Ch. 20: Infinitive

Question 1

What is the basic form of the Qal Infinitive Strong verb?

Answer 1

קְטֹל

Question 2

Since the Qal Infinitive Construct has the exact same form as the Qal Imperative 2ms, what are three helpful reminders to tell them apart?

Answer 2

1. Imperatives usually are first in clause and are in discourse
2. Infinitives 85% will have a prefixed preposition
3. The Infinitive will maintain the Holem stem vowel for most of its forms (even with weak verbs), whereas the imperative will sometimes take different vowels

Question 3

What if the Qal Infinitive Construct ends in a III-ח/ע

Answer 3

It will have a furtive Pathach in addition to the other vowels
שְׁלֹחַ

Question 4

What if the Qal Infinitive Construct begins with a I-Gutt?

Answer 4

It will take a corresponding Hateph

אֱמֹר

Question 5

What is the ending for Qal Infinitive constructs that are 3- Hey?

Answer 5

וֹת

בְּנוֹת

Question 6

Some 1-Nun verbs retain the initial Nun; however some do not; what happens to these verbs?

Answer 6

1. The Nun is dropped
2. The word takes a final Taw
3. The vowels most often change to a double Pathach Segholate (though there are other patterns observed)
   נָסַע
   סַ֫עַת

Question 7

Almost all 1-Yod verbs lose the initial Yod; what happens to these verbs?

Answer 7

1. The Yod is dropped
2. The word takes a final Taw
3. The vowels most often change to a double seghol Segholate (though there are other patterns observed)

Question 8

How do Biconsonantal verbs appear as Qal Infinitive Constructs? And what form do these duplicate?

Answer 8

1. This is the lexical form I have been memorizing

2. The 2ms Imperative

Question 9

The Qal Infinitive Construct can appear with a pronominal suffix, is this a subject or object?

Answer 9

Like Greek, it can be either subject or object

Question 10

What are the changes that the Qal Infinitive Construct goes through when taking the pronominal suffix?

Answer 10

1. All forms start with Qamets Hatuf
2. All forms have a SS vowel Stem
3. If suffix begins with a consonant the last consonant will take a VS (only exception is 1cp suffix which takes Tsere and accent on last consonant; 2fs takes Tsere)

Question 11

In general the לְ prefixed to an infinitive construct indicates what?

Answer 11

1. purpose
2. result
3. ִintention

Question 12

In general the בְּ prefixed to an infinitive construct indicates what?

Answer 12

temporally (when, while)

Question 13

In general the כְּ prefixed to an infinitive construct indicates what?

Answer 13

temporally (when, while)

Question 14

What verbal forms appear with prepositions?

Answer 14

only Infinitive (5,642x) and participles (490x)

Question 15

How is the infinitive construct negated

Answer 15

לְבִלְתִּי / בִּלְתִּי

not לֹא / אַל

Question 16

What are the four main categories of use/meaning for the Infinitive Construct when prefixed with a לְ

Answer 16

1. purpose/result/intent
2. Inceptive
3. Verbal noun
4. complementary

Question 17

Explain the inceptive use of the לְ prefixed onto a Infinitive Construct

Answer 17

1. denotes action about to take place (“about to”)

2. frequently accompanies the temporal modifiers (וַיְהִי וְהָיָה/ )

Question 18

Explain the verbal noun use of the לְ prefixed onto a Infinitive Construct

Answer 18

can function as the subject or object of a verbal idea (it may have the preposition or not)

Question 19

Explain the complementary use of the לְ prefixed onto a Infinitive Construct

Answer 19

1. accompanies a finite verb

2. translate “by -ing” (by doing)

Question 20

Note: In addition to these four uses of the לְ preposition there are four other less frequent uses. What are they?

Answer 20

1. complement preceding verb and be translated like a finite verb (perfect or imperfect)
2. denote consecution of verbal actions
3. denote obligation or necessity

Question 21

how can the word כְּשָׁמְעוֹ be translated?

Answer 21

1. when/while he heard
2. when/while he hears/will hear
   (the pronoun can also be used as an object)

Question 22

Translate

וַיְהִי כְּשָׁמְעוֹ

Answer 22

and when he heard

Question 23

Translate

וְהָיָה כְּשָׁמְעוֹ

Answer 23

and when he hears / and when he will hear