What is an infinitive construct?

The infinitive construct is a non-finite verbal form that usually functions as a verbal complement, providing extra information regarding the purpose, result, or temporal frame of the verbal action of the main verb. In rare cases, the infinitive construct functions independently as a noun.

How do you form an infinitive in Hebrew?

The Hebrew Infinitive Construct is a verbal noun. It is not inflected for person, gender or number. There is, therefore, only one basic form and no paradigm to memorize. The vowel pattern is consistent for all strong verbs and even for most weak verbs.

What does QAL and Niphal mean?

The Qal stem also exhibits the simple or unnuanced type of action. Niphal. Simple/Passive or Reflexive. The Niphal stem. is used to express simple action with either a passive or reflexive voice.

What is the infinitive absolute?

The infinitive absolute is an extremely flexible non-finite verbal form and can function as an adverb, a finite verb, a verbal complement, or a noun. Its most common use is to express intensity or certainty of verbal action.

What is an infinitive example?

An infinitive usually begins with the word “to” and is followed by the base form of a verb (the simple form of the verb that you would find in the dictionary). Examples of infinitives include to read, to run, to jump, to play, to sing, to laugh, to cry, to eat, and to go.

What does Piel mean in Hebrew?

A good example is the Hebrew verb שָׁבַר. In the Qal stem, the verb שָׁבַר means “to break”. But in the Piel stem, the verb שָׁבַר means “to shatter” or “to break in pieces”. A dictionary or lexicon will indicate an intensive nuance in comparison with the meaning of the verb in other stem formations.

What is construct in Hebrew grammar?

Grammar Notes The construct state in Hebrew allows you to take two nouns and use them to create a new noun. In Hebrew, this state is called סמיכות (smichut). The gender of a construct state noun is determined by the nismach. For example, בית ספר (“school”) is masculine because בית is masculine.

What is the Niphal in Hebrew?

Niphal is the name given to one of the seven major verb stems called בִּנְיָנִים (/binjaˈnim/ binyanim, “constructions”) in biblical Hebrew. The designation Niphal comes from the form niph’al for the verb pa’al, “to do”. The Niphal stem usually denotes the incomplete passive or the reflexive voice.

What is infinitive and bare infinitive?

The infinitive without ‘to’ is called the bare infinitive, or the base form of a verb. This is the verb’s most basic form. An infinitive verb is never conjugated. ‘They went from walking to running really quickly” You may think that ‘to running’ is an infinitive but the ‘-ing’ ending means it is not.

What is the difference between Niphal imperative and infinitive construct?

The Niphal Imperative and Infinitive Construct basic forms are identical. The Niphal Imperative is formed with the ה. prefix, verbal stem with the assimilated נ. of the Niphal, and the Imperative sufformative.

What is the niphal form of a verb?

The Niphal form is a verbal stem formation in Biblical Hebrew, usually indicated by a נִ prefix before the 1st radical of the verb . (This נ changes in multiple conjugations, see paradigms below.)

What is the infinitive construct in the Bible?

The infinitive construct generally has only one form in each stem formation (Qal, Niphal, Piel, etc.), and it does not conjugate according to person, gender, or number as do the finite verb forms. The infinitive construct is not found in the Hophal or Pual stems in Biblical Hebrew.

What is the Niphal stem?

The Niphal form is a verbal stem formation in Biblical Hebrew, usually indicated by a נִ prefix before the 1st radical of the verb . (This נ changes in multiple conjugations, see paradigms below.) The Niphal stem is extremely flexible in its use in Biblical Hebrew.