Hebrew 1 - Lesson 13

Verbs structures Lesson 13 introduces verbs that are conjugated in another structure than "Paal". It was mentioned in lesson # 10 that roots conjugation is effected by another important factor - type of structure. If groups of verbs are families, than structures are tribes. Each "tribe" has regular verbs and irregular (L"H, A"V, etc'). Most of the material in this class is discusses verbs that are conjugated in Paal Structure (as do most of the verbs in Hebrew).

As oppose to the position of roots in classes, structure positioning enables roots to be included in more than one structure. Indeed most of the roots are do appear in two (sometimes even three structures). They way to know in what structure to conjugate a verb is to become familiar with the vocabulary. There is however another way that assists in the task of applying the right structure to a verb. That is to understand the subtle difference between the structures. When a verb appears in both "Paal" and "Piel", the "Piel" form of this verb suggest an intensified or a repetitious action. Break, crash. "Shover"("Paal"), "Meshaber"("Piel"). This distinction does not always work, thus it is just a tool to help making a judgment of the issue.

Having Pay Hapoal voweled with a "Vav" indicates that a root is conjugated in "Paal". Having a "Mem" (Voweled with a "Shva") preceding "Pay Hapoal" indicates that a root is conjugated in "Piel". "Medaber" (lesson # 2), "Metayelet" (lesson # 5) are verbs that are conjugated in "Piel"!

Roots of "Piel":
  • A "Piel" verb is preceded by "Mem" with a "Shva" sound. is voweled with a "Patach" (Ah sound).(see next chart)
    • Masculine Singular form
  • is voweled with a "Tzaireh" ("Eh" sound).
  • is unvoweled.
    • Feminine Singular form
  • is voweled with a "Segol" ("Eh" sound).
  • is voweled with "Segol" too..
  • F/s forms of verbs are completed with a suffix "Tav".
    • Masculine Plural form
  • is voweled with a "Shva" and it is practically unvoweled.
  • is voweled with a "Chiric" ("Ee" sound).
  • M/p forms of verbs are completed with a suffix "Final Mem".
    • Feminine Plural form
  • is voweled with a "Shva" and it is practically unvoweled.
  • is voweled with a "Vav".
  • F/p forms of verbs are completed with a suffix "Tav".
    • Infinitive forms of regular roots:
  • "Lamed" in the infinitive form are voweled with a "Shva".
  • is voweled with a "Patach".
  • with a "Tzereh" ("Eh" sound).
  • In the infinitive form "Lamed HaPoal" is left unvoweled.

    • <
    (F/P)
    ...
    (M/P)
    ...
    (F/S)
    ...
    (S/M)
    ...
    (Inf.)
    .
    ...
    Understanding this concept enables you to conjugate the following root (Pay)
    as,-
    "LeShaLem" "MeShaLem", "MeShaLemet", "MeShalMim", "MeShalMot".
    (F/P)
    MLSH
    (M/P)
    MLSH
    (F/S)
    MLSH
    (S/M)
    MLSH
    (Inf.)
    .
    MLSH

    "Piel" conjugated verbs that have been introduced in previous lessons are:
    Speek/talk..........
    Travel


    Roots of A"V:

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