות‬
ְ ‫ׁשֹו‬
,‫ּתְקֶנה‬
ִ ,‫אְקֶנה‬ ֶ √3-hei segol shows influence of
Future forms ‫מר‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫א‬ֶּ ‫ ִיְקָרא‬,‫אְקָרא‬
ֶ
without suffixes ‫ ִנְקֶנה‬,‫ִיְקֶנה‬ √3-yod; √3-aleph kametz is simple
lengthening of pataḥ
Future forms with ,‫מִרי‬ְ ‫ׁש‬

ְ ‫ּת‬ִ ,‫ּתְקנּו‬
ִ ,‫ּתְקְראּו‬
ִ ,‫אי‬
ִ ‫ּתְקְר‬
ִ
vowel suffixes ‫מרּו‬ְ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּת‬
ִ ‫ִיְקנּו‬ ‫ִיְקְראּו‬ Hei drops, aleph remains.
Future forms with Both take “ênah” — √3-hei by

consonantal ‫מְרָנה‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּת‬
ִ influence of yod, √3-aleph
suffixes perhaps by influence of √3-hei
,‫מִרי‬
ְ ‫ׁש‬ִ ,‫מר‬ ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ
,‫ ְקנּו‬,‫ ְקִני‬,‫ְקֵנה‬ ,‫אי‬
ִ ‫ ִקְר‬,‫ְקָרא‬
,‫מרּו‬ְ ‫ׁש‬
ִ See previous 3 lines: adapt future
Imperative ‫ְקֶניָנה‬ ‫ ְקֶראָנה‬,‫ִקְראּו‬ to imperative in all cases.
‫מְרָנה‬ ֹ ‫ׁש‬ְ
Hei converts to yod, aleph
,‫ׁשמּור‬
ָ ,‫ ְקנּוָיה‬,‫ָקנּוי‬
‫אה‬
ָ ‫ ְקרּו‬,‫ָקרּוא‬ remains (but Hei drops, aleph
Passive participle ‫ׁשמּוָרה‬ְ ‫ ְקנּויֹות‬,‫ְקנּוִיים‬ remains (but √3-aleph form with
yod is also used)
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ִ ‫לְקֹרא‬
ִ √3-hei irregular, √3-aleph regular
,‫מיָרה‬
ִ ‫ׁש‬ְ
‫מְקֶנה‬
ִ ,‫ְקִנָּיה‬ ‫מְקָרא‬
ִ ,‫אה‬
ָ ‫ְקִרי‬ Both follow regular paradigms
Verbal noun ‫מר‬
ָ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫מ‬ִ (with typical modifications)
‫‪): Kal & Other Binyanim Compared‬גזרת ל“א( ‪√3 Aleph Verbs‬‬
‫ת י‪,‬‬
‫ָקָרא ִ‬ ‫תי‬‫ִנְקֵרא ִ‬ ‫תי‬
‫ּלא ִ‬ ‫מ ֵ‬ ‫ִ‬ ‫תי‬‫ּלא ִ‬ ‫מ ֵ‬ ‫ֻ‬ ‫תי‬
‫צא ִ‬ ‫מ ֵ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬ ‫תי‬
‫צא ִ‬ ‫מ ֵ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ֻ‬ ‫תי‬‫ּלא ִ‬ ‫מ ֵ‬ ‫ת ַ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫ת‪,‬‬
‫ָקָרא ָ‬ ‫ִנְקֵרא ָ‬
‫ת‬ ‫ּלא ָ‬
‫ת‬ ‫מ ֵ‬ ‫ִ‬ ‫לא ָ‬
‫ת‬ ‫מ ֵ‬ ‫ֻ‬ ‫צא ָ‬
‫ת‬ ‫מ ֵ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬ ‫צא ָ‬
‫ת‬ ‫מ ֵ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ֻ‬ ‫ּלא ָ‬
‫ת‬ ‫מ ֵ‬ ‫ת ַ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫ָקָראת‪,‬‬ ‫ִנְקֵראת‬ ‫ּלאת‬‫מ ֵ‬ ‫ִ‬ ‫ּלאת‬‫מ ֵ‬ ‫ֻ‬ ‫צאת‬ ‫מ ֵ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬ ‫צאת‬ ‫מ ֵ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ֻ‬ ‫ּלאת‬‫מ ֵ‬ ‫ת ַ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫ָקָראנּו‪,‬‬ ‫ִנְקֵראנּו‬ ‫ּלאנּו‬‫מ ֵ‬ ‫ִ‬ ‫ּלאנּו‬ ‫מ ֵ‬ ‫ֻ‬ ‫צאנּו‬ ‫מ ֵ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬ ‫צאנּו‬ ‫מ ֵ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ֻ‬ ‫ּלאנּו‬ ‫מ ֵ‬ ‫ת ַ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫תם‬ ‫ְקָרא ֶ‬ ‫תם‬ ‫ִנְקֵרא ֶ‬ ‫תם‬‫ּלא ֶ‬ ‫מ ֵ‬ ‫ִ‬ ‫תם‬ ‫ּלא ֶ‬ ‫מ ֵ‬ ‫ֻ‬ ‫תם‬‫צא ֶ‬ ‫מ ֵ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬ ‫תם‬‫צא ֶ‬ ‫מ ֵ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ֻ‬ ‫תם‬ ‫ּלא ֶ‬ ‫מ ֵ‬ ‫ת ַ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫ָקָרא‬ ‫ִנְקָרא‬ ‫ּלא‬

‫מ ֵ‬‫ִ‬ ‫לא‬
‫מ ָ‬
‫ֻ‬ ‫צ יא‬
‫מ ִ‬
‫ה ְ‬
‫ִ‬ ‫צא‬
‫מ ָ‬
‫ה ְ‬
‫ֻ‬ ‫ּלא‬
‫מ ֵ‬‫ת ַ‬
‫ה ְ‬
‫ִ‬
‫אה‪,‬‬‫ָקְר ָ‬ ‫אה‬‫ִנְקְר ָ‬ ‫אה‬‫ּל ָ‬
‫מ ְ‬ ‫ִ‬ ‫אה‬‫ּל ָ‬
‫מ ְ‬ ‫ֻ‬ ‫אה‬‫צי ָ‬
‫מ ִ‬‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬ ‫אה‬‫צ ָ‬‫מ ְ‬‫ה ְ‬ ‫ֻ‬ ‫אה‬‫ּל ָ‬
‫מ ְ‬‫ת ַ‬‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫ָקְראּו‬ ‫ִנְקְראּו‬ ‫ּלאּו‬
‫מ ְ‬‫ִ‬ ‫לאּו‬‫מ ְ‬‫ֻ‬ ‫ציאּו‬
‫מ ִ‬‫ה ְ‬‫ִ‬ ‫צאּו‬‫מ ְ‬‫ה ְ‬‫ֻ‬ ‫ּלאּו‬
‫מ ְ‬‫ת ַ‬‫ה ְ‬‫ִ‬
‫קֹוֵרא‪,‬‬ ‫ִנְקָרא‬ ‫ּלא‬

‫מ ֵ‬‫מ ַ‬‫ְ‬ ‫ּלא‬
‫מ ָ‬‫מ ֻ‬‫ְ‬ ‫צ יא‬
‫מ ִ‬‫מ ְ‬‫ַ‬ ‫צא‬
‫מ ָ‬‫מ ְ‬‫ֻ‬ ‫ּלא‬
‫מ ֵ‬‫ת ַ‬‫מ ְ‬‫ִ‬
‫קֹוֵראת‬ ‫ִנְקֵראת‬ ‫ּלאת‬
‫מ ֵ‬‫מ ַ‬‫ְ‬ ‫ּלאת‬‫מ ֵ‬‫מ ֻ‬‫ְ‬ ‫אה‬‫צי ָ‬‫מ ִ‬‫מ ְ‬‫ַ‬ ‫צאת‬‫מ ֵ‬‫מ ְ‬‫ֻ‬ ‫ּלאת‬
‫מ ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫אים‪,‬‬‫קֹוְר ִ‬ ‫אים‬‫ִנְקָר ִ‬ ‫אים‬‫ּל ִ‬

‫מ ְ‬‫מ ַ‬ ‫ְ‬ ‫אים‬‫ּל ִ‬
‫מ ָ‬‫מ ֻ‬ ‫ְ‬ ‫אים‬‫צי ִ‬‫מ ִ‬‫מ ְ‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫אים‬‫צ ִ‬‫מ ָ‬‫מ ְ‬ ‫ֻ‬ ‫אים‬‫ּל ִ‬
‫מ ְ‬‫ת ַ‬‫מ ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫קֹוְראֹות‬ ‫ִנְקָראֹות‬ ‫ּלאֹות‬
‫מ ְ‬‫מ ַ‬‫ְ‬ ‫ּלאֹות‬
‫מ ָ‬‫מ ֻ‬‫ְ‬ ‫ציאֹות‬‫מ ִ‬‫מ ְ‬‫ַ‬ ‫צאֹות‬‫מ ָ‬‫מ ְ‬‫ֻ‬ ‫ּלאֹות‬
‫מ ְ‬‫ת ַ‬‫מ ְ‬‫ִ‬
‫אְקָרא‪,‬‬
‫ֶ‬ ‫ּקֵרא‬
‫א ָ‬ ‫ֶ‬ ‫ּלא‬
‫מ ֵ‬‫א ַ‬ ‫ֲ‬ ‫ּלא‬
‫מ ָ‬‫א ֻ‬ ‫ֲ‬ ‫צ יא‬‫מ ִ‬‫א ְ‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫צא‬‫מ ָ‬‫א ְ‬ ‫ֻ‬ ‫ּלא‬
‫מ ֵ‬‫ת ַ‬‫א ְ‬ ‫ֶ‬
‫ִיְקָרא‬ ‫ּקֵרא‬
‫ּת ָ‬
‫ִ‬ ‫ּלא‬
‫מ ֵ‬‫ּת ַ‬
‫ְ‬ ‫ּלא‬
‫מ ָ‬‫ּת ֻ‬
‫ְ‬ ‫צ יא‬
‫מ ִ‬‫ּת ְ‬
‫ַ‬ ‫צא‬
‫מ ָ‬‫ּת ְ‬
‫ֻ‬ ‫ּלא‬
‫מ ֵ‬‫ת ַ‬‫ּת ְ‬
‫ִ‬
‫א י‪,‬‬
‫ּתְקְר ִ‬
‫ִ‬ ‫אי‬‫ּקְר ִ‬
‫ּת ָ‬‫ִ‬ ‫אי‬‫ּל ִ‬
‫מ ְ‬ ‫ּת ַ‬‫ְ‬ ‫אי‬‫ּל ִ‬
‫מ ְ‬ ‫ּת ֻ‬‫ְ‬ ‫אי‬‫צי ִ‬
‫מ ִ‬ ‫ּת ְ‬‫ַ‬ ‫אי‬‫צ ִ‬
‫מ ְ‬ ‫ּת ְ‬‫ֻ‬ ‫אי‬‫ּל ִ‬
‫מ ְ‬ ‫ת ַ‬ ‫ּת ְ‬‫ִ‬
‫ּתְקְראּו‪,‬‬ ‫ִ‬ ‫ּקְראּו‬‫ּת ָ‬ ‫ִ‬ ‫ּלאּו‬‫מ ְ‬ ‫ּת ַ‬ ‫ְ‬ ‫ּלאּו‬‫מ ְ‬ ‫ּת ֻ‬ ‫ְ‬ ‫ציאּו‬ ‫מ ִ‬ ‫ּת ְ‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫צאּו‬ ‫מ ְ‬ ‫ּת ְ‬ ‫ֻ‬ ‫ּלאּו‬‫מ ְ‬ ‫ת ַ‬ ‫ּת ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫ִיְקְראּו‬ ‫ּקְראּו‬‫ִי ָ‬ ‫ּלאּו‬‫מ ְ‬ ‫ְי ַ‬ ‫ּלאּו‬‫מ ְ‬ ‫ְי ֻ‬ ‫ציאּו‬ ‫מ ִ‬ ‫ַי ְ‬ ‫צאּו‬ ‫מ ְ‬ ‫ֻי ְ‬ ‫ּלאּו‬‫מ ְ‬ ‫ת ַ‬ ‫ִי ְ‬
‫ּתְקֶראָנה‬
‫ִ‬ ‫ּתָקֶראָנה‬
‫ִ‬ ‫ּלאָנה‬
‫מ ֶ‬‫ּת ַ‬
‫ְ‬ ‫ּלאָנה‬
‫מ ֶ‬‫ּת ֻ‬
‫ְ‬ ‫ציאָנה‬
‫מ ֶ‬
‫ּת ְ‬
‫ַ‬ ‫צאָנה‬
‫מ ֶ‬
‫ּת ְ‬
‫ֻ‬ ‫ּלאָנה‬
‫מ ֶ‬‫ת ַ‬
‫ּת ְ‬
‫ִ‬
‫ְקָרא‪,‬‬ ‫ּקֵרא‬
‫ה ָ‬ ‫ִ‬ ‫ּלא‬‫מ ֵ‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫צא‬
‫מ ֵ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫ּלא‬‫מ ֵ‬ ‫ת ַ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫אי‪,‬‬‫ִקְר ִ‬ ‫אי‬‫ּקְר ִ‬
‫ה ָ‬ ‫ִ‬ ‫אי‬‫ּל ִ‬
‫מ ְ‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫ציאִי‬‫מ ִ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫אי‬‫ּל ִ‬
‫מ ְ‬ ‫ת ַ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫ִקְראּו‪,‬‬ ‫ּקְראּו‬‫ה ָ‬ ‫ִ‬ ‫ּלאּו‬ ‫מ ְ‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫ציאּו‬ ‫מ ִ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫ּלאּו‬ ‫מ ְ‬ ‫ת ַ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫ְקֶראָנה‬ ‫ּקֶראָנה‬ ‫ה ָ‬ ‫ִ‬ ‫ּלאָנה‬ ‫מ ֶ‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫ציאָנה‬ ‫מ ֶ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫ּלאָנה‬ ‫מ ֶ‬ ‫ת ַ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫ָקרּוא‬
‫לְקֹרא‬
‫ִ‬ ‫ּקֵרא‬
‫ה ָ‬‫ל ִ‬
‫מ ֵ‬‫ל ַ‬
‫מ ִ‬
‫ה ְ‬
‫ל ַ‬
‫ה ְ‬
‫ל ִ‬
‫ְ‬
‫אה‪,‬‬
‫ְקִרי ָ‬
‫אה‬
‫צ ָ‬
‫מ ָ‬
‫ה ְ‬
‫ַ‬ ‫ּלאּות‬
‫מ ְ‬‫ת ַ‬
‫ה ְ‬
‫ִ‬
‫מְקָרא‬
‫ִ‬
‫‪) With Other Features‬גזרת ל“א( ‪√3 Aleph Verbs‬‬
‫‪Kal‬‬ ‫‪Hiphʻil‬‬
‫)‪Kal (adj.‬‬ ‫‪Kal‬‬ ‫‪Niphʻal‬‬ ‫‪Niphʻal‬‬ ‫‪Huphʻal‬‬ ‫‪Hitpaʻel‬‬
‫חסרי‬ ‫פ“י‬
‫נחי פ“י‬ ‫פ“נ‬ ‫פ“י‬ ‫פ“נ‬ ‫פ“י‬ ‫פ“י‬
‫פ“י‬
‫תי‬
‫ָיֵרא ִ‬ ‫תי‬
‫צא ִ‬
‫ָי ָ‬ ‫תי‬
‫ׂשא ִ‬
‫ָנ ָ‬ ‫תי‬
‫נֹוֵרא ִ‬ ‫תי‬
‫ּׂשא ִ‬
‫ִנ ֵ‬ ‫תי‬
‫צא ִ‬
‫הֹו ֵ‬ ‫תי‬
‫צא ִ‬
‫הּו ֵ‬ ‫תי‬
‫תָיֵרא ִ‬
‫ה ְ‬
‫ִ‬
‫ָיֵרא‬ ‫צא‬
‫ָי ָ‬ ‫ׂשא‬
‫ָנ ָ‬ ‫נֹוָרא‬ ‫ּׂשא‬
‫ִנ ָ‬ ‫צ יא‬
‫הֹו ִ‬ ‫צא‬
‫הּו ָ‬ ‫תָיֵרא‬
‫ה ְ‬
‫ִ‬
‫אה‬‫ָיְר ָ‬ ‫אה‬‫צ ָ‬‫ָי ְ‬ ‫אה‬‫ׂש ָ‬
‫ָנ ְ‬ ‫אה‬‫נֹוְר ָ‬ ‫אה‬‫ּׂש ָ‬
‫ִנ ְ‬ ‫אה‬‫צי ָ‬
‫הֹו ִ‬ ‫אה‬‫צ ָ‬‫הּו ְ‬ ‫אה‬‫תָיְר ָ‬
‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫ָיְראּו‬ ‫צאּו‬‫ָי ְ‬ ‫ׂשאּו‬
‫ָנ ְ‬ ‫נֹוְראּו‬ ‫ּׂשאּו‬
‫ִנ ְ‬ ‫ציאּו‬
‫הֹו ִ‬ ‫צאּו‬‫הּו ְ‬ ‫תָיְראּו‬
‫ה ְ‬‫ִ‬
‫ָיֵרא‬ ‫צא‬
‫יֹו ֵ‬ ‫ׂשא‬
‫נֹו ֵ‬ ‫נֹוָרא‬ ‫ּׂשא‬
‫ִנ ָ‬ ‫צ יא‬
‫מֹו ִ‬ ‫צא‬
‫מּו ָ‬ ‫תָיֵרא‬
‫מ ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫אה‬
‫ְיֵר ָ‬ ‫צאת‬ ‫יֹו ֵ‬ ‫ׂשאת‬
‫נֹו ֵ‬ ‫אה‬‫נֹוָר ָ‬ ‫ּׂשאת‬
‫ִנ ֵ‬ ‫אה‬
‫צי ָ‬‫מֹו ִ‬ ‫צאת‬ ‫מּו ֵ‬ ‫תָיֵראת‬ ‫מ ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫אים‬‫ְיֵר ִ‬ ‫אים‬‫צ ִ‬‫אים יֹו ְ‬

