Weak Letters and the Article

Question 1

What happens when an inseparable preposition is attached to a word beginning with a weak letter?

Answer 1

The rule of שׁוָא is followed. The weak letter becomes quiescent, losing its value, and the preceding vowel lengthens.

Question 2

What are the peculiarities of the gutturals ( ע, ח, ה, א) and ר?

Answer 2

• The do not take a daghesh.
• The prefer A-class vowels.
• The take a compound שְׁוָא instead of a simple שְׁוָא.

Question 3

What happens when the article is added to a word begging with ה or ח?

Answer 3

The daghesh following the article is omitted, but doubling is still implied (virtual doubling).

Question 4

What happens when the article is attached to a word beginning with ע ,א, and ר?

Answer 4

פַּ֫תַח under the article generally lengthens to קַמֶץ to compensate for a lack of doubling (compensatory lengthening).

Question 5

What happens when the article is attached to a word beginning with open unaccented חָ ,הָ, or עָ?

Answer 5

The definite article appears with סְגוֺל and without the daghesh forte (dissimilation).

Question 6

Frequently occurring nouns where the initial vowel harmonizes with the article:

ּ◌הַ ּ + אֶ֫רֶץ =

Answer 6

הָֽאָ֫רֶץ

Question 7

Frequently occurring nouns where the initial vowel harmonizes with the article:

הַ◌◌ּ + הַר =

Answer 7

הָהָר

Question 8

Frequently occurring nouns where the initial vowel harmonizes with the article:

הַ◌◌ּ + עַם =

Answer 8

הָעָם

Question 9

Frequently occurring nouns where the initial vowel harmonizes with the article:
הַ ּ + גַּן =

Answer 9

הַגָּן

Question 10

What happens when the article is added to a word beginning with יְ or מְ?

Answer 10

The daghesh forte is given up and the פַּ֫תַח does not lengthen.

Question 11

What happens when an inseparable preposition is added to a word beginning with a weak letter that has the article?

Answer 11

The inseparable preposition retains the irregular pointing.