5. Definite Article and Conjunction Waw

Question 1

What is the first type of definite noun in Hebrew?

Answer 1

Nouns that occur with the Hebrew definite article.

Question 2

What is the second type of definite noun in Hebrew?

Answer 2

Proper nouns (such as ‘Egypt’)

Question 3

What is the third type of definite noun in Hebrew?

Answer 3

Nouns with possessive pronouns (e.g. your book)

Question 4

How is a noun made definite in Hebrew?

Answer 4

By prefixing the definite article, plus a Daghesh Forte, in the first consonant of the noun.

Question 5

How does the Article affect initial begadkephat consonants?

Answer 5

When the definite article is added to these words, the Daghesh Lene is replaced by a Daghesh Forte – nothing really changes in the spelling.

Question 6

What are the three ways that the Article affects initial guttural consonants?

Answer 6

1. Compensatory Lengthening
2. Virtual Doubling
3. Irregular Seghol Vowel
   * (gutturals cannot take a Daghesh Forte)*

Question 7

Which gutturals does **compensatory lengthening **affect?

Answer 7

Alef, Resh and Ayin

Question 8

What is compensatory lengthening?

Answer 8

When the Pathach of the Article lengthens to a Qamets

Question 9

Which gutturals does virtual doubling affect?

Answer 9

He and Het

Question 10

What is virtual doubling?

Answer 10

When the Daghesh Forte is rejected – without the lengthening of the Pathach of the Article

Question 11

Which gutturals does irregular Seghol Vowel affect?

Answer 11

Nouns that begin with unaccented Ayin-Qamets, He-Qamets, or Het-Qamets.

(Het-Qamats may also be accented)

Question 12

What is Irregular Seghol Vowel?

Answer 12

When the Article appears with Seghol and without the Daghesh Forte

Question 13

How does the Article affect initial Yod-Shewa and Mem-Shewa?

Answer 13

With few exceptions they give up the Daghesh Forte.

Note that the Shewa under the first consonant of the noun remains a Vocal Shewa by analogy to the basic form of the article with Daghesh Forte.

Question 14

What will never change in a noun, with the addition of the Article?

Answer 14

The He is unaltered.

Also, the stem of the noun will rarely change.

Question 15

In a small group of nouns, what change in vocalisation does the prefixing of the Article cause?

Answer 15

The vowel under the first consonant might change to Qamets

Question 16

How many times does the Conjunction Waw appear in the Hebrew Bible?

Answer 16

Over 50,000 occurences – more frequently than any other word.

Question 17

How many basic spelling possibilites are there for Conjunction Waw?

Answer 17

Four.

Question 18

What is the first spelling possibility for the Conjunction Waw?

Answer 18

1. Before most consonants, the conjunction will appear as Waw-Shewa. It occurs this way about 50% of the time.

Question 19

What is the second spelling possibility for the Conjunction Waw?

Answer 19

2. The Conjuntion Waw will appear as a Shureq

Question 20

What is the bump rule?

Answer 20

When a Conjunction Waw appears as a Shureq before the consonants Bet, Mem or Pe (B-M-P)

Question 21

In addition to the bump rule, when else will Conjunction Waw appear as a Shureq?

Answer 21

The Conjunction Waw is spelled as Shureq before most consonants having a Vocal Shewa.

Question 22

What is the third spelling possibility for the Conjunction Waw?

Answer 22

Before a reduced or Hateph vowel, the conjunction is spelled with the corresponding short vowel of the Hateph vowel.

Question 23

What is the fourth spelling possibility for the Conjunction Waw?

Answer 23

The Conjunction Waw may also be spelled with a Qamets before monosyllabic words and certain words with an initial accent.