‫ׂש ִ‬
‫אים נֹו ְ‬
‫נֹוָר ִ‬ ‫אים‬‫ּׂש ִ‬
‫ִנ ָ‬ ‫אים‬‫צי ִ‬‫אים מֹו ִ‬
‫צ ִ‬‫מּו ָ‬ ‫אים‬‫תָיְר ִ‬‫מ ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫ְיֵראֹות‬ ‫צאֹות‬‫ׂשאֹות יֹו ְ‬
‫נֹוָראֹות נֹו ְ‬ ‫ּׂשאֹות‬
‫ִנ ָ‬ ‫ציאֹות‬‫צאֹות מֹו ִ‬‫מּו ָ‬ ‫תָיְראֹות‬‫מ ְ‬‫ִ‬
‫איָרא‬
‫ִ‬ ‫צא‬
‫א ֵ‬‫ֵ‬ ‫ּׂשא‬
‫א ָ‬ ‫ֶ‬ ‫אָּוֵרא‬
‫ֶ‬ ‫ׂשא‬
‫אָּנ ֵ‬‫ֶ‬ ‫צ יא‬
‫אֹו ִ‬ ‫צא‬
‫אּו ָ‬ ‫תָיֵרא‬
‫א ְ‬‫ֶ‬
‫ִייָרא‬ ‫צא‬‫ֵי ֵ‬ ‫ּׂשא‬
‫ִי ָ‬ ‫ִיָּוֵרא‬ ‫ׂשא‬
‫ִיָּנ ֵ‬ ‫צ יא‬‫יֹו ִ‬ ‫צא‬‫יּו ָ‬ ‫תָיֵרא‬‫ִי ְ‬
‫אי‬‫צ ִ‬
‫ּת ְ‬‫ֵ‬ ‫אי‬‫ּׂש ִ‬
‫ּת ְ‬‫ִ‬ ‫אי‬‫ּתָּוְר ִ‬
‫ִ‬ ‫אי‬‫ׂש ִ‬
‫ּתָּנ ְ‬‫ִ‬ ‫אי‬‫צי ִ‬
‫ּתֹו ִ‬ ‫אי‬‫צ ִ‬
‫ּתּו ְ‬ ‫אי‬‫תָיְר ִ‬
‫ּת ְ‬‫ִ‬
‫אי‬‫ּתיְר ִ‬
‫ִ‬
‫צאּו‬ ‫ּת ְ‬ ‫ֵ‬ ‫ּׂשאּו‬
‫ּת ְ‬ ‫ִ‬ ‫ּתָּוְראּו‬ ‫ִ‬ ‫ׂשאּו‬‫ּתָּנ ְ‬ ‫ִ‬ ‫ציאּו‬ ‫ּתֹו ִ‬ ‫צאּו‬ ‫ּתּו ְ‬ ‫תָיְראּו‬ ‫ּת ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫ּתיְראּו‬ ‫ִ‬
‫צאּו‬ ‫ֵי ְ‬ ‫ּׂשאּו‬
‫ִי ְ‬ ‫ִיָּוְראּו‬ ‫ׂשאּו‬‫ִיָּנ ְ‬ ‫ציאּו‬ ‫יֹו ִ‬ ‫צאּו‬ ‫יּו ְ‬ ‫תָיְראּו‬ ‫ִי ְ‬
‫ּתיֶראָנה‬
‫צאָנה ִ‬
‫ּת ֶ‬
‫ּׂשאָנה ֵ‬
‫ּת ֶ‬‫ּתָּוֶראָנה ִ‬
‫ׂשאָנה ִ‬
‫ּתָּנ ֶ‬
‫צאָנה ִ‬
‫צאָנה ּתֹו ֶ‬
‫ּתּו ֶ‬ ‫תָיֶראָנה‬
‫ה ְ‬
‫ִ‬
‫ְיָרא‬ ‫הָּוֵרא‬ ‫ִ‬ ‫ׂשא‬‫הָּנ ֵ‬ ‫ִ‬ ‫צא‬‫הֹו ֵ‬ ‫תָיֵרא‬‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬

‫אי‬
‫צ ִ‬‫צא‪ְ ,‬‬ ‫אי ֵ‬
‫ׂש ִ‬
‫ׂשא‪ְ ,‬‬ ‫ָ‬
‫אי‬‫ִיְר ִ‬ ‫אי‬‫הָּוְר ִ‬ ‫ִ‬ ‫אי‬‫ׂש ִ‬
‫הָּנ ְ‬ ‫ִ‬ ‫אי‬‫צי ִ‬‫הֹו ִ‬ ‫אי‬‫תָיְר ִ‬
‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫צאּו‬
‫ְ‬ ‫ׂשאּו‬
‫ְ‬
‫ִיְראּו‬ ‫הָּוְראּו‬ ‫ִ‬ ‫ׂשאּו‬ ‫הָּנ ְ‬ ‫ִ‬ ‫ציאּו‬ ‫הֹו ִ‬ ‫תָיְראּו‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫צאָנה‬ ‫ֶ‬ ‫ׂשאָנה‬‫ֶ‬
‫ְיֶראָנה‬ ‫הָּוֶראָנה‬ ‫הָּנׂשֶיָנה ִ‬ ‫ִ‬ ‫צאָנה‬ ‫הֹו ֶ‬ ‫תָיֶראָנה‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫ָיצּוא‪,‬‬ ‫ָנׂשּוא‪,‬‬
‫אה‬
‫ְיצּו ָ‬ ‫אה‬
‫ְנׂשּו ָ‬
‫ליֹרא‬
‫ִ‬ ‫צאת‬
‫ל ֵ‬
‫ָ‬ ‫ׂשאת‬
‫ל ֵ‬‫ָ‬ ‫הָּוֵרא‬
‫ל ִ‬
‫ְ‬ ‫ׂשא‬
‫הָּנ ֵ‬
‫ל ִ‬
‫להֹו ִ‬
‫ְ‬ ‫תָיֵרא‬
‫ה ְ‬
‫ל ִ‬
‫ְ‬
‫אה‪,‬‬‫צי ָ‬
‫אה‪ְ ,‬י ִ‬
‫ׂשי ָ‬ ‫ְנ ִ‬
‫אה‬
‫ִיְר ָ‬ ‫אה‬
‫צ ָ‬
‫הֹו ָ‬ ‫תָיְראּות‬
‫ה ְ‬
‫ִ‬
‫צא‬
‫מֹו ָ‬ ‫ּׂשא‬
‫מ ָ‬‫ַ‬
√1 Aleph Verbs (‫)גזרת נחי פ“א‬
Differences of ‫ נחי פ“א‬verbs
Now that we have seen the patterns of ‫ נחי פ”י‬and ‫נחי ל”א‬, it is easy to appreciate what is
happening in the small class of verbs that follow the pattern of ‫נחי פ”א‬. We should note the
following points:
• The class consists of only seven verbs: ‫ אפה‬,‫ אבה‬,‫ אחז‬,‫ אהב‬.‫ אבד‬,‫ אכל‬,‫אמר‬.
• These verbs show this distinctive pattern only in the Kal future tense. In all other tenses
and binyanim, they follow the “regular” pattern of √1-gutteral verbs (or in two cases, the
differentia of √3 ‫ ה‬as well), except that the infinitive of ‫ אמר‬is also unique (‫מר‬
ֹ ‫לא‬
ֵ ).
• As in the other two classes we mentioned (‫ נחי ל“א‬,‫)נחי פ“י‬, the irregular letter (i.e., √1 ‫)א‬
remains in the written form of the word but without a vowel, and the vowel preceding it is
lengthened—in this case, to a ‫לם‬ ָ ‫ח‬
ֹ .
√1 Aleph Verbs (‫ )גזרת נחי פ“א‬in Kal
Tense / ‫נחי פ“א‬

Regular ‫פ”א‬ ‫נחי פ“א‬ Remarks
person ‫ל“ה‬
,‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫מְר‬
ֵ ‫א‬ָ ,‫תי‬
ִ ‫פי‬ִ ‫א‬ָ
ְ‫אַר‬
ָ ,‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫כ‬
ְ ‫אַר‬
ָ
Past
‫מר‬
ַ ‫א‬ָ ‫פה‬ָ ‫א‬ָ Regular.
Present ְ‫אֹוֵר‬ ‫מר‬

ֵ ‫אֹו‬ ‫פה‬
ֶ ‫אֹו‬ Regular.
The ‫ א‬of the 1st person singular and the ‫ א‬of

Future 1st ְ‫אַר‬
ֱ ‫א‬
ֶּ ‫מר‬
ַ ‫א‬
ֹ ‫פה‬
ֶ ‫א‬
ֹ
person singular the root are consolidated into a singular letter.
The distinctive ‫ נחי פ“א‬form may be viewed
ְ‫אַר‬ ֱ ‫ּת‬ ֶ ‫מר‬ַ ‫ּתא‬ ֹ ‫פה‬ ֶ ‫ּתא‬ ֹ as a transformation from the normal √1-
‫כי‬ִ ‫אְר‬ ֶ ‫ּת‬ ֶ ‫מִרי‬ ְ ‫ּתא‬ ֹ ‫פי‬ִ ‫ּתא‬ ֹ gutteral eph’al form. When the ‫ א‬becomes
Future other ְ‫אַר‬ ֱ ‫ֶי‬ ‫מר‬ ַ ‫ֹיא‬ ‫פה‬ ֶ ‫ֹיא‬ silent, the compound vowels of the first
syllable become merged into a single long
forms ְ‫אַר‬ֱ ‫ֶנ‬ ‫מר‬ַ ‫ֹנא‬ ‫פה‬ ֶ ‫ֹנא‬ vowel. The choice of ḥolam seems arbitrary,
‫אְרכּו‬ ֶ ‫ּת‬ ֶ ‫מרּו‬ ְ ‫ּתא‬ ֹ ‫ּתאפּו‬ ֹ but once this is accepted the rest of the form
‫כָנה‬ ְ ‫אַר‬ ֱ ‫ּת‬ ֶ ‫מְרָנה‬ ַ ‫ּתא‬ ֹ ‫פיָנה‬ ֶ ‫ּתא‬ ֹ follows naturally. The endings of ‫תאבה‬
follow the regular pattern for ‫ל“ה‬.
Whereas the “regular” √1 gutteral form

