Classical · Biblical Hebrew
Round out the verb (imperative, jussive, cohortative, infinitives, participle, waw-consecutive) and begin the seven-binyan paradigm.
Ch. 15 — The Verb: Other FormsCh. 16 — Paradigm of the Regular Verb (Qal–Pu'al)
Core concepts · 5
- Beyond perfect/imperfect: imperative (positive commands only), jussive (3rd-person wish), cohortative (1st-person, -āh).
- Two infinitives — absolute (emphasis) and construct (with לְ, like English 'to'); participles קֹטֵל (active) / קָטוּל (passive) behave like nouns.
- Waw-consecutive flips the apparent tense: וַיִּקְטֹל continues a past narrative; וְקָטַלְתָּ continues a future — the backbone of Biblical narrative.
- Qal = simple active; Niph'al = passive/reflexive (prefixed נ); Pi'el = intensive (daghesh forte in the middle radical); Pu'al = intensive passive.
- Pi'el and Pu'al are recognised by the doubled middle radical.
Vocabulary & signs · tap a word to hear, expand for how to say it
he killed (the paradigm verb)
say: qāṭal
infinitive construct 'to keep'
say: lishmōr
infinitive absolute (emphatic 'keeping')
say: shāmôr
'and he said' (waw-consecutive)
say: wayyōmer
Niph'al 'he was kept'
say: nishmar
Pi'el 'he spoke'
say: dibbēr
Exercises · answer in the app
Exercise 1 / 6
What does this mean?
Bridge to this week
Sprint Weeks 5–6 teach Pa'al/Pi'el/Hif'il as sound patterns; Harrison supplies the paradigm logic (why Pi'el doubles, how Niph'al passivises) plus the waw-consecutive you'll need for the past/future work in Weeks 9–10.
Teach Yourself Hebrew — R. K. Harrison (E.U.P.)
Pass this quick check to complete the lesson.
Quick check · 1 / 4