Ch. 15: Qal Imperfect

Question 1

What is the Qal imperfect also referred to as?

Answer 1

The prefix conjugation because of a special set of verbal prefixes

Question 2

15.2 What does the imperfect

conjugation portray?

Answer 2

• Aspect: Incomplete action (including habitual or customary)
• No time. It can be past, present, or future. (context determines)

Question 3

What are the three kinds of action the imperfect can portray

Answer 3

1. incomplete action
2. habitual
3. modal

Question 4

15.2 How can the imperfect be translated to show an incomplete action?

Answer 4

• English present tense (I study)

* English future tense (I will study)

Question 5

15.2 How can the imperfect be translated to show a habitual action?

Answer 5

1. I study regularly
2. I use to study regularly
3. I will pray regularly

Question 6

15.2 How can the imperfect be translated to show a modal action?

Answer 6

would, could, should, may, can, …

Question 7

In the Qal stem what conjugations have preformatives?

Answer 7

only the imperfect

Question 8

In other paradigms for the imperfect, what happens when a begadkephat letter follows a closed syllable?

Answer 8

1. It will often take a Lene
   יִזְכֹּר
   יִכתֹּב
   יִקְבֹֹּץ

Question 9

15.5 What happens to begadkephat

letters when inflecting words?

Answer 9

• Initial letter > Add a Dagesh Lene
• Silent Shewa precedes > Add a Dagesh Lene
• Vowel precedes > No Dagesh Lene

Question 10

15.6 How do stative verbs form their imperfect differently? How is their form the same?

Answer 10

• All stative verbs use Pathach instead of Holem or Tsere for the stem vowel as was seen in the Qal Perfect stative verbs.
2. In all other ways, the statives follow the Qal Imperfect paradigm

Question 11

15.6 What happens in the imperfect to verbs that end in nun?

Answer 11

• The nun assimilates with the sufformatives that begin in nun in the 3fp and 2fp
(נָּה) < (נְנָה)

Question 12

What does לֹא mean when immediately followed by an

imperfect verb?

Answer 12

permanent and absolute negation

Question 13

What does אַל mean when immediately followed by an

imperfect verb?

Answer 13

immediate, specific, and non-durative prohibition

Question 14

The Qal stem is used to express what kind of action and voice, typically?

Answer 14

1. simple action

2. active voice (though some passives)

Question 15

What is the diagnostic for the Qal imperfect?

Answer 15

1. Hireq sufformative vowel (minus the 1cs)

2. Holem stem vowel (except where there is a sufformative)