Structural modifies the regular Kal CS-CS form only
OS-F-CS OL-CS OL-OL slightly, the ‫ נחי פ“א‬form transforms it
pattern
radically.
The empty space created by the total silencing
Structural of the √1 calls for a long vowel, making a
parsing
Xĕ-1ĕ-2ă3 Xō(ʼ)-2ă3 Xō(ʼ)-2ê(y/h) fully open first syllable instead of one that is
“structurally closed.”
Imperative ‫כי‬
ִ ‫אְר‬
ִ ,ְ‫אַר‬
ֱ ‫מִרי‬
ְ ‫א‬
ִ ,‫מר‬
ֹ ‫א‬
ֱ ‫פי‬
ִ ‫א‬
ֱ ,‫פה‬
ֵ ‫א‬
ֱ Fairly regular.
Infinitive ְ‫אֹר‬
ֱ ‫ל‬
ֶ ‫מר‬
ֹ ‫לא‬
ֵ ‫פת‬
ֹ ‫א‬
ֱ ‫ל‬
ֶ Verb consolidation in ‫ ;לאמר‬others regular
√2 Vav/Yod Verbs (‫ ע“י‬/ ‫)גזרת ע“ו‬
General Characteristics of ‫ ע“י‬/ ‫ ע“ו‬verbs
With the ‫ ע“י‬/ ‫ ע“ו‬verbs, it seems we are dealing with not just a different gizrah but a different
binyan. Up to now, we have been able to start with the analogy between an irregular verb-pattern
and the modified pattern required to accommodate a deviant letter. But there seems to be no
structural identity between the past tense ‫מר‬ ַ ‫ׁש‬
ָ or present-tense ‫מר‬
ֵ ‫ ׁשֹו‬and the form ‫ָקם‬, between
the future forms ‫מר‬ ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫א‬ֶ and ‫ׁשיר‬
ִ ‫א‬ָ . Each represents a spontaneous new beginning in the endeavor
to express meaning-concepts in phonetic patterns, without taking cognizance of the other. Only
after the fact, when these independent patterns had been established, was an attempt made to
impose a uniform rubric on this diversity—an attempt that only partially succeeds. More
particularly, the 3-letter root analysis that succeeds for the majority of Hebrew verbs, applies only
artificially and by extension to this family, which can more intelligibly be understood as based on
an original 2-letter root convention.
Thus the Hebrew verb is invented afresh, but taking into account certain features of the more
standard verb forms. The basic word-stems are of a different shape, but the pattern of adding
accretions to those word-stems for additional significance remains basically the same. These
accretions include:
• The suffixes to indicate persons in the past tense.
• The prefixes to indicate persons in the future tense.
• The transformations of the basic form to indicate passive (Niphʻal), intensive (Piʻel),
causative (Hiphʻil) and reflexive (Hitpaʻel) modes—though some of these must be adapted
rather broadly to the needs of the bi-literal root.
The resulting paradigm represents one way of adapting the system of 3-letter roots to the reality of
a family of 2-letter roots. The paradigm of the kefulim or “geminates” (‫ )ע“ע‬represents another
means to the same end.
A Fresh Start: Basic Forms of the ‫ ע“י‬/ ‫ ע“ו‬Verbs in Kal
The basic form for present and past tenses of this verb class in Kal is composed of the √1 and √3
letters in a single syllable thus: ‫ָקם‬. This is basically a noun form. In the third person, it is
modified two ways:
‫מֹות‬
֫ ‫ ָק‬,‫מים‬
ִ֫ ‫ ָק‬,‫מה‬
ָ֫ ‫ ָק‬,‫ ָקם‬in present tense,
‫ָקמּו‬
֫ ,‫מה‬
ָ ‫ָק‬
֫ ,‫ ָקם‬in past tense.
Note that the present tense forms are accented on the last syllable (kām, ka-mā, ka-mīm, ka-mōt),
but the past tense forms are accented on the first syllable (kām, kā-ma, kā-mu)—perhaps out of the
need to differentiate them.
The next development occurs through addition of the pronominal past-tense suffixes to the stem
kām, with a resulting shortening of the kametz to pataḥ:
...‫ּת‬
ְ ‫מ‬
ְ ‫ ַק‬,‫ּת‬
ָ ‫מ‬
ְ ‫ ַק‬,‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫מ‬
ְ ‫ַק‬
Meanwhile, the future tense develops from another form of the biliteral root with the embedded
long vowel ‫ ּו‬or ‫י‬, yielding stems like ‫ קּום‬or ‫ׁשיר‬. Our familiar pronominal future-tense prefixes
are affixed to these roots, yielding the now familiar future-tense sequences:
‫מי‬
ִ ‫ּתקּו‬
ָ ,‫ּתקּום‬
ָ ,‫אקּום‬
ָ
‫ׁשיִרי‬
ִ ‫ּת‬
ָ ,‫ׁשיר‬
ִ ‫ּת‬
ָ ,‫ׁשיר‬
ִ ‫א‬ָ
We may observe already at this juncture a difference between the ‫ ע“ו‬formation and the “regular”
formation which has potential significance for future developments. The helping-vowel of the
pronominal prefix letters for the “regular” Kal future tense was the short ḥirik, appropriate because
the √1 root-letter was “available” to help construct the first closed syllable of verb-forms like
‫מר‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ִי‬. But in a biliteral root there is no third root-letter available for that purpose. Hence the
pronominal prefix prefers a “long” helping-vowel such as the kametz of ‫ָיקּום‬, to form a complete
“open” syllable prior to onset of the primary root. This pattern will be repeated in the Niphʻal,
Hiphʻil and Huphʻal binyanim.
More Fresh Starts: The Other Binyanim—Niph’al
As we approach the binyanim in succession, we will see that each is in need of major redesign,
because what worked for a 3-letter root will not work for a 2-letter root. The most basic signals—
prefix nun in the Niphʻal, prefix hei and mem for the Hiphʻil—are retained, but the architecture of
the verb-form from this point on needs to be reconstructed.
The Niphʻal past/present tense stem exhibits the same characteristic as the Kal future-tense stem—
namely, that the prefix melds with the first root letter into a single closed syllable with a short
vowel. Here, too, the solution is to let the nun-prefix stand alone with a long vowel as an
introductory open syllable, and for the whole of the root to provide the remaining complementary
syllable:
‫מר‬
ַ -‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ ִנ‬but ‫כֹון‬-‫ָנ‬
The Niphʻal future tense form similarly has a design problem. The regular Niphʻal future assumed
a trisyllabic structure based on the availability of three root-letters plus a prefix-nun in addition to
the pronominal prefixes. The ‫ ע“ו‬Niphʻal future, with two consonantal roots instead of three, must
settle for a two-syllable structure as follows:
‫מר‬
ֵ -‫ׁש‬
ָ -‫ ִיְנ‬becomes ‫מר‬
ֵ ‫ּׁש‬
ָ ‫ ִי‬but ‫ּכֹון‬-‫ ִיְנ‬becomes ‫ִיּכֹון‬
Note how the middle “root” letter consisting of the long vowel keeps a prominent place in the
Niphʻal future as in the Kal future tense, but its value is transformed to differentiate its usage in
the respective binyanim. The dagesh ḥazak in √1 of course represents the assimilated nun of the
Niphʻal, as in the regular formation.
Other Binyanim—‫ ע“ו‬in Hiph‘il and Huph’al
We are now in a position to appreciate how the characteristic form of the ‫ ע“ו‬verb in the Hiphʻil is
a response to the ever-recurring design challenge of the biliteral root. All forms of the Hiphʻil, like
the past-present of the Niphʻal and the future of the Kal, construct an initial closed syllable out of
a prefix letter plus a short vowel and the √1 letter of the verb-root. Because there is one less
consonant to work with, a different design is needed. The solution is again to lengthen the vowel,
in compensation for the missing available consonant. Interestingly, while the “regular” Hiphʻil
uses the short vowels ḥirik and pataḥ in different tenses, the ‫ ע“ו‬Hiphʻil form uses the long vowel
tzeireh, which stands phonetically midway between them, in two out of three tenses, and the
kametz (a lengthened pataḥ) in the future tense, thus:
‫ּביׁש‬
ִ -‫ל‬
ְ ‫ ַי‬,‫ּביׁש‬
ִ -‫ל‬
ְ ‫מ‬
ַ ,‫ּביׁש‬
ִ -‫ל‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ but ‫כין‬
ִ -‫ ָי‬,‫כין‬
ִ -‫מ‬
ֵ ,‫כין‬
ִ -‫ה‬
ֵ
It is tempting to regard the central yod of the ‫ ע“ו‬Hiphʻil form as performing double duty: serving
simultaneously as the characteristic embedded yod of the Hiphʻil and as a transformation of the
central vowel of the verb-root.
Similarly, there is a transformation in the Huphʻal to accommodate the loss of a root-letter. The
Huphʻal syllable-structure parallels that of the Hiphʻil, though the vowel-content is dominated by
the passive-signifying ū-vowel rather than the active-signifying ī-vowel. Again, the closed
syllable (constructed of prefix-plus-ŭ-plus-√1) gives way to an initial open syllable. The
lengthening of the kubbutz to shuruk is accompanied by the addition of the visible vav between the
prefix-consonant and the two remaining root-consonants. Again, we may view this vav as serving
double-duty between the “u”-vowel of the Huphʻal and the (transposed) central vav of the verb-
root:
‫ַקד‬-‫פ‬
ְ ‫ ֻי‬,‫ָקד‬-‫פ‬
ְ ‫מ‬
ֻ ,‫ַקד‬-‫פ‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ֻ but ‫ַקם‬-‫ יּו‬,‫ָקם‬-‫ מּו‬,‫ַקם‬-‫הּו‬
The Odd Past Tense in Niph’al and Hiph‘il
There is a strange past-tense form in the 1st and 2nd persons in Niphʻal and Hiphʻil, as follows:
Niphʻal: ‫ ְנכּונֹות‬,‫ת‬
ָ ‫ ְנכּונֹו‬,‫תי‬
ִ ‫ְנכּונֹו‬, etc.
Hiphʻil: ‫בינֹות‬
ִ ‫ה‬
ֲ ,‫ת‬ָ ‫בינֹו‬
ִ ‫ה‬
ֲ ,‫תי‬ ִ ‫בינֹו‬
ִ ‫ה‬
ֲ , etc.
A similar pattern is seen in the analogous forms of the kefulim verbs, as in the following Kal
paradigm of ‫סבב‬:
‫סּבֹות‬
ַ ,‫ת‬
ָ ‫סּבֹו‬
ַ ,‫תי‬
ִ ‫סּבֹו‬
ַ , etc.
It is a lot easier to explain how the form came to be in the kefulim, and then was “borrowed” for
the ‫ ע“ו‬gizrah. In the kefulim, extraordinary measures are taken to enable the “doubling” of the
final root-letter by means of a dagesh ḥazak. This is not possible if the pronominal suffix is
simply appended to the biliteral root, with a result like:
‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫ב‬
ְ ‫ס‬
ַ
It will be readily seen that adding the extra ḥolam enables the √2 root letter ‫ ב‬to receive the dagesh
ḥazak, for it is now situated between two vowels. The case of l: ‫תי‬ ִ ‫ ְנכּונֹו‬is not quite identical, for
it would have been possible (though slightly awkward) to come up with a form like
‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫ָנכֹוְנ‬
Evidently there was not much market for such a form, or not much effort expended toward
engineering a solution. The entire Hebrew Bible contains altogether only about a half-dozen
forms of the Niphʻal ‫ ע“ו‬in past-tense with pronominal suffixes (mostly in the 1st-person singular,
a couple in the 2nd-person plural). The issue has been mercifully ignored in post-biblical Hebrew,
with the exception of certain poets who strove to outdo each other in rococo imitations of
purported “Biblical” style. The case in Hiphʻil has been more fortunate, for the simplified
shortened form was widely used even in biblical times, especially in common verbs like ‫תי‬ ִ ‫בא‬
ֵ ‫ה‬
ֵ ,
and in post-biblical Hebrew this shortened form has become the standard.
Redesigning Pi‘el as Polel and Other Alternatives
The binyanim kevedim (Piʻel, Puʻal, Hitpaʻel) are based on a doubling of the middle root-
consonant. It is not easy to achieve this objective when there is no middle root-consonant.
However, an analogous result can be reached by doubling the √3 consonant, to achieve the same
semantic objective. Interestingly, the form thus created (the Polel) is used identically to serve the
binyanim kevedim of both ‫ ע“ו‬and ‫( ע“ע‬kefulim / “geminate”) verbs:
Instead of ‫ּבר‬ ֵ ‫ ְיַד‬,‫ּבר‬ֵ ‫מַד‬ְ ,‫ּבר‬ ֵ ‫ ִד‬we have: ‫מם‬ֵ ‫ ְיקֹו‬,‫מם‬ ֵ ‫מקֹו‬ ְ ,‫מם‬ ֵ ‫קֹו‬
Instead of ‫ּבר‬ ַ ‫ ְיֻד‬,‫ּבר‬ָ ‫מֻד‬ְ ,‫ּבר‬ ַ ‫ּד‬
ֻ we have: ‫מם‬ַ ‫ ְיקֹו‬,‫מם‬ ָ ‫מקֹו‬ ְ ,‫מם‬ ַ ‫קֹו‬
Instead of ‫ּבׁש‬
ֵ ‫ל‬
ַ ‫ת‬
ְ ‫ ִי‬,‫ּבׁש‬ֵ ‫ל‬
ַ ‫ת‬ְ ‫מ‬
ִ ,‫ּבׁש‬ ֵ ‫ל‬
ַ ‫ת‬ְ ‫ה‬ ִ we have: ‫מם‬ ֵ ‫תקֹו‬ְ ‫ ִי‬,‫מם‬ ֵ ‫תקֹו‬ְ ‫מ‬
ִ ,‫מם‬ ֵ ‫תקֹו‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ
This approach was most in keeping with the spirit of Biblical Hebrew, which was close to the
realization that a root like ‫ קום‬was really bi-consonantal. (The Bible knew also of tri-consonantal
verbs like ‫ָּגַוע‬, where the middle vav was truly consonantal, unlike the middle vav of ‫קום‬.) In the
late Biblical and rabbinic periods, however (and all the more so in the medieval and modern
periods), it became possible to conceive the middle letter of such a root as a true consonant, and to
apply the “regular” Piʻel construction to it, thus inventing forms such as ‫ּכֵּון‬
ִ (where the middle vav
is interpreted as a true consonant) and ‫( ִקֵּים‬where the middle vav is transformed into a yod).
With both grammatical forms available, they have sometimes assumed different meanings. For
instance, ‫מם‬
ֵ ‫תקֹו‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ ‫ל‬
ְ has the sense of “to rise up against, to rebel” whereas ‫תַקֵּים‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ ‫ל‬
ְ means “to
endure.” In English we achieve these nuances through idiomatic phraseology, for instance “to
stand up to” and “to stand strong.”
‫‪): Binyanim Compared‬גזרת ע“ו ‪ /‬ע“י( ‪√2 Vav/Yod Verbs‬‬

‫‪* = hypothetical form‬‬
‫ע“ו ‪Kal‬‬ ‫ע“י ‪Kal‬‬ ‫‪Hiphʻil‬‬ ‫‪Hiphʻil‬‬

‫‪Niphʻal‬‬ ‫‪Hophʻal‬‬ ‫‪Remarks‬‬
‫)‪(biblical‬‬ ‫)‪(modern‬‬
‫ּתי‬‫מ ִ‬ ‫ַק ְ‬ ‫ּתי‬ ‫ׁשְר ִ‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫תי‬‫ְנכּונֹו ִ‬ ‫תי‬ ‫בינֹו ִ‬ ‫ה ִ‬ ‫ֲ‬ ‫ּתי‬ ‫בְנ ִ‬ ‫ה ַ‬ ‫ֵ‬ ‫ּתי‬ ‫מ ִ‬ ‫הּוַק ְ‬ ‫‪See general discussion,‬‬
‫מ ָ‬
‫ּת‬ ‫ַק ְ‬ ‫ׁשְר ָ‬
‫ּת‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫*ְנכּונֹותָ‬ ‫בינֹו ָ‬
‫ת‬ ‫ה ִ‬ ‫ֲ‬ ‫בְנ ָ‬
‫ּת‬ ‫ה ַ‬ ‫ֵ‬ ‫מ ָ‬
‫ּת‬ ‫הּוַק ְ‬ ‫”‪“The Odd Past Tense‬‬
‫מ ְ‬
‫ּת‬ ‫ַק ְ‬ ‫ׁשְר ְ‬
‫ּת‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫*ְנכּונֹות‬ ‫בינֹות‬ ‫ה ִ‬ ‫ֲ‬ ‫בְנ ְ‬
‫ּת‬ ‫ה ַ‬ ‫ֵ‬ ‫מ ְ‬
‫ּת‬ ‫הּוַק ְ‬ ‫‪above, for possible‬‬
‫‪origin, significance and‬‬
‫ָקם‬ ‫ׁשר‬
‫ָ‬ ‫ָנכֹון‬ ‫בין‬
‫ה ִ‬ ‫ֵ‬ ‫בין‬ ‫ה ִ‬ ‫ֵ‬ ‫הּוַקם‬ ‫‪obsolescence of the‬‬
‫מה‬ ‫ָק ָ‬ ‫ׁשָרה‬ ‫ָ‬ ‫ָנכֹוָנה‬ ‫ביָנה‬ ‫ה ִ‬ ‫ֵ‬ ‫ביָנה‬ ‫ה ִ‬ ‫ֵ‬ ‫מה‬ ‫הּוְק ָ‬ ‫‪extended forms in the‬‬
‫מנּו‬ ‫ַק ְ‬ ‫ׁשְרנּו‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫*ְנכּונֹונּו‬ ‫בינֹונּו‬ ‫ה ִ‬ ‫ֲ‬ ‫בּנּו‬‫ה ַ‬ ‫ֵ‬ ‫מנּו‬ ‫הּוַק ְ‬ ‫‪Niphʻal and Hiphʻil 1st‬‬
‫ּתם‬ ‫מ ֶ‬ ‫ַק ְ‬ ‫ּתם‬ ‫ׁשְר ֶ‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫תם‬ ‫ְנכּונֹו ֶ‬ ‫תם‬ ‫בינֹו ֶ‬ ‫ה ִ‬ ‫ֲ‬ ‫ּתם‬ ‫בְנ ֶ‬ ‫ה ַ‬ ‫ֲ‬ ‫ּתם‬ ‫מ ֶ‬ ‫הּוַק ְ‬ ‫‪and 2nd persons. The‬‬
‫”‪3rd-person and “modern‬‬
‫ּתן‬
‫מ ֶ‬ ‫ַק ְ‬ ‫ּתן‬‫ׁשְר ֶ‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫תן‬
‫ְנכּונֹו ֶ‬ ‫תן‬‫בינֹו ֶ‬ ‫ה ִ‬ ‫ֲ‬ ‫ּתן‬ ‫בְנ ֶ‬ ‫ה ַ‬ ‫ֲ‬ ‫ּתן‬‫מ ֶ‬ ‫הּוַק ְ‬
‫‪Hiphʻil forms are still in‬‬
‫ָקמּו‬ ‫ׁשרּו‬‫ָ‬ ‫ָנכֹונּו‬ ‫בינּו‬
‫ה ִ‬ ‫ֵ‬ ‫בינּו‬ ‫ה ִ‬ ‫ֵ‬ ‫מּו‬
‫הּוְק ְ‬ ‫‪standard usage.‬‬
‫ָקם‬ ‫ׁשר‬
‫ָ‬ ‫ָנכֹון‬ ‫בין‬
‫מ ִ‬ ‫ֵ‬ ‫בין‬
‫מ ִ‬ ‫ֵ‬ ‫בן‬
‫מּו ָ‬
‫מה‬‫ָק ָ‬ ‫ׁשָרה‬‫ָ‬ ‫ְנכֹוָנה‬ ‫ביָנה‬‫מ ִ‬ ‫ְ‬ ‫ביָנה‬‫מ ִ‬ ‫ְ‬ ‫בָנה‬‫מּו ָ‬
‫מים‬‫ָק ִ‬ ‫ׁשִרים‬ ‫ָ‬ ‫ְנכֹוִנים‬ ‫ביִנים‬ ‫מ ִ‬ ‫ְ‬ ‫ביִנים‬ ‫מ ִ‬ ‫ְ‬ ‫בִנים‬ ‫מּו ָ‬
‫ָקמֹות‬ ‫ׁשרֹות‬ ‫ָ‬ ‫ְנכֹונֹות‬ ‫בינֹות‬‫מ ִ‬ ‫ְ‬ ‫בינֹות‬‫מ ִ‬ ‫ְ‬ ‫בנֹות‬‫מּו ָ‬
‫אקּום‪,‬‬
‫ָ‬ ‫ׁשיר‬
‫א ִ‬‫ָ‬ ‫אּכֹון‬
‫ֶ‬ ‫בין‬
‫א ִ‬‫ָ‬ ‫בין‬
‫א ִ‬‫ָ‬ ‫בן‬
‫אּו ַ‬ ‫‪See textbooks for full‬‬
‫ָיקּום‬ ‫ׁשיר‬
‫ָי ִ‬ ‫ִיּכֹון‬ ‫בין‬
‫ָי ִ‬ ‫בין‬
‫ָי ִ‬ ‫בן‬
‫יּו ַ‬ ‫‪paradigm of future tense.‬‬
‫בָּנה‬
‫ּת ֵ‬
‫ָ‬ ‫בָּנה‬
‫ּת ֵ‬
‫ָ‬ ‫בָּנה‬
‫ּתּו ַ‬ ‫‪Note contraction of the‬‬
‫מָנה‬
‫ּתֹק ְ‬
‫ָ‬ ‫ׁשְרָנה‬
‫ּת ֵ‬
‫ָ‬ ‫ּתּכֹוָּנה‬
‫ִ‬
‫מָנה(‬
‫ּתֵק ְ‬‫מָנה( ) ָ‬
‫ּתֵק ְ‬‫מָנה( ) ָ‬
‫)ּתּוַק ְ‬ ‫‪form in 2nd-3rd person‬‬
‫‪feminine plural of future.‬‬
‫קּום‬ ‫ׁשיר‬
‫ִ‬ ‫הּכֹון‬‫ִ‬ ‫בן‬
‫ה ֵ‬ ‫ָ‬ ‫בן‬
‫ה ֵ‬ ‫ָ‬
‫מי‬‫קּו ִ‬ ‫ׁשיִרי‬‫ִ‬ ‫הּכֹוִני‬ ‫ִ‬ ‫בינִי‬‫ה ִ‬ ‫ָ‬ ‫בינִי‬‫ה ִ‬ ‫ָ‬
‫קּומּו‬ ‫ׁשירּו‬ ‫ִ‬ ‫הּכֹונּו‬ ‫ִ‬ ‫בינּו‬ ‫ה ִ‬ ‫ָ‬ ‫בינּו‬ ‫ה ִ‬ ‫ָ‬
‫מָנה‬‫ֹק ְ‬ ‫ׁשְרָנה‬ ‫ֵ‬ ‫הּכֹוָּנה‬ ‫ִ‬ ‫בָּנה‬ ‫ה ֵ‬ ‫ָ‬ ‫בָּנה‬ ‫ה ֵ‬ ‫ָ‬
‫לקּום‬
‫ָ‬ ‫ׁשיר‬
‫ל ִ‬‫ָ‬ ‫הּכֹון‬
‫ל ִ‬
‫ְ‬ ‫בין‬
‫ה ִ‬
‫ל ָ‬
‫ְ‬ ‫בין‬
‫ה ִ‬
‫ל ָ‬
‫ְ‬
‫מה‬
‫ִקי ָ‬
‫ׁשיָרה‬
‫ִ‬ ‫בָנה‬
‫ה ָ‬
‫ֲ‬
‫מקֹום‬
‫ָ‬
‫‪): Variants‬גזרת ע“ו ‪ /‬ע“י( ‪√2 Vav/Yod Verbs‬‬
‫ע“ו ‪Kal‬‬ ‫ע“ו ‪Kal‬‬ ‫‪Hiphʻil‬‬ ‫‪Piʻel‬‬ ‫‪Piʻel‬‬ ‫‪Puʻal‬‬

‫‪√3 gutteral‬‬ ‫ל“א‬ ‫”‪Hitpaʻel “Polel‬‬
‫‪√3 gutteral‬‬ ‫‪regular‬‬ ‫”‪“Polel‬‬ ‫”‪“Polel‬‬
‫ּתי‬ ‫ח ִ‬ ‫ַנ ְ‬ ‫תי‬ ‫ּבא ִ‬ ‫ָ‬ ‫ּתי‬ ‫ע ִ‬ ‫הַנ ְ‬ ‫ֵ‬ ‫ּתי‬ ‫מ ִ‬ ‫מ ְ‬ ‫קֹו ַ‬ ‫ּתי‬ ‫מ ִ‬ ‫מ ְ‬ ‫קֹו ַ‬ ‫ּתי‬ ‫מ ִ‬ ‫מ ְ‬ ‫תקֹו ַ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫ח ָ‬
‫ּת‬ ‫ַנ ְ‬ ‫ּבא ָ‬
‫ת‬ ‫ָ‬ ‫ע ָ‬
‫ּת‬ ‫הַנ ְ‬ ‫ֵ‬ ‫ּתי‬
‫מ ִ‬‫ִקַּי ְ‬ ‫מ ָ‬
‫ּת‬ ‫מ ְ‬ ‫קֹו ַ‬ ‫מ ָ‬
‫ּת‬ ‫מ ְ‬ ‫קֹו ַ‬ ‫מ ָ‬
‫ּת‬ ‫מ ְ‬ ‫תקֹו ַ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫ח ְ‬
‫ּת‬ ‫ַנ ְ‬ ‫ּבאת‬ ‫ָ‬ ‫ע ְ‬
‫ּת‬ ‫הַנ ַ‬ ‫ֵ‬ ‫ּת וגו‘‬
‫מ ָ‬‫ִקַּי ְ‬ ‫מ ְ‬
‫ּת‬ ‫מ ְ‬ ‫קֹו ַ‬ ‫מ ְ‬
‫ּת‬ ‫מ ְ‬ ‫קֹו ַ‬ ‫מ ְ‬
‫ּת‬ ‫מ ְ‬ ‫תקֹו ַ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫‪also‬‬
‫ָנח‬ ‫ּבא‬‫ָ‬ ‫הִני ַ‬
‫ע‬ ‫ֵ‬ ‫מם‬ ‫קֹו ֵ‬ ‫מם‬ ‫קֹו ַ‬ ‫מם‬ ‫תקֹו ֵ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫ּתי‬
‫ּכַּוְנ ִ‬
‫ִ‬
‫חה‬ ‫ָנ ָ‬ ‫אה‬ ‫ּב ָ‬ ‫ָ‬ ‫עה‬ ‫הִני ָ‬ ‫ֵ‬ ‫מה‬ ‫מ ָ‬ ‫קֹו ְ‬ ‫מה‬ ‫מ ָ‬ ‫קֹו ְ‬ ‫מה‬ ‫מ ָ‬ ‫תקֹו ְ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫ּת וגו’‬
‫ּכַּוְנ ָ‬
‫ִ‬
‫חנּו‬ ‫ַנ ְ‬ ‫ּבאנּו‬ ‫ָ‬ ‫ענּו‬ ‫הַנ ְ‬ ‫ֵ‬ ‫‪these have‬‬ ‫מנּו‬ ‫מ ְ‬ ‫קֹו ַ‬ ‫מנּו‬ ‫מ ְ‬ ‫קֹו ַ‬ ‫מנּו‬ ‫מ ְ‬ ‫תקֹו ַ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫ּתם‬ ‫ח ֶ‬ ‫ַנ ְ‬ ‫תם‬ ‫ּבא ֶ‬ ‫ָ‬ ‫ּתם‬ ‫ע ֶ‬ ‫הַנ ְ‬ ‫ֲ‬ ‫‪similar regular‬‬ ‫ּתם‬ ‫מ ֶ‬ ‫מ ְ‬ ‫קֹו ַ‬ ‫ּתם‬ ‫מ ֶ‬ ‫מ ְ‬ ‫קֹו ַ‬ ‫ּתם‬ ‫מ ֶ‬ ‫מ ְ‬ ‫תקֹו ַ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫ּתן‬‫ח ֶ‬ ‫ַנ ְ‬ ‫תן‬‫ּבא ֶ‬ ‫ָ‬ ‫ּתן‬ ‫ע ֶ‬ ‫הַנ ְ‬ ‫ֲ‬ ‫& ‪Puʻal‬‬ ‫ּתן‬‫מ ֶ‬ ‫מ ְ‬ ‫קֹו ַ‬ ‫ּתן‬‫מ ֶ‬ ‫מ ְ‬ ‫קֹו ַ‬ ‫ּתן‬‫מ ֶ‬ ‫מ ְ‬ ‫תקֹו ַ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫ָנחּו‬ ‫ּבאּו‬ ‫ָ‬ ‫הִניעּו‬ ‫ֵ‬ ‫‪Hitpaʻel‬‬ ‫ממּו‬ ‫קֹו ְ‬ ‫ממּו‬ ‫קֹו ְ‬ ‫ממּו‬ ‫תקֹו ְ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫ָנח‬ ‫ּבא‬
‫ָ‬ ‫מִניעַ‬‫ֵ‬ ‫מַקֵּים‬‫ְ‬ ‫מם‬ ‫מקֹו ֵ‬ ‫ְ‬ ‫מם‬ ‫מקֹו ָ‬ ‫ְ‬ ‫מם‬ ‫תקֹו ֵ‬ ‫מ ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫חה‬‫ָנ ָ‬ ‫ּבא‬‫ָ‬ ‫עה‬ ‫מִני ָ‬‫ְ‬ ‫מת‬‫מַקֶּי ֶ‬‫ְ‬ ‫מת‬‫מ ֶ‬‫מקֹו ֶ‬ ‫ְ‬ ‫מת‬‫מ ֶ‬‫מקֹו ֶ‬ ‫ְ‬ ‫מת‬‫מ ֶ‬‫תקֹו ֶ‬ ‫מ ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫חים‬‫ָנ ִ‬ ‫ּבא‬ ‫ָ‬ ‫עים‬ ‫מִני ִ‬ ‫ְ‬ ‫מים‬‫מַקְּי ִ‬ ‫ְ‬ ‫מים‬‫מ ִ‬ ‫מקֹו ְ‬ ‫ְ‬ ‫מים‬‫מ ִ‬ ‫מקֹו ָ‬ ‫ְ‬ ‫מים‬‫מ ִ‬ ‫תקֹו ְ‬ ‫מ ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫ָנחֹות‬ ‫ּבא‬ ‫ָ‬ ‫מִניעֹות‬ ‫ְ‬ ‫מַקְּימֹות‬ ‫ְ‬ ‫ממֹות‬ ‫מקֹו ְ‬ ‫ְ‬ ‫ממֹות‬ ‫מקֹו ָ‬ ‫ְ‬ ‫ממֹות‬ ‫תקֹו ְ‬ ‫מ ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫אנּוחַ‬‫ָ‬ ‫אבֹוא‬
‫ָ‬ ‫אִניעַ‬‫ָ‬ ‫אַקֵּים‬
‫ֲ‬ ‫מם‬
‫אקֹו ֵ‬‫ֲ‬ ‫מם‬
‫אקֹו ָ‬‫ֲ‬ ‫מם‬
‫תקֹו ֵ‬‫א ְ‬‫ֶ‬
‫ָינּו ַ‬
‫ח‬ ‫ָיבֹוא‬ ‫ָיִני ַ‬
‫ע‬ ‫ְיַקֵּים‬ ‫מם‬‫ְיקֹו ֵ‬ ‫מם‬‫ְיקֹו ָ‬ ‫מם‬‫תקֹו ֵ‬‫ִי ְ‬
‫חָנה‬
‫ּתַנ ְ‬
‫ָ‬ ‫באָנה‬
‫ּת ֹ‬
‫ָ‬ ‫עָנה‬
‫ּתַנ ְ‬
‫ָ‬ ‫מָנה‬
‫ּתַקֵּי ְ‬
‫ְ‬ ‫מָנה‬
‫מ ְ‬
‫מָנה ּתקֹו ֵ‬
‫מ ְ‬
‫ּתקֹו ַ‬
‫ְ‬ ‫מָנה‬
‫מ ְ‬
‫תקֹו ֵ‬
‫ּת ְ‬
‫ִ‬
‫נּוחַ‬ ‫ּבֹוא‬ ‫הַנע‬

‫ָ‬ ‫ַקֵּים‬ ‫מם‬ ‫קֹו ֵ‬ ‫מם‬ ‫תקֹו ֵ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫חי‬‫נּו ִ‬ ‫אי‬‫ּבֹו ִ‬ ‫הִניעִי‬‫ָ‬ ‫מי‬‫ַקְי ִ‬ ‫מי‬‫מ ִ‬ ‫קֹו ְ‬ ‫מי‬‫מ ִ‬ ‫תקֹו ְ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫נּוחּו‬ ‫ּבֹואּו‬ ‫הִניעּו‬ ‫ָ‬ ‫ַקְּימּו‬ ‫ממּו‬ ‫קֹו ְ‬ ‫ממּו‬ ‫תקֹו ְ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫חָנה‬‫ַנ ְ‬ ‫ּבאָנה‬ ‫ֹ‬ ‫עָנה‬
‫הַנ ְ‬ ‫ָ‬ ‫מָנה‬ ‫ַקֵּי ְ‬ ‫מָנה‬ ‫מ ְ‬ ‫קֹו ֵ‬ ‫מָנה‬ ‫מ ְ‬ ‫תקֹו ֵ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫לנּו ַ‬
‫ח‬ ‫ָ‬ ‫לבֹוא‬
‫ָ‬ ‫הִני ַ‬
‫ע‬ ‫ל ָ‬
‫ְ‬ ‫לַקֵּים‬
‫ְ‬ ‫מם‬
‫לקֹו ֵ‬
‫ְ‬ ‫מם‬
‫תקֹו ֵ‬
‫ה ְ‬
‫ל ִ‬
‫ְ‬
‫חה‬‫ִני ָ‬
‫אה‬
‫ּבי ָ‬
‫ִ‬ ‫עה‬
‫הָנ ָ‬
‫ֲ‬ ‫ִקּיּום‬ ‫ממּות‬
‫תקֹו ְ‬
‫ה ְ‬
‫ִ‬
‫מנֹו ַ‬
‫ח‬ ‫ָ‬
Structure of √2 Vav Verbs Compared with Regular Forms
Binyan and Structure Regular ‫ע“ו‬ Modified Remarks

Tense form Structure
Kal past 1-2 1ā-2ǎ3-xx ‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫מְר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ָ ‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫מ‬
ְ ‫ַק‬ 1ǎ3-xx Biliteral root is fitted to the second syllable
OL-CS CS of the Kal stem structure, and the first
syllable (1ā) is truncated.
Kal present 1ō-2ē3 ,‫מר‬ֵ ‫ׁשֹו‬ ,‫ָקם‬ 1ā3 By comparison, we see that the ‫ע“ו‬
and past 3 (OL-CL), ‫מר‬ָ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ִנ‬ ,‫מים‬ִ ‫ָק‬ (CL) paradigm creates a present-participle stem
Ni1-2ā3 that is actually most similar to the second
‫ָקמּו‬
(CS-CL) syllable of the “noun-like” passive present
participles such as Niphʻal, and adopts this
same stem for the past-tense 3rd person
forms as well.
Kal future, Yi1-2ō3 ‫מר‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ִי‬ ,‫קּום‬ Xā-1ū(w)3 This sui generis form is generated simply
imperative, CS-CL ‫לקּום‬ָ OL-CL and economically by combining the
infinitive pronominal prefixes directly with the root
in its full form. The prefix needs a long
vowel because it lacks the extra consonant
to form a closed syllable.
Hiphʻil past 3 Hi1-2īy3 ‫ּביׁש‬
ִ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ ‫הִקים‬
ֵ Hē-1ī(y)3 The embedded yod does double-duty as the
CS-CL OL-CL signal-yod of the Hiphʻil and a
transformation of √2 of the verb (whether ‫ו‬
or ‫ י‬in its original form). The initial ǐ of the
Hiphʻil is lengthened to ē because (again,
for lack of a consonant) it is now located in
an open instead of a closed syllable.
Hiphʻil Xă1-2īy3 ,‫ּביׁש‬
ִ ‫ל‬ְ ‫מ‬ַ ,‫מִקים‬
ֵ Mē-1ī(y)3, Previous note applies. Unlike regular
present, CS-CL ‫ּביׁש‬
ִ ‫ל‬ְ ‫ַי‬ ‫ָיִקים‬ Xā-1ī(y)3 Hiphʻil, the vocalization of the present
future OL-CL tense in ‫ ע“ו‬follows the past (= ‫מֵקים‬ ֵ
‫הִקים‬
ֵ ) instead of the future (‫)ָיִקים‬. ē and
ā each satisfy the requirement of having a
long vowel in the open first syllable.
Huphʻal Xŭ1-2ă3 ,‫פַקד‬
ְ ‫ה‬ ֻ ,‫הּוַקם‬ Xū(w)-1a3 The embedded vav does double-duty as the
CS-CL ,‫פָקד‬ְ ‫מ‬ ֻ ,‫מּוָקם‬ OL-CS signal-u-vowel of the Huphʻal and the
‫פַקד‬ ְ ‫ֻי‬ ‫יּוַקם‬ OL-CL (transposed) √2-letter of the root.
Geminate Verbs √2=√3 (“‫)גזרת ע“ע או ”כפולים‬
General Characteristics of ‫כפולים‬
If you thought that the ‫ ע“י‬/ ‫ ע“ו‬verbs were a sharp departure from anything we have seen before,
“you ain’t seen nothing yet!”
The class of verbs we are going to examine now have an archaic flavor, perhaps reaching back into
prehistoric stages of the language, when the regular patterns that we have seen so far were still in
the making. How else are we to account for the lack of standardization, that shows four separate
paradigms in the Kal alone? Many of these forms have become obsolete with the modernization
of the Hebrew language, but surprisingly many still survive, so it is important to learn this group,
both to recognize the older forms that still pop up, as well as to know how correctly to use
surviving specimens such as ‫הַרע‬ ָ ‫ל‬
ְ ,‫בב‬
ֵ ‫סּתֹו‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ ‫ל‬
ְ ,‫הֵקל‬
ָ ‫ל‬
ְ .
The architecture of verbs of this group is surprisingly simple. Start with a biliteral root—,‫ רע‬,‫סב‬
‫ גל‬,‫ צח‬,‫ שח‬,‫ תם‬,‫ קב‬,‫ קל‬,‫ בר‬,‫ חל‬,‫ חד‬,‫ חג‬,‫דל‬. (It is amazing how many of the most basic,
common words in any language are so old that they have been “grandfathered” into the language
with irregular patterns.) Next, use it in simple forms—as adjectives or 3rd-person verbs, with a
minimum of modification. Finally, for emphasis, double one or the other letter or both in various
additive combinations (‫ּקב‬ֹ ‫ ִי‬,‫תי‬
ִ ‫ַקּבֹו‬, etc.)—perhaps an early experimentation with letter-emphasis
that eventually led to more regular patterns such as the mature Piʻel.
We discussed above (with the ‫ ע“ו‬verbs) how one of the oddest features of this construction—the
interpolated ḥolam in the past tense—may have served to facilitate the doubling of the consonants
before the pronominal suffixes: the speaker could not add the dagesh-emphasis to the ‫ ב‬of ‫ סב‬in
‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫ב‬
ְ ‫ס‬
ַ but by expanding the form to ‫תי‬
ִ ‫סּבֹו‬
ַ this becomes possible.
Differentiation among the binyanim of this form depends on recognizing certain signs, some
obvious, some subtle. In the past tense, the Niphʻal is distinguished by a nun-prefix, the Hiphʻil
by a hei-prefix, the Huphʻal by the hu-prefix. In the future tense, the Kal has eph’ol and eph’al
forms (‫ ֵיַקל‬,‫ּקב‬
ֹ ‫ ִי‬,‫חג‬
ֹ ‫)ָי‬. The Niphʻal is identical to one of the Kal eph’al forms (‫ּסב‬
ַ ‫ ִי‬,‫ּדל‬
ַ ‫)ִי‬. In the
Hiphʻil future, the typical embedded yod is reduced to a mere tzeireh (‫סב‬ ֵ ‫)ָי‬.
In modern Hebrew, many of these verbs have assumed regular patterns (‫חַגג‬ ָ ,‫לל‬ַ ‫ ָג‬,‫בב‬ַ ‫ס‬ָ ). A
slightly irregular pattern that has survived the ravages of time is the Polel form that we have
already seen in the ‫ ע“ו‬paradigm; there is no difference in the conjugation of ‫מם‬ ֵ ‫תקֹו‬ְ ‫ה‬ִ ‫ל‬ְ or
‫לל‬ֵ ‫תּגֹו‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ ‫ל‬
ְ ,‫בב‬
ֵ ‫סּתֹו‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ ‫ל‬
ְ . The student should expect from this unit to gain passive familiarity with the
more archaic forms, and a more active use-mastery of these simpler, more regular forms.
√2=√3 “Geminate” Verbs (‫)גזרת כפולים ע“ע‬: Kal Paradigms
ephʻol #1 ephʻol #2 ephʻol #3 ephʻal #4 ephʻal #5 Remarks

‫תי‬ ִ ‫חּגֹו‬ ַ ‫תי‬ ִ ‫ּברֹו‬ ָ ‫תי‬ ִ ‫ַקּבֹו‬ ‫תי‬ ִ ‫ַקּלֹו‬ ‫תי‬ ִ ‫ּדּלֹו‬ ַ
ָ ‫חּגֹו‬
‫ת‬ ַ ָ ‫ּברֹו‬
‫ת‬ ָ ָ ‫ַקּבֹו‬
‫ת‬ ָ ‫ַקּלֹו‬
‫ת‬ ָ ‫ּדּלֹו‬
‫ת‬ ַ See general remarks for the basic
‫חּגֹות‬ ַ ‫ּברֹות‬ ָ ‫ַקּבֹות‬ ‫ַקּלֹות‬ ‫ּדּלֹות‬ ַ architecture of this form, including
‫חַגג‬
ָ ‫ּבַרר‬
ָ ‫ַקב‬ ‫ַקל‬ ‫ּדל‬ַ the embedded ḥolam.
‫חְגָגה‬ ָ ‫ּבְרָרה‬ ָ ‫ּבה‬ ָ ‫ַק‬ ‫ּלה‬ ָ ‫ַק‬ ‫ּלה‬ ָ ‫ּד‬ ַ
Note how the root ‫ ברר‬provides an
‫חּגֹונּו‬ ַ ‫ּברֹונּו‬ ָ ‫ַקּבֹונּו‬ ‫ַקּלֹונּו‬ ‫ּדּלֹונּו‬ ַ example of compensation for the
‫תם‬ ֶ ‫חּגֹו‬ ַ ‫תם‬ ֶ ‫ּברֹו‬ ָ ‫תם‬ ֶ ‫ַקּבֹו‬ ‫תם‬ ֶ ‫ַקּלֹו‬ ‫תם‬ ֶ ‫ּדּלֹו‬ ַ inability of the resh to take a
‫תן‬ֶ ‫חּגֹו‬ ַ ‫תן‬ֶ ‫ּברֹו‬ ָ ‫תן‬ֶ ‫ַקּבֹו‬ ‫תן‬ֶ ‫ַקּלֹו‬ ‫תן‬ֶ ‫ּדּלֹו‬ ַ dagesh.
‫חְגגּו‬ ָ ‫ּבְררּו‬ָ ‫ַקּבּו‬ ‫ַקּלּו‬ ‫ּדּלּו‬ַ
‫חֹוֵגג‬ ‫ּבֹוֵרר‬ ‫ַקב‬ ‫ַקל‬ ‫ּדל‬ַ Note how Paradigms 3-5 exemplify
‫חֹוֶגֶגת‬ ‫ּבֹוֶרֶרת‬ ‫ּבה‬
ָ ‫ַק‬ ‫ּלה‬
ָ ‫ַק‬ ‫ּלה‬
ָ ‫ּד‬ַ adjectival forms (like the more
‫חֹוְגַגים‬ ‫ּבֹוְרִרים‬ ‫ּבים‬
ִ ‫ַק‬ ‫ּלים‬
ִ ‫ַק‬ ‫ּלים‬
ִ ‫ּד‬ ַ regular ‫בׁש‬
ֵ ‫ ָי‬,‫בק‬
ֵ ‫ּד‬
ָ )—this time
‫חֹוְגגֹות‬ ‫ּבֹוְררֹות‬ ‫ַקּבֹות‬ ‫ַקּלֹות‬ ‫ּדּלֹות‬ ַ within the kefulim paradigm.
‫חג‬ֹ ‫א‬ ָ ‫בר‬ֹ ‫א‬ ָ ‫ּקב‬

ֹ ‫א‬ ֶ ‫אַקל‬ ֶ ‫ּדל‬
ַ ‫א‬ ֶ √1 doubled in Paradigms 3 & 5.
‫חג‬
ֹ ‫ּת‬ָ ‫בר‬
ֹ ‫ּת‬ָ ‫ּקב‬
ֹ ‫ּת‬ִ ‫ּתַקל‬
ֵ ‫ּדל‬
ַ ‫ּת‬ִ Note three different initial vowel
patterns, in addition to eph’ol /
‫חג‬ ֹ ‫ָי‬ ‫בר‬ ֹ ‫ָי‬ ‫ּקב‬ֹ ‫ִי‬ ‫ֵיַקל‬ ‫ּדל‬ַ ‫ִי‬ eph’al difference.
‫חִּגי‬
ֹ ‫ּת‬
ָ ‫בִרי‬ֹ ‫ּת‬
ָ ‫ּבי‬
ִ ‫ּק‬
ֹ ‫ּת‬
ִ ‫ּלי‬
ִ ‫ּתַק‬
ֵ ‫ּלי‬
ִ ‫ּד‬
ַ ‫ּת‬
ִ √2 doubled before suffixes except
‫חּגּו‬
ֹ ‫ָי‬ ‫ברּו‬ֹ ‫ָי‬ ‫ּקּבּו‬
ֹ ‫ִי‬ ‫ֵיַקּלּו‬ ‫ּדּלּו‬
ַ ‫ִי‬ where √2 is gutteral.
‫חְגָנה‬
ֹ ‫ּת‬
ָ ‫בְרָנה‬
ֹ ‫ּת‬
ָ Follows the regular pattern of each
‫בָנה‬
ְ ‫ּק‬
ֹ ‫ּת‬
ִ ‫לָנה‬
ְ ‫ּתַק‬
ֵ ‫לָנה‬
ְ ‫ּד‬
ַ ‫ּת‬
ִ paradigm (but note the flourishes in
(‫חֶּגיָנה‬
ֻ ‫ּת‬
ְ ) (‫בֶריָנה‬
ֹ ‫)ּת‬
#1 and #2).
‫חג‬ ֹ ‫ּבר‬
ֹ ‫ֹקב‬ ‫ַקל‬ ‫ּדל‬ַ
‫חִּגי‬ ֹ ‫ּבִרי‬ֹ ‫ּבי‬
ִ ‫ֹק‬ ‫ּלי‬
ִ ‫ַק‬ ‫ּלי‬
ִ ‫ּד‬ ַ
‫חּגּו‬ ֹ ‫ּברּו‬ ֹ ‫ֹקּבּו‬ ‫ַקּלּו‬ ‫ּדּלּו‬ ַ
‫חְגָנה‬ ֹ ‫ּבְרָנה‬ ֹ ‫בָנה‬ ְ ‫ֹק‬ ‫לָנה‬ ְ ‫ַק‬ ‫לָנה‬ ְ ‫ּד‬ ַ
‫חג‬
ֹ ‫ל‬
ָ ‫בר‬
ֹ ‫ל‬
ָ ‫לֹקב‬
ָ ‫לֹקל‬
ָ ‫לֹדל‬
ָ
‫חג‬
ַ
‫‪√2=√3 “Geminates”: Binyanim Compared‬‬

‫תי‬ ‫סּבֹו ִ‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫תי‬ ‫סּבֹו ִ‬ ‫ְנ ַ‬ ‫ּתי‬ ‫ב ִ‬ ‫ב ְ‬ ‫סֹו ַ‬ ‫ּתי‬ ‫ב ִ‬ ‫ב ְ‬ ‫סֹו ַ‬ ‫תי‬ ‫סּבֹו ִ‬ ‫ה ִ‬ ‫ֲ‬ ‫תי‬ ‫סּבֹו ִ‬ ‫הּו ַ‬ ‫ּתי‬ ‫ב ִ‬ ‫ב ְ‬ ‫סּתֹו ַ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫סּבֹו ָ‬
‫ת‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫סּבֹו ָ‬
‫ת‬ ‫ְנ ַ‬ ‫ב ָ‬
‫ּת‬ ‫ב ְ‬ ‫סֹו ַ‬ ‫ב ָ‬
‫ּת‬ ‫ב ְ‬ ‫סֹו ַ‬ ‫סּבֹו ָ‬
‫ת‬ ‫ה ִ‬ ‫ֲ‬ ‫סּבֹו ָ‬
‫ת‬ ‫הּו ַ‬ ‫ב ָ‬
‫ּת‬ ‫ב ְ‬ ‫סּתֹו ַ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫סּבֹות‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫סּבֹות‬ ‫ְנ ַ‬ ‫ב ְ‬
‫ּת‬ ‫ב ְ‬ ‫סֹו ַ‬ ‫ב ְ‬
‫ּת‬ ‫ב ְ‬ ‫סֹו ַ‬ ‫סּבֹות‬ ‫ה ִ‬ ‫ֲ‬ ‫סּבֹות‬ ‫הּו ַ‬ ‫ב ְ‬
‫ּת‬ ‫ב ְ‬ ‫סּתֹו ַ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫סב‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫סב‬ ‫ָנ ַ‬ ‫בב‬ ‫סֹו ֵ‬ ‫בב‬ ‫סֹו ַ‬ ‫סב‬ ‫ה ֵ‬ ‫ֵ‬ ‫סב‬ ‫הּו ַ‬ ‫בב‬ ‫סּתֹו ֵ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫ּבה‬ ‫ס ָ‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫ּבה‬ ‫ס ָ‬‫ָנ ַ‬ ‫בה‬ ‫ב ָ‬ ‫סֹו ְ‬ ‫בה‬ ‫ב ָ‬ ‫סֹו ְ‬ ‫ּבה‬ ‫ס ָ‬‫ה ֵ‬ ‫ֵ‬ ‫ּבה‬ ‫ס ָ‬‫הּו ַ‬ ‫בה‬ ‫ב ָ‬ ‫סּתֹו ְ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫סּבֹונּו‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫סּבֹונּו‬ ‫ְנ ַ‬ ‫בנּו‬ ‫ב ְ‬ ‫סֹו ַ‬ ‫בנּו‬ ‫ב ְ‬ ‫סֹו ַ‬ ‫סּבֹונּו‬ ‫ה ִ‬ ‫ֲ‬ ‫סּבֹונּו‬ ‫הּו ַ‬ ‫בנּו‬ ‫ב ְ‬ ‫סּתֹו ַ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫תם‬ ‫סּבֹו ֶ‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫תם‬ ‫סּבֹו ֶ‬ ‫ְנ ַ‬ ‫ּתם‬ ‫ב ֶ‬ ‫ב ְ‬ ‫סֹו ַ‬ ‫ּתם‬ ‫ב ֶ‬ ‫ב ְ‬ ‫סֹו ַ‬ ‫תם‬ ‫סּבֹו ֶ‬ ‫ה ִ‬ ‫ֲ‬ ‫תם‬ ‫סּבֹו ֶ‬ ‫הּו ַ‬ ‫ּתם‬ ‫ב ֶ‬ ‫ב ְ‬ ‫סּתֹו ַ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫תן‬‫סּבֹו ֶ‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫תן‬‫סּבֹו ֶ‬ ‫ְנ ַ‬ ‫ּתן‬‫ב ֶ‬ ‫ב ְ‬ ‫סֹו ַ‬ ‫ּתן‬‫ב ֶ‬ ‫ב ְ‬ ‫סֹו ַ‬ ‫תן‬‫סּבֹו ֶ‬ ‫ה ִ‬ ‫ֲ‬ ‫תן‬‫סּבֹו ֶ‬ ‫הּו ַ‬ ‫ּתן‬‫ב ֶ‬ ‫ב ְ‬ ‫סּתֹו ַ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫סּבּו‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫סּבּו‬‫ָנ ַ‬ ‫בבּו‬ ‫סֹו ְ‬ ‫בבּו‬ ‫סֹו ְ‬ ‫סּבּו‬‫ה ֵ‬ ‫ֵ‬ ‫סּבּו‬‫הּו ַ‬ ‫בבּו‬ ‫סּתֹו ְ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫סב‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫סב‬ ‫ָנ ָ‬ ‫בב‬ ‫מסֹו ֵ‬ ‫ְ‬ ‫בב‬ ‫מסֹו ָ‬ ‫ְ‬ ‫סב‬ ‫מ ֵ‬ ‫ֵ‬ ‫סב‬ ‫מּו ָ‬ ‫בב‬ ‫סּתֹו ֵ‬ ‫מ ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫ּבה‬
‫ס ָ‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫ּבה‬
‫ס ָ‬ ‫ְנ ַ‬ ‫בת‬‫ב ֶ‬ ‫מסֹו ֶ‬ ‫ְ‬ ‫בת‬‫ב ֶ‬ ‫מסֹו ֶ‬ ‫ְ‬ ‫ּבה‬
‫ס ָ‬ ‫מ ִ‬ ‫ְ‬ ‫ּבה‬
‫ס ָ‬ ‫מּו ַ‬ ‫בת‬‫ב ֶ‬ ‫סּתֹו ֶ‬ ‫מ ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫ּבים‬
‫ס ִ‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫ּבים‬
‫ס ִ‬ ‫ְנ ַ‬ ‫בים‬‫ב ִ‬ ‫מסֹו ְ‬ ‫ְ‬ ‫בים‬‫ב ִ‬ ‫מסֹו ָ‬ ‫ְ‬ ‫ּבים‬
‫ס ִ‬ ‫מ ִ‬ ‫ְ‬ ‫ּבים‬
‫ס ִ‬ ‫מּו ַ‬ ‫בים‬‫ב ִ‬ ‫סּתֹו ְ‬ ‫מ ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫סּבֹות‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫סּבֹות‬ ‫ְנ ַ‬ ‫בבֹות‬ ‫מסֹו ְ‬ ‫ְ‬ ‫בבֹות‬ ‫מסֹו ָ‬ ‫ְ‬ ‫סּבֹות‬ ‫מ ִ‬ ‫ְ‬ ‫סּבֹות‬ ‫מּו ַ‬ ‫בבֹות‬ ‫סּתֹו ְ‬ ‫מ ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫ּסב‬
‫א ֹ‬ ‫ֶ‬ ‫ּסב‬
‫א ַ‬ ‫ֶ‬ ‫בב‬‫אסֹו ֵ‬ ‫ֲ‬ ‫בב‬‫אסֹו ַ‬ ‫ֲ‬ ‫סב‬‫א ֵ‬ ‫ָ‬ ‫סב‬‫אּו ַ‬ ‫בב‬‫סּתֹו ֵ‬‫א ְ‬ ‫ֶ‬
‫ּסב‬
‫ּת ֹ‬‫ִ‬ ‫ּסב‬
‫ּת ַ‬‫ִ‬ ‫בב‬
‫ּתסֹו ֵ‬‫ְ‬ ‫בב‬
‫ּתסֹו ַ‬‫ְ‬ ‫סב‬
‫ּת ֵ‬‫ָ‬ ‫סב‬
‫ּתּו ַ‬ ‫בב‬
‫סּתֹו ֵ‬‫ּת ְ‬‫ִ‬
‫ּסב‬‫ִי ֹ‬ ‫ּסב‬‫ִי ַ‬ ‫בב‬ ‫ְיסֹו ֵ‬ ‫בב‬ ‫ְיסֹו ַ‬ ‫סב‬ ‫ָי ֵ‬ ‫סב‬ ‫יּו ַ‬ ‫בב‬ ‫סּתֹו ֵ‬‫ִי ְ‬
‫ּבי‬
‫ּס ִ‬
‫ּת ֹ‬
‫ִ‬ ‫ּבי‬
‫ּס ִ‬
‫ּת ַ‬
‫ִ‬ ‫בי‬‫ב ִ‬
‫ּתסֹו ְ‬
‫ְ‬ ‫בי‬‫ב ִ‬
‫ּתסֹו ְ‬
‫ְ‬ ‫ּבי‬
‫ס ִ‬
‫ּת ֵ‬
‫ָ‬ ‫ּבי‬
‫ס ִ‬
‫ּתּו ַ‬ ‫בי‬‫ב ִ‬
‫סּתֹו ְ‬
‫ּת ְ‬
‫ִ‬
‫ּסּבּו‬
‫ִי ֹ‬ ‫ּסּבּו‬
‫ִי ַ‬ ‫בבּו‬‫ְיסֹו ְ‬ ‫בבּו‬‫ְיסֹו ְ‬ ‫סּבּו‬
‫ָי ֵ‬ ‫סּבּו‬
‫יּו ַ‬ ‫בבּו‬‫סּתֹו ְ‬
‫ִי ְ‬
‫בָנה‬
‫ּס ְ‬
‫ּת ֹ‬
‫ס ְ‬
‫ּת ֵ‬
‫ָ‬
‫בָנה‬
‫ּס ְ‬
‫ּת ַ‬
‫ב ְ‬
‫ּתסֹו ֵ‬
‫ְ‬ ‫בָנה‬
‫ב ְ‬
‫ּתסֹו ַ‬
‫ְ‬ ‫בָנה‬
‫ס ְ‬
‫ּתּו ַ‬ ‫בָנה‬
‫ב ְ‬
‫סּתֹו ֵ‬
‫ּת ְ‬
‫ִ‬
‫ּביָנה(‬
‫ס ֶ‬
‫ּת ֻ‬
‫) ְ‬ ‫ּביָנה(‬
‫ס ֶ‬
‫ּת ִ‬
‫) ְ‬
‫סב‬ ‫ֹ‬ ‫ּסב‬ ‫ה ַ‬ ‫ִ‬ ‫בב‬ ‫סֹו ֵ‬ ‫סב‬ ‫ה ֵ‬ ‫ָ‬ ‫בב‬ ‫סּתֹו ֵ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫ּבי‬
‫ס ִ‬ ‫ֹ‬ ‫ּבי‬
‫ּס ִ‬‫ה ַ‬ ‫ִ‬ ‫בי‬‫ב ִ‬ ‫סֹו ְ‬ ‫ּבי‬
‫ס ִ‬ ‫ה ֵ‬ ‫ָ‬ ‫בי‬‫ב ִ‬ ‫סּתֹו ְ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫סּבּו‬ ‫ֹ‬ ‫ּסּבּו‬ ‫ה ַ‬ ‫ִ‬ ‫בבּו‬ ‫סֹו ְ‬ ‫סּבּו‬ ‫ה ֵ‬ ‫ָ‬ ‫בבּו‬ ‫סּתֹו ְ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫בָנה‬ ‫ס ְ‬ ‫ֹ‬ ‫בָנה‬ ‫ּס ְ‬ ‫ה ַ‬ ‫ִ‬ ‫בָנה‬ ‫ב ְ‬ ‫סֹו ֵ‬ ‫בָנה‬ ‫ס ְ‬ ‫ה ֵ‬ ‫ָ‬ ‫בָנה‬ ‫ב ְ‬ ‫סּתֹו ֵ‬ ‫ה ְ‬ ‫ִ‬
‫סב‬
‫ל ֹ‬
‫ָ‬ ‫ּסב‬
‫ה ֵ‬
‫ל ִ‬
‫ְ‬ ‫בב‬
‫לסֹו ֵ‬
‫ְ‬ ‫סב‬
‫ה ֵ‬
‫ל ָ‬
‫ְ‬ ‫בב‬
‫סּתֹו ֵ‬
‫ה ְ‬
‫ל ִ‬
‫ְ‬
‫ּבה‬
‫ס ָ‬
‫ִ‬ ‫סּבּוב‬
‫ִ‬ ‫בה‬
‫ס ָ‬
‫ה ָ‬
‫ֲ‬ ‫בבּות‬
‫סּתֹו ְ‬
‫ה ְ‬
‫ִ‬
Identification Strategies (continued)
We discussed above the question of identifying, from a given verb-form, which of the
binyanim it came from, based on the presence of telltale signs of the binyan, from the most
obvious and blatant (the dagesh ḥazak of the Piʻel, Puʻal and Hitpaʻel, the embedded yod of the
Hiphʻil) to the more subtle (the vowels of the prefix-letters in the various binyanim).
This presupposes, of course, that one has first done the preliminary work of isolating the
core of the verb from its accretions of prefixes and suffixes. It is well, therefore, to take an
inventory of those accretions, for the purpose of systematizing the identification task:
Prefixes
‫אית“ן‬: The characteristic pronominal prefixes of the future tense:

‫—א‬First person singular
‫—ת‬Second person, or third-person feminine singular
‫—י‬Third person masculine (singular and plural)
‫—נ‬First person plural
‫ה‬ (a) The sign of the Hiphʻil or Hophʻal; (b) the sign of the infinitive (Hiphʻil or Niphʻal)
‫נ‬ The sign of the Niphʻal past and present tenses
Embedded letters
‫י‬ Sign of the Hiphʻil

‫ֹו‬ Sign of the Kal present tense, or of the Polel
Suffixes
‫ה‬ Sign of the feminine

‫ת‬ Sign of the feminine
ְ ,‫ּת‬
‫ּת‬ ָ ,‫ּתי‬
ִ Pronominal prefixes of the past tense
‫י‬ Sign of the feminine (in future 2nd person)
‫ּו‬ Sign of the plural
‫םים‬ִ Sign of the plural (masculine)
‫ םֹות‬Sign of the plural (feminine)
Comparison of Syllable-Structures Across Binyanim

In the following tables we will first analyze the syllable-structures of all binyanim in their regular forms
that will facilitate comparison of them. Then, we shall—within each binyan—compare the forms of the
various gezarot to show to what extent the syllable-structure is preserved or modified under various
irregular conditions.
Syllables /
Binyan/ Tense Example Structure Remarks
Vowels
Kal past ‫מר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ָ 1ā-2ă3 OL-CS
Kal past-present unique in deploying verb root
letters with no prefixes or doublings.
Kal present ‫מר‬

ֵ ‫ׁשֹו‬ 1ō-2ē3 OL-CL
√1 with open vowel syllable is characteristic
of Kal past-present.
Kal future, Niphʻal past-present, and Hiphʻil-
/ ‫מר‬ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ִי‬ Yĭ1-2ō3 / CS-CL / Hophʻal all share simple syllabic structure:
Kal future ‫מד‬ַ ‫ל‬ְ ‫ִי‬ Yĭ1-2ă3 CS-CS Xi1-2a3, with the vowels varying. In Kal, the
second vowel is ō or ă.
Niphʻal past/ / ‫מר‬

ַ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ִנ‬ Nĭ1-2ă3 / CS-CS / Niphʻal has same structure with prefix=N and
present ‫מר‬
ָ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ִנ‬ Nĭ1-2ā3 CS-CL vowel = ă or ā.

ֵ ‫ּׁש‬
ָ ‫ִי‬ Yĭ1-1ā-2ē3
Niphʻal future is unique, and most similar to
CS-OL-CL Hitpaʻel but without the √2 doubling.
Hiphʻil past ‫ּביׁש‬

ִ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ Hĭ1-2īy3 CS-CL
Hiphʻil past has common structure with
prefix=H and 2nd vowel = īy.
Hiphʻil / ‫ּביׁש‬
ִ ‫ל‬ְ ‫מ‬ַ Mă1-2īy3 / Hiphʻil present-future have common structure
‫ּביׁש‬
ִ ‫ל‬ְ ‫ַי‬ CS-CL
present/future Yă1-2īy3 with initial vowel = ă and 2nd vowel = īy
/ ‫ּבׁש‬
ַ ‫ל‬ְ ‫ה‬ָ Xŏ1-2ă3 / Hophʻal has common structure with initial
Hophʻal ‫פָקד‬ְ ‫מ‬ֻ CS-CS
Xŭ1-2ă3 vowel = ŏ / ŭ and 2nd vowel = ă / ā.
Piʻel / Puʻal / Hitpaʻel (binyanim kevedim) all

share common structure, with doubling of √2.
Piel past ‫ּבר‬
ֵ ‫ּד‬
ִ 1ĭ2-2ē3 CS-CL This forms two syllables: 1ă2-2ē3 and forces
prefixes ‫ אית“ן‬,‫ מ‬to stand alone as furtive
syllables instead of combining with √1.
Piʻel present / ‫ּבר‬ Piʻel present/future show characteristic pattern

ֵ ‫ ְיַד‬/ ‫ּבר‬
ֵ ‫מַד‬
ְ Xe-1ă2-2ē3 F-CS-CL
future with prefixes ‫ אית“ן‬,‫מ‬.
Puʻal past ‫ּבר‬

ַ ‫ּד‬
ֻ 1ŭ2-2ă3 CS-CS
Puʻal shows characteristic pattern with initial
vowel ŭ and 2nd vowel ă / ā.
Puʻal present / ‫ּבר‬ e Puʻal present / future are same pattern as past
ַ ‫ ְיֻד‬/ ‫ּבר‬ ָ ‫מֻד‬ ְ X -1ŭ2-2ā3/ F-CS-CL but with prefixes ‫ אית“ן‬,‫מ‬.
future Xe-1ŭ2-2ă3
‫ּבׁש‬ֵ ‫ל‬ ַ ‫ת‬ ְ ‫ה‬ ִ
Hitpaʻel ‫ׁש‬ ֵ ‫ּב‬ ַ ‫ל‬ ְ ‫ת‬ ִ ‫מ‬ Xĭt-1ă2-2ē3
Hitpaʻel shows same pattern, but with
CS-CS-CL compound prefix Xĭt- varying with tense.
‫ּבׁש‬ ֵ ‫ל‬ ַ ‫ת‬ ְ ‫ִי‬
Comparison of Syllable-Structures in Kal

Here we examine how the syllable-structure in the Kal verb remains similar or undergoes modification
depending on irregular circumstances.
Syllables /
Vowels
Kal past ‫מר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ָ Kal past-tense structure remains identical
1ā-2ă3 OL-CS
regular across nearly all conditions.
‫ ל“ה‬,‫ל“א‬ ‫ ָקָנה‬,‫ָקָרא‬ The null value of the final ‫ א‬or ‫ ה‬leaves the
1ā-2ā_(3) OL-OL second vowel open, lengthening it.
‫ע“ו‬ ‫ָקם‬ 1ā3 CL

The presence of only two consonants forces a
monosyllable.
Kal present ‫מר‬

ֵ ‫ׁשֹו‬ 1ō-2ē3 OL-CL
Kal present-tense structure remains identical
across nearly all conditions.
‫ ל“ה‬,‫ל“א‬ ‫ קֹוֶנה‬,‫ קֹוֵרא‬1ō-2ā_(3), The null value of the final ‫ א‬or ‫ ה‬leaves the
OL-OL second vowel open (but it is already long).
1ō-2ê_(3)
/ ‫מר‬ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ִי‬ Yĭ1-2ō3 / CS-CL /
Kal future is the tense most subject to
Kal future ‫מד‬ַ ‫ל‬ְ ‫ִי‬ modifications, owing to √1. We start with
Yĭ1-2ă3 CS-CS basic two-syllable structure.
a
The combination with the ‫חטף‬-vowel
√1 gutteral ‫מץ‬
ַ ‫א‬
ֱ ‫ ֶי‬,‫בד‬ ֲ ‫ ַי‬Ya-1 -2ō3 /
ֹ ‫ע‬ OS-F-CL / functions as a “structurally closed syllable,”
Ye-1e-2ă3 OS-F-CS but knocks out dagesh kal in √2.
Yĭ2-2ō3 / CS-CL / The syllabic structure remains the same, but

‫חסרי פ“נ‬ ‫ּׁשק‬
ַ ‫ ִי‬,‫ּפל‬
ֹ ‫ִי‬
Yĭ2-2ă3 CS-CS the doubled √2 takes the place of √1=‫נ‬.
‫ פ“י‬,‫נחי פ“א‬ ‫ ִייַרׁש‬,‫כל‬ ַ ‫ ֹיא‬Yō_(1)-2ă3, The null value of the √1 ‫י‬,‫ א‬leaves the first
OL-CS syllable open.
Yī_(1)-2ă3
‫ ל”א‬,‫ ִיְקָרא נחי ל”ה‬,‫ ִיְקֶנה‬Yĭ1-2ê_(3), The null value of the √3 ‫ה‬,‫ א‬leaves the final
CS-OL syllable open, lengthening the vowel.
Yĭ1-2ā_(3)
‫חסרי פ”י‬ ‫ׁשב‬ֵ ‫ֵי‬ Yē-2ē3 OL-CL
The loss of √1 forces the prefix to stand alone
as its own syllable and to take a long vowel.
The loss of a consonant (2 instead of 3) forces
‫ ע”י‬,‫ע”ו‬ ִ ‫ ָי‬,‫ ָיקּום‬Yā-1ū(2)3 /
‫ׁשיר‬ OL-CL the prefix to stand alone as its own syllable
Yā-1ī(2)3 and to take a long vowel.
Comparison of Syllable-Structures in Niph‘al

Here we examine how the syllable-structure in the Niphʻal verb remains similar or undergoes modification
Syllables /
Vowels
Niphʻal past/ / ‫מר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ִנ‬ Nĭ1-2ă3 / CS-CS / Niphʻal past-present structure is rather similar
present ‫מר‬
ָ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ִנ‬ Nĭ1-2ā3 CS-CL across most cases.

√1 gutteral ‫בד‬
ַ ‫ע‬
ֱ ‫ֶנ‬ Ne-1e-2ă3 OS-F-CS functions as a “structurally closed syllable,”
but knocks out dagesh kal in √2.
The syllabic structure remains the same, but
‫חסרי פ“נ‬ ‫ּצל‬
ַ ‫ִנ‬ Nĭ2-2ā3 CS-CS the doubled √2 takes the place of √1=‫נ‬.
‫ ל“ה‬,‫ל“א‬ ‫ ִנְקָרא‬,‫ ִנְקָנה‬Nĭ1-2ā_(3) The null value of the final ‫ א‬or ‫ ה‬leaves the
CS-OL second vowel open, lengthening it.
‫פ”י‬ Transforming ‫ י‬to ‫ ו‬makes for a unique and

‫סד‬
ַ ‫נֹו‬ Nō(1)-2ă3 OL-CS different form of this sub-class.

ֵ ‫ּׁש‬
ָ ‫ִי‬ Yĭ1-1ā-2ē3
The 3-syllable form with √1 doubled is the
CS-OL-CL unique, characteristic shape of Niphʻal future.
√1 gutteral ‫כל‬
ֵ ‫א‬
ָ ‫ֵי‬ Yē-1ā-2ē3
When the √1-doubling is lost, we still have the
OL-OL-CL 3-syllable form—with three long vowels.
Comparison of Syllable-Structures in Hiph‘il

Here we examine how the syllable-structure in the Hiphʻil verb remains similar or undergoes modification
depending on irregular circumstances. (The Huphʻal modifications, though not shown here, are similar,
owing to the close relation of these two binyanim.)
Syllables /
Vowels
Hiphʻil past has the structure of two closed
Hiphʻil past ‫ּביׁש‬

ִ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ Hĭ1-2īy3 CS-CL
syllables, with first syllable comprising
prefix=H and √1, and second syllable √2 +
vowel = īy + √3.
√1 gutteral ‫ביד‬
ִ ‫ע‬
ֱ ‫ה‬
ֶ He-1e-2īy3 OS-F-CL functions as a “structurally closed syllable,”
but knocks out dagesh kal in √2.
The syllabic structure remains the same, but
‫חסרי פ“נ‬ ‫ּציל‬
ִ ‫ה‬
ִ Hĭ2-2īy3 CS-CL the doubled √2 takes the place of √1=‫נ‬.
‫פ”י‬ Transforming ‫ י‬to ‫ ו‬makes for a unique and

‫הֹוִריד‬ Hō(1)-2īy3 OL-CL different form of this sub-class.
The overlaying of the typical “ī”-pattern of
‫ל“ה‬ Hiphʻil by the “ā”-pattern of ‫ ל”ה‬makes it
‫הְקָנה‬
ִ Hĭ1-2ā_(3) CS-OL challenging to recognize this sub-class as
Hiphʻil.
‫פ”י ל”ה‬ Combining the ‫ פ”י‬and ‫ ל”ה‬makes this form

‫הֹוָרה‬ Hō(1)-2ā(3) OL-OL doubly-disguised and radically unique.
The loss of a consonant (2 instead of 3) forces
‫ע”ו‬ ‫ׁשיב‬
ִ ‫ה‬ֵ Hē-1īy3 OL-CL the prefix to stand alone as its own syllable
and to take a long vowel.
Hiphʻil / ‫ּביׁש‬
ִ ‫ל‬ְ ‫מ‬ַ Mă1-2īy3 /
Hiphʻil present-future form has similar
‫ּביׁש‬
ִ ‫ל‬ְ ‫ַי‬ CS-CL structure to past-tense form with initial vowel
present/future Yă1-2īy3 = ă and 2nd vowel = īy
√1 gutteral ‫ביד‬
ִ ‫ע‬
ֲ ‫מ‬
ַ Xă-1a-2īy3 OS-F-CL Similar pattern as past tense.
‫חסרי פ“נ‬ ‫ּציל‬

ִ ‫מ‬
ַ Mă2-2īy3 CS-CL Similar pattern as past tense.
‫פ”י‬ ‫מֹוִריד‬ Mō(1)-2īy3 OL-CL Similar pattern as past tense.
‫ל“ה‬ ‫מְקֶנה‬
ַ Mă1-2ê_(3) CS-OL Similar pattern as past tense.
‫פ”י ל”ה‬ ‫מֹוֶרה‬ Hō(1)-2ê(3) OL-OL Similar pattern as past tense.
‫ע”ו‬ ‫ׁשיב‬
ִ ‫ ָי‬,‫ׁשיב‬
ִ ‫מ‬ֵ Mē-1īy3,
OL-CL Similar pattern as past tense.
Yā-1īy3
Comparison of Syllable-Structures in Pi‘el

Here we examine how the syllable-structure in the Kal verb remains similar or undergoes modification
Syllables /
Vowels
Piel past ‫ּבר‬
ֵ ‫ּד‬
ִ 1ĭ2-2ē3 CS-CL share common structure, with doubling of √2.
This forms two syllables: 1ī2-2ē3.
The most challenging common transformation
in the Piʻel is caused by √2 gutteral. The
characteristic √2-doubling is lost, and is
√2 gutteral: ‫אר‬ ‫אר‬
ֵ ‫ּפ‬
ֵ 1ē-2ē3 OL-CL replaced in some cases by a “long-long” vowel
pattern (disguised occasionally as “long-
short” in forms like ְ‫ּבַר‬
ֵ ).
√2 gutteral: The failure to achieve ‫ תשלום דגש‬results in a

‫העח‬ ‫חד‬
ֵ ‫א‬
ִ 1ĭ-2ē3 OS-CL rare anomaly that defies analysis: an open
syllable with a short vowel.
The loss of a consonant (2 instead of 3) results
‫ע”ו פֹולל‬ ‫מם‬
ֵ ‫קֹו‬ 1ō-3ē3 OL-CL in a different doubling-pattern in this class of
verbs.
The Piʻel phonetic pattern lends itself perfectly
to 4-letter roots (mostly borrowed, some
‫מֻרבעים‬ ‫ּפְרֵנס‬
ִ 1ĭ2-3ē4 CS-CL doubling of biliteral roots like ‫ ;)גלגל‬since
there are already 4 consonants, no additional
doubling is required.
share common structure, with doubling of √2.
Piʻel present / ‫ּבר‬
ֵ ‫ ְיַד‬/ ‫ּבר‬
ֵ ‫מַד‬
ְ Xe-1ă2-2ē3 This forms two syllables: 1ă2-2ē3 and forces
F-CS-CL
future prefixes ‫ אית“ן‬,‫ מ‬to stand alone as furtive
syllables instead of combining with √1.
√2 gutteral: ‫אר אר‬

ֵ ‫פ‬
ָ ‫ ְי‬,‫אר‬
ֵ ‫פ‬
ָ ‫מ‬
ְ Xe-1ā-2ē3 F-OL-CL Similar pattern to past tense.
√2 gutteral: ,‫חד‬
ֵ ‫א‬ַ ‫מ‬ְ
‫העח‬ ‫חד‬ֵ ‫א‬ַ ‫ְי‬ Xe-1ă-2ē3 OS-CL Similar pattern to past tense.
, ‫מם‬ֵ ‫מקֹו‬ְ
‫ע”ו פֹולל‬ Xe-1ō-3ē3 OL-CL
‫מם‬
ֵ ‫ְיקֹו‬ Similar pattern to past tense.
,‫פְרֵנס‬
ַ ‫מ‬ְ
‫מֻרבעים‬ Xe-1ă2-3ē4 CS-CL
‫פְרֵנס‬ַ ‫ְי‬ Similar pattern to past tense.
Syllable Patterns in Hebrew Verbs: A Summary
The syllable-patterns common in Hebrew verb stems can be classified as follows:
1. Major Pattern #1: Xǝ̆1-2ǝ3 [where ǝ̆ = short vowel, ǝ = long or short vowel]
a. This applies to the following cases: Kal future stem, Niphʻal past/present stem, Hiphʻil
(all forms), Hophʻal (all forms). Examples: ‫ּבׁש‬ ַ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ ָי‬,‫ּביׁש‬
ִ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ ַי‬,‫מר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ ִנ‬,‫מר‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ִי‬. Note that in
all these cases, the division between syllables is demarcated by a sheva naḥ, and √2 is
eligible for a dagesh kal in letters ‫בגד כפת‬.
2. Major Pattern #2: [Xe]-1ǝ̆2-2ǝ3 [where ǝ̆ = short vowel, ǝ = long or short vowel]
a. This applies to the binyanim kevedim: Piʻel, Puʻal, Hitpaʻel.
3. Special Pattern #1: 1ā-2ă3, 1ō-2ē3
a. This applies to Kal past and present.
4. Special Pattern #2: Xĭ1-1ā-2ē3
a. This applies to Niphʻal future and imperative.
Note that these syllable-patterns apply to the basic verb stems only. Additional (more nuanced)
patterns come into play in the detailed conjugations, notably through vowel-reduction with
addition of suffixes (see especially the application to sheva naʻ, below).
The Sheva in Hebrew Verbs: A Summary
Having completed an overview of the forms and syllable-structure of the Hebrew verb, we can
now make some generalizations about the behavior of the sheva in Hebrew verbs:
1. The sheva demarcating syllables in the basic stems of verbs is generally sheva naḥ. This
includes:
a. The sheva between √1 and √2 in all binyanim of Major Syllable Pattern #1 (Xǝ1-2ǝ3):
i. Regular Kal future (‫מד‬ ַ ‫ל‬ְ ‫ ִי‬,‫מר‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫)ִי‬, and also infinitive (‫מר‬ ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ל‬ ִ ).
ii. Regular Niphʻal past and present: ‫מר‬ ַ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ִנ‬.
iii. Regular Hiphʻil, all tenses: ‫ּביׁש‬ ִ ‫ל‬ ְ ‫ ַי‬,‫ּביׁש‬ִ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ .
iv. Regular Hophʻal, all tenses: ‫ּבׁש‬ ַ ‫ל‬ ְ ‫ה‬ָ .
b. The sheva between the prefix and √1 in Hitpaʻel, all tenses: ‫ּבׁש‬ ֵ ‫ל‬ַ ‫ת‬ְ ‫ה‬
ִ .
c. The sheva between √3 and pronominal suffixes:
i. The 1st and 2nd person suffixes of the past tense, all binyanim: ‫ּתי‬ ִ ‫מְר‬ ַ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ ִנ‬,‫ּתי‬ִ ‫מְר‬ ַ ‫ׁש‬
ָ ,
etc.
ii. The suffix ‫ ָנה‬in the future-tense 2nd and 3rd person feminine plural: ,‫מְרָנה‬ ֹ ‫ׁש‬ְ ‫ּת‬
ִ
‫ּבְרָנה‬ ֵ ‫ּתַד‬ְ , etc.
2. The sheva that is the result of vowel reduction resulting from suffixes added in later
syllables is generally sheva naʻ. This includes:
a. The sheva under √2, reduced from the regular past-tense pataḥ, on adding the suffixes
‫םה‬ ָ and ‫ םּו‬in all binyanim except Hiphʻil: ,‫ּבָרה‬ ְ ‫ּד‬
ֻ ,‫ּבָרה‬
ְ ‫ּד‬
ִ ,‫מָרה‬
ְ ‫ׁש‬ ְ ‫ ִנ‬,‫מרּו‬ ְ ‫ׁש‬ָ ,‫מָרה‬ ְ ‫ׁש‬ָ
‫ׁשה‬ ָ ‫ּב‬
ְ ‫ל‬ַ ‫ת‬ְ ‫ה‬ ִ ,‫ׁשה‬ ָ ‫ּב‬ְ ‫ל‬ְ ‫ה‬ָ .
b. The sheva under √2, reduced from various original vowels, on adding the suffixes ‫םי‬ ִ
and ‫ םּו‬in the future tense, in all binyanim except Hiphʻil: ,‫ּברּו‬ ְ ‫ּתַד‬ ְ ,‫מרּו‬ ְ ‫ּׁש‬
ָ ‫ ִי‬,‫מִרי‬ְ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּת‬ ִ
‫ּבׁשּו‬
ְ ‫ל‬ַ ‫ת‬ְ ‫ ִי‬,‫מי‬ ִ ‫ל‬ְ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּת‬ֻ ,‫למּו‬ ְ ‫ׁש‬
ֻ ‫’ְי‬
c. The sheva at the start of any word, such as:
i. The sheva under √1 in the Kal past 2nd pl., imperative (sing. masc. and fem. pl.):
‫בָנה‬ ְ ‫ת‬ֹ ‫ּכ‬
ְ ,‫תב‬ ֹ ‫ּכ‬ְ ,‫ּתם‬ ֶ ‫ב‬ ְ ‫ת‬
ַ ‫ּכ‬
ְ .
ii. The sheva under the prefix (‫ אית”ן‬,‫ )מ‬in Piʻel or Puʻal: ‫ּבר‬ ַ ‫ ְיֻד‬,‫ּבר‬ֵ ‫מַד‬ ְ .
3. When two successive vowel reductions occur in consecutive consonants of the same verb,
the stage is set for creation of a sheva meraḥef:
a. First example: In the regular Kal imperative, feminine and plural forms.
i. Stage 1: ‫תב‬ ֹ ‫ּכ‬ ְ with sheva naʻ under √1
ii. Adding suffix ‫םי‬ ִ or ‫ םּו‬which reduces the vowel under √2 to sheva naʻ, thus
yielding the hypothetical form ‫בי‬ ִ ‫ת‬ ְ ‫ּכ‬
ְ . However, the combination of two
consecutive ‫ שואים נאים‬is unstable and is normalized to “short vowel + sheva
meraḥef, thus: ‫בי‬ ִ ‫ת‬ְ ‫ּכ‬ ִ . Note: √3 does not assume a dagesh kal in this scenario,
even though the sheva under √2 is unpronounced.
b. Second example: When √1-gutteral takes a ‫חטף‬-vowel (grammatically equivalent to a

sheva naʻ) in the basic stem, a similar scenario is created on addition of vowel suffixes
‫ םּו‬,‫םי‬
ִ ,‫םה‬
ָ . This occurs in the following cases:
i. In Kal future: ‫םי‬ ִ + ‫סף‬ֹ ‫א‬
ֱ ‫ּת‬
ֶ yields ‫פי‬ ִ ‫ס‬ְ ‫א‬ ַ ‫ּת‬
ַ , while ‫ םּו‬+ ‫עֹרב‬ ֲ ‫ ַי‬yields ‫עְרבּו‬
ַ ‫ַי‬.
ii. In Niphʻal past tense: ‫עְרבּו‬ֶ ‫ ֶנ‬,‫בה‬
ָ ‫עְר‬ֶ ‫ ֶנ‬,‫עַרב‬ ֱ ‫ֶנ‬.
iii. In Hophʻal past and future: ‫עְרבּו‬ ָ ‫ּת‬
ָ ,‫בי‬ ִ ‫עְר‬
ָ ‫ּת‬
ָ ,‫עַרב‬
ֳ ‫ּת‬
ָ ;‫בה‬
ָ ‫עְר‬
ָ ‫ה‬ָ ,‫עַרב‬ֳ ‫ה‬
ָ .
The Dagesh in Hebrew Verbs: A Summary
Dagesh Kal Cases Summarized
Dagesh kal occurs in the letters ‫ בגד כפת‬at the start of a word or at the start of a syllable not
preceded by a vowel. Thus:
1. √1 will have dagesh kal at the beginning of a word, when there is no prefix before the root,
or where the prefix comprises a complete closed syllable. This occurs:
a. In Kal past, present and imperative: ‫תב‬ ֹ ‫ּכ‬ ְ ,‫תב‬ ֵ ‫ ּכֹו‬,‫תב‬ ַ ‫ּכ‬ָ .
b. In Piʻel past and imperative, and Puʻal past: ‫ּבר‬ ַ ‫ּד‬ֻ ,‫ּבר‬ֵ ‫ּד‬ַ ,‫ּבר‬ֵ ‫ּד‬
ִ .
c. In Hitpaʻel, all forms: ‫ּתב‬ ֵ ‫ּכ‬ ַ ‫ת‬ְ ‫ה‬ִ ‫ל‬ ְ ,‫ּתב‬ ֵ ‫ּכ‬
ַ ‫ת‬ ְ ‫ ִי‬,‫ּתב‬ ֵ ‫ּכ‬ ַ ‫ת‬ ְ ‫מ‬ ִ ,‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫ב‬ ְ ‫ּת‬
ַ ‫ּכ‬
ַ ‫ת‬ְ ‫ה‬ִ .
i. Note: When a sibilant-√1 undergoes transposition, the ‫ ת‬that takes the √1 position
also receives a dagesh kal: ‫ּמר‬ ֵ ‫ּת‬ ַ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ה‬ ִ ,‫ּמר‬ ֵ ‫ּת‬ ַ ‫ׁש‬ְ ‫מ‬ ִ .
2. √2 will have dagesh kal when √1 has a sheva naḥ. This occurs:
a. In Kal future: ‫ּבר‬ ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ִי‬.
b. In Niphʻal past and present: ‫ּבר‬ ָ ‫ׁש‬ ְ ‫ ִנ‬,‫ּבר‬ ַ ‫ׁש‬ ְ ‫ִּנ‬.
c. In Hiphʻil, all forms: ‫ּביר‬ ִ ‫ׁש‬ ְ ‫ ַי‬,‫ּביר‬ ִ ‫ׁש‬ְ ‫מ‬ ַ ,‫ּביר‬ ִ ‫ׁש‬ְ ‫ה‬ ִ .
d. In Hophʻal, all forms: ‫ּבר‬ ַ ‫ׁש‬ ְ ‫ ָי‬,‫ּבר‬ ָ ‫ׁש‬ ְ ‫מ‬ ָ ,‫ּבר‬ ַ ‫ׁש‬ ְ ‫ה‬ ָ .
3. √3 will never have dagesh kal. This makes sense if we consider:
a. √3 normally occurs at the end of a syllable in the basic verb-stem: ‫ּתב‬ ֹ ‫כ‬
ְ ‫ ִי‬,‫תב‬
ַ ‫ּכ‬
ָ , etc.
b. When there is a sheva before √3 it is the result of vowel-reduction, and therefore must
be either a sheva naʻ (‫ּתבּו‬ ְ ‫כ‬ ְ ‫ ִי‬,‫תבּו‬ ְ ‫ּכ‬ָ ) or a sheva meraḥef (‫תבּו‬ ְ ‫ּכ‬
ִ ). As the √3 did not take
a dagesh kal before vowel reduction, so it remains soft (without dagesh) after
reduction.
4. The pronominal suffixes with ‫ ת‬receive a dagesh kal when preceded by a sheva naḥ (i.e.,
most of the time): ‫ּתי‬ִ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ּב‬
ַ ‫ל‬ְ ‫ה‬
ִ ,‫ּתי‬ ִ ‫ּבְר‬
ַ ‫ּד‬ִ ,‫ּתי‬ ִ ‫מְר‬ ַ ‫ׁש‬ ְ ‫ ִנ‬,‫ּתי‬ ִ ‫מְר‬ ַ ‫ׁש‬ ָ , etc. It is omitted after an open
syllable, as with ‫ ע”ע‬,‫ ל”ה‬,‫ל”א‬: see: ‫תי‬ ִ ‫סּבֹו‬ ִ ‫ה‬ ֲ ,‫תי‬ ִ ‫ ָקִני‬,‫תי‬ ִ ‫ָקָרא‬.
Dagesh Ḥazak may occur in all letters except ‫ר‬,‫ע‬,‫ח‬,‫ה‬,‫א‬. It occurs in verbs under the following
conditions:
1. In Piʻel, Puʻal, and Hitpaʻel the dagesh ḥazak occurs in √2 in all forms except when √2 is
‫ר‬,‫ע‬,‫ח‬,‫ה‬,‫א‬. Examples:
a. Piʻel: ‫ּלם‬ ֵ ‫ׁש‬
ַ ‫ ְי‬,‫ּלם‬ֵ ‫ׁש‬
ַ ‫מ‬ְ ,‫ּלם‬ ֵ ‫ׁש‬
ִ .
b. Puʻal: ‫ּלם‬ ַ ‫ׁש‬
ֻ ‫ ְי‬,‫ּלם‬ָ ‫ׁש‬
ֻ ‫מ‬ְ ,‫ּלם‬ ַ ‫ׁש‬ֻ .
c. Hitpaʻel: ‫ּמץ‬ ֵ ‫א‬ַ ‫ת‬
ְ ‫ ִי‬,‫ּמץ‬ֵ ‫א‬
ַ ‫ת‬
ְ ‫מ‬ ִ ,‫ּמץ‬
ֵ ‫א‬
ַ ‫ת‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ .
2. In ‫גזרת חסרי פ”נ‬, the letter √2 receives a dagesh ḥazak when the ‫ נ‬is assimilated (in Kal
future, Niphʻal past and present, and all forms of Hiphʻil and Hophʻal: ,‫ּציל‬
ִ ‫מ‬
ַ ,‫ּצל‬
ַ ‫ ִנ‬,‫ּסע‬
ַ ‫ִי‬
‫ּצל‬
ַ ‫ֻי‬. Analogous assimilation occurs in the √1 letter of ‫ לקח‬in the Kal, and in Kal, Niphʻal,
Hiphʻil and Hophʻal of certain verbs beginning with ‫יצ‬, notably ‫ יצת‬,‫ יצק‬,‫ יצע‬,‫ יצג‬,‫יצב‬, as
well as ‫יזע‬.
3. If √3 duplicates the consonant of the pronominal suffix (‫ נ‬or ‫)ת‬, the two are consolidated
into a single letter with dagesh ḥazak: ‫מָּנה‬
ֹ ‫ט‬
ְ ‫ּת‬
ִ ,‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫ּכַר‬
ָ ,‫ּתי‬ִ ‫ת‬
ַ ‫ָנ‬. Analogous assimilation
occurs with √1 dentals and the ‫ ת‬of the Hitpaʻel prefix: ‫מם‬ ֵ ‫ּת‬
ַ ‫מ‬ִ ,‫הר‬
ֵ ‫ּט‬
ַ ‫מ‬ִ ,‫ּבר‬
ֵ ‫ּד‬
ַ ‫מ‬
ִ .
4. In the “geminates” (‫ ע”ע‬/ ‫)כפולים‬, dagesh ḥazak is used liberally and idiosyncratically to
emphasize usually √2 but sometimes √1: ‫ ֵיַקּלּו‬,‫ּסּבּו‬
ַ ‫ ִי‬,‫תי‬
ִ ‫סּבֹו‬ַ .
Scorecard of Identifying Characteristics
How well do the irregular verbs do in matching up to the ideal criteria of the binyanim as we
defined them earlier? The following table will help us track this.
Note: I have not included the ‫ ל“ה‬or ‫ ל“א‬paradigms in this analysis because their differences are
so minor as not to raise any significant problems in binyan-recognition.
Structures of √1 Nun Verbs
Paradigm Structure Regular Irregular Modified Remarks

Structure
‫נחי פ“א‬
Kal future Yi1-2ă3 ‫מד‬
ַ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ִי‬ ‫מר‬
ַ ‫ֹיא‬ Yō’-2ă3 Major vowel shift to ō in 1st
syllable, second syllable retains
regular ‫על‬
ַ ‫פ‬
ְ ‫א‬
ֶ form.
‫חסרי פ“נ‬
Kal future Yi1-2ō3 ‫מר‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ִי‬ ‫ּפל‬
ֹ ‫ִי‬ Yi2-2ō3 Syllable structure remains but a
doubled √2 replaces √1√2 at the
joint of the two syllables.
Niphʻal past Ni1-2a3 ‫מר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ִנ‬ ‫ּצל‬
ַ ‫ִנ‬ Ni2-2a3 Syllable structure remains but a
Hiphʻil past Hi1-2īy3 ‫ּביׁש‬
ִ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ ‫ּציל‬
ִ ‫ה‬
ִ Hi2-2īy3 Syllable structure remains but a
Huphʻal past Xŭ1-2ă3 ‫פַקד‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ֻ ‫ּצל‬
ַ ‫ה‬
ֻ Xŭ2-2ă3 Syllable structure remains but a
Structure of √1 Yod Verbs

Structure
‫גזרת פ“י‬
Kal future Yi1-2ō3 ‫מר‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ִי‬ ‫ׁשב‬
ֵ ‫ֵי‬ Yē-2ē3 Major vowel shift to ē, perhaps
under the influence of the missing
yod.
Yi1-2ă3 ‫מד‬
ַ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ִי‬ ‫סד‬
ַ ‫ִיי‬ Yīy-2ă3 Syllable structure remains but the
sheva under √1 yod drops out and
the yod and first vowel are
assimilated, yielding a ḥirik gadol.
Niphʻal past Ni1-2a3 ‫מר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ִנ‬ ‫סד‬
ַ ‫נֹו‬ Nō(w)-2a3 Syllable structure remains but a
Hiphʻil past Hi1-2īy3 ‫ּביׁש‬
ִ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ ‫הֹוִריד‬ Hō(w)-2īy3 √1 vav assumes vowel status,
supplanting 1st-syllable vowel;
syllable structure remains otherwise.
‫טיב‬
ִ ‫הי‬
ֵ Hēy-2īy3 First vowel assimilates to √1 yod,
yielding tzereh gadol; syllable
structure remains otherwise.
‫הֹוָדה‬ Hō(w)-2ā √1 vav assumes vowel status,
supplanting 1st-syllable vowel; ‫ל“ה‬
pattern takes over second syllable.
Huphʻal past Xŭ1-2ă3 ‫פַקד‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ֻ ‫הּוַרד‬ Xŭ2-2ă3 Syllable structure remains but a
Structure of √2 Vav Verbs Compared with Regular
Paradigm Structure Regular Irregula Modified Remarks

r Structure
‫גזרת ע“ו‬
Kal past 1-2 1ā-2ǎ3-xx ‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫מְר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ָ ‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫מ‬
ְ ‫ַק‬ 1ǎ3-xx Biliteral root is fitted to the second syllable
OL-CS CS of the Kal stem structure, and the first
syllable (1ā) is truncated.
Kal present 1ō-2ē3 ,‫מר‬
ֵ ‫ׁשֹו‬ ,‫ָקם‬ 1ā3 By comparison, we see that the ‫ע“ו‬
and past 3 (OL-CL), ‫ׁשמָר‬
ְ ‫ִנ‬ ,‫מים‬ִ ‫ָק‬ (CL) paradigm creates a present-participle stem
Ni1-2ā3 that is similar to the second syllable of the
‫ָקמּו‬
(CS-CL) “noun-like” passive present participles
such as Niphʻal, and adopts this same stem
for the past-tense 3rd person forms as well.
Kal future, Yi1-2ō3 ‫מר‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ִי‬ ,‫קּום‬ Xā-1ū(2)3 This sui generis form is generated simply
imperative, CS-CL ‫לקּום‬ָ OL-CL and economically by combining the
infinitive pronominal prefixes directly with the root
in its full form. The prefix needs a long
vowel because it lacks the extra consonant
to form a closed syllable.
Hiphʻil past 3 Hi1-2īy3 ‫ּביׁש‬
ִ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ה‬
ִ ‫הִקים‬
ֵ Hē-1īy(2)3 The embedded yod does double-duty as the
CS-CL OL-CL signal-yod of the Hiphʻil and a
transformation of √2 of the verb (whether ‫ו‬
or ‫ י‬in its original form). The initial ǐ of
the Hiphʻil is lengthened to ē because
(again, for lack of a consonant) it is now
located in an open instead of a closed
syllable.
Hiphʻil Xă1-2īy3 ,‫ּביׁש‬
ִ ‫ל‬ְ ‫מ‬ַ ,‫מִקים‬
ֵ Mē-1īy(2)3, Previous note applies. Unlike regular
present, CS-CL ‫ּביׁש‬
ִ ‫ל‬ְ ‫ַי‬ ‫ָיִקים‬ Xā-1īy(2)3 Hiphʻil, the vocalization of the present
future OL-CL tense in ‫ ע“ו‬follows the past (= ‫מֵקים‬ ֵ
‫הִקים‬
ֵ ) instead of the future (‫)ָיִקים‬. ē and
ā each satisfy the requirement of having a
long vowel in the open first syllable.
Huphʻal Xŭ1-2ă3 ,‫פַקד‬
ְ ‫ה‬ ֻ ,‫הּוַקם‬ Xū(2)-1a3 The embedded vav does double-duty as the
CS-CL ,‫פָקד‬ְ ‫מ‬ ֻ ,‫מּוָקם‬ OL-CS signal-u-vowel of the Huphʻal and the
‫פַקד‬ ְ ‫ֻי‬ ‫יּוַקם‬ OL-CL (transposed) √2-letter of the root.
Structure of “Polel” (a geminate pattern used for √2-vav and √2=√3)

Structure
‫גזרת פולל‬ ‫ ע“ע‬/ ‫ ע“ו‬Used in Piʻel, Puʻal and Hitpaʻel
Piʻel 1i2-2ē3 / ,‫ּבר‬
ֵ ‫מַד‬
ְ ,‫ּבר‬ ֵ ‫ּד‬
ִ ,‫מם‬ ֵ ‫קֹו‬ 1ō-3ē3 / The two significant consonants of
Xe-1ă2-2ē3 ‫ּבר‬
ֵ ‫ְיַד‬ ,‫מם‬ֵ ‫מקֹו‬ְ Xe-1ō-3ē3 the root are deployed, and the
second is doubled to fit the Polēl
‫מם‬ ֵ ‫ְיקֹו‬
paradigm.
Puʻal 1ŭ2-2ă3 / ,‫ּבר‬
ָ ‫מֻד‬
ְ ,‫ּבר‬ ַ ‫ּד‬
ִֻ ,‫מם‬ ַ ‫קֹו‬ 1ō-3ă3 / Note: the Puʻal is identical in
Xe-1ŭ2-2ă3 ‫ּבר‬
ַ ‫ְיֻד‬ ,‫מם‬ָ ‫מקֹו‬ְ Xe-1ō-3ă3 form to the Piʻel in most of the
pronominal past-tense forms:
‫מם‬ ַ ‫ְיקֹו‬
‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫מ‬
ְ ‫מ‬
ַ ‫קֹו‬, etc.
Hitpaʻel Xit-1ă2-2ē ,‫ּבׁש‬

ֵ ‫ל‬ ַ ‫ת‬ ְ ‫ה‬ ִ ,‫מם‬
ֵ ‫תקֹו‬ ְ ‫ה‬ ִ Xit-1ō-3ē3 The fact that this paradigm is used
3 ,‫ּבׁש‬
ֵ ‫ל‬ ַ ‫ת‬ ְ ‫מ‬ ִ ,‫מם‬ֵ ‫תקֹו‬ ְ ‫מ‬ ִ identically with ‫ ע“ו‬and ‫כפולים‬
roots indicates an ambiguity,
‫ּבׁש‬ֵ ‫ל‬ ַ ‫ת‬ ְ ‫ִי‬ ‫מם‬ ֵ ‫תקֹו‬ ְ ‫ִי‬
whether the insertion of the
middle vav in the one case and the
doubling of the final letter in the
other case are essential to the
root’s identity, or whether it is
simply a 2-letter root expressed
for convenience in one form or
another.
Structure of √2=√3 (“Geminate”) Verbs
The various forms of the kefulim past tense try to adapt the standard form of the past tense to the special needs of this
class. There is a widespread tendency throughout the forms of this class to collapse the doubled letters into a single
letter with a dagesh hazak. We may speculate that insertion of the holam malē facilitates the explosive emphasis on
the doubled √2 letter. We may also speculate that the “short” form of the 3rd-person past-tense and present-tense
forms is an adaptation of the ‫ ע“ו‬paradigm to this class.

Structure
‫גזרת כפולים‬
Kal past, 1ā-2ǎ3-Tī

present
1ā-2ǎ3,
1ā-2e-3ā
1ā3, 1ā-3ā ,‫ּתי‬
ִ ‫מְר‬
ַ ‫ׁש‬
ָ
‫מר‬
ַ ‫ש‬ָ
‫מה‬
ָ ‫ ָק‬,‫ָקם‬ ,‫ ַקב‬,‫תי‬ִ ‫ַקּבֹו‬
‫ּבה‬ָ ‫ַק‬
(‫חְגַגה‬ָ ,‫חַגג‬
ָ ) 1ǎ2-2õ-Tī
1ă2,
Kal future Yi1-2ō-3ū ,‫מר‬ ֹ ‫ׁש‬ְ ‫א‬ ֶ ,‫ּקב‬
ֹ ‫ ִי‬,‫ּקב‬ ֶ Yi1-1ō2-2 The form of ‫ּקב‬
ֹ ‫א‬ ֹ ‫א‬
ְ is reminiscent of
(1a) ,‫מר‬ ֹ ‫ׁש‬ְ ‫ִי‬ ‫ּקּבּו‬
ֹ ‫ִי‬ ū ‫ל‬ ֹ ‫ּפ‬ ֶ ‫א‬ , but with even more doubling of
consonants.
‫מרּו‬ ֹ ‫ׁש‬ְ ‫י‬
Kal future Yi1-2ǎ3 ‫מד‬

ַ ‫ל‬
ְ ‫ִי‬ ‫ּדּלּו‬
ַ ‫ ִי‬,‫ּדל‬
ַ ‫א‬
ֶ Yi1-1ǎ2 This is an.‫על‬
ַ ‫פ‬
ְ ‫א‬
ֶ variant of 1a, again
(1b) with opportunistic doubling of
whatever consonants are located
between vowels.
Kal future Xā-1ū(2)3,
(2)
Yi1-2ō-3ū ‫מר‬ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ ִי‬,‫חּגּו ָיקּום‬
ֹ ‫ ָי‬,‫חג‬
ֹ ‫ ָי‬Xā-1ō2-2ū The form of ‫ּקב‬ֹ ‫א‬ְ combines the first
syllable of ‫ ָיקּום‬with the second
syllable of ‫מר‬
ֹ ‫ׁש‬
ְ ‫ִי‬, again with extra
doubling of consonants.
Kal future Yē-2ē3 ‫ׁשב‬

ֵ ‫ֵי‬ ‫ ֵיַקּלּו‬,‫ ֵיַקל‬Yē-1ǎ2-2ū This form seems to be modeled on
(3) ‫ׁשב‬
ֵ ‫ֵי‬, again with vowel changes and
extra consonant-doubling. It is also
strangely enough identical with one of
the Niphʻal kefulim forms (‫חל‬ ַ ‫)ֵי‬. The
lack of uniformity is a sign of arrested
development, possibly due to the rarity
of use of members of this group.
Niphʻal past 1ǎ2-2õ-Tī
1ă2 ,‫ ַקב‬,‫תי‬ִ ‫ַקּבֹו‬
‫ּבה‬ָ ‫ַק‬
,‫תי‬
ִ ‫סּבֹו‬ַ ‫ְנ‬
‫ּבה‬
ָ ‫ס‬ַ ‫ ָנ‬,‫סב‬ַ ‫ָנ‬
Ne-1ǎ2-2õ-
Tī
Nā-1ă2
Analysis of Verb Forms
The following tables will enable you to perform your own analysis on any verb:
Syllables Vowel
Past Classified: Syllable Shevas changes
Accent REMARKS
Tense open/closed Parsing (‫מ‬,‫ח‬,‫)ע‬ (reduction,
short/long etc.)
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Syllables Vowel
Future Classified: Syllable Shevas changes
Accent REMARKS
Tense open/closed Parsing (‫מ‬,‫ח‬,‫)ע‬ (reduction,
short/long etc.)
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Syllables Vowel
Imperative Accent REMARKS
open/closed Parsing (‫מ‬,‫ח‬,‫( )ע‬reduction,
short/long etc.)
.
.
.
.
Syllables Vowel
Present
Active Accent REMARKS
open/closed Parsing (‫מ‬,‫ח‬,‫)ע‬ (reduction,
.
.
.
.
Syllables Vowel
Present
Passive Accent REMARKS
open/closed Parsing (‫מ‬,‫ח‬,‫)ע‬ (reduction,
.
.
.
.
Syllables Vowel
Infinitive, Classified: Syllable Shevas changes
Accent REMARKS
Gerund open/closed Parsing (‫מ‬,‫ח‬,‫)ע‬ (reduction,
short/long etc.)
.
.

Guideposts in Hebrew Grammar

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Guideposts in Hebrew Grammar

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Levin Guideposts in Hebrew Grammar 1

Standard Verb Formations: General ............................................................................................. 27

√1 Nun Verbs (‫ )גזרת פ“נ‬in Hiphʻil—With Other Irregularities .................................................. 69

√2=√3 “Geminates”: Binyanim Compared ................................................................................. 102

Guideposts in Hebrew Grammar

The Forest and the Trees

How Hebrew Encodes Meaning: A Case Example

Consider the word ‫ּתנּו‬

How (what mode of

Who (subject)? you 1st suffix: ‫ּת‬

Whom (direct object)? us 2nd suffix: ‫נּו‬

Decoding this word therefore involves the following skills:

1. Root recognition (find the root ‫)נחל‬.

Phonetic Elements of the Language

The Aspirate Consonant-Twins (‫)בגד כפת‬

‫ּב‬ b voiced labial

‫ב‬ bh/v voiced labial aspirate

‫ּג‬ g voiced palatal

‫ג‬ gh voiced palatal aspirate

‫ּד‬ d voiced dental

‫ד‬ dh voiced dental aspirate

‫ּכ‬ k unvoiced palatal

‫כ‬ kh unvoiced palatal aspirate

‫ּפ‬ p unvoiced labial

‫פ‬ ph/f unvoiced labial aspirate

‫ּת‬ t unvoiced dental

‫ת‬ th unvoiced dental aspirate

Euphonious Dagesh Ḥazak (‫נ‬,‫מ‬,‫)ל‬

Note in the words ‫אָּנא‬

Weak letters: ‫אהוינ‬

Regular consonants: ‫( זטלמנסצקרש‬and ‫ בגד כפת‬for most purposes)

Short ַ ‫ם‬ ֶ ‫ם‬ ִ ‫ם‬ ָ *

Long and short Kametz and Segol

Sheva na‘ Sheva Naḥ

(See also ‫כל‬

More on Sheva Meraḥef

A syllable is a cluster of consonants and vowels pronounced together as a sub-unit of a word.

1st root letter: √1 1 ‫פ‬

Sheva meraḥef will be indicated as a superscript within parenthesis as follows: (ǝ)

C = Closed (ending in a consonant)

The Rule of Three

Pronominal Prefixes and Suffixes

‫הּוא‬ (‫נּו‬-) / ‫ֹו‬- -- -‫י‬ ‫נּו‬- / ‫ֹו‬-

Time flies like an arrow.

Note the following words. Identify their grammatical forms.

‫ַוִּיְראּו‪ַ ,‬וַּיְראּו‪ְ ,‬וֵיָראּו‪ְ ,‬וָיְראּו‬

Criteria for Dagesh and Mappik

Criteria for Sheva

Criteria for Syllables

Criteria for Kametz

A kametz is pronounced as a kametz katan if it is a ḥataf kametz:

• The first kametz in ‫מנּות‬

A kametz is pronounced as a kametz katan if it is paired with a ḥataf kametz:

• The first kametz in ‫הַרִים‬

A kametz is pronounced as a kametz katan if it is in a non-accented closed syllable:

• The kametz in ‫ ָּגְדלֹו‬or in the hyphenated phrase ‫ּבכֹור‬

In all other cases, it is a kametz gadol.

Examples (OL / CL): ‫מָנה‬

Mnemonics summarizing Rules #2 and #3 (in order of preference):

Examples of “a”: Note both degeshim in the word ָ‫ּת‬

Examples of “b”: ‫ּברּו‬

Applications to the “Rule of Three”

Binyanim: Phonetics and Meaning

Nomenclature of the Binyanim