The Verb ("poal") |
The Verb ("poal") |
|
There are 3 active binyans (Paa'l, Pie'l, Hifi'l) and 4 passive ones (Nipha'l, Pua'l, Hufa'l, Hitpae'l). Usually Pie'l verbs (i.e. "piteah", developed) become passive in Pua'l ("putah", was developed). Similarilly, Hifi'l turns into Hufa'l for passive. Nifa'l is often used as the passive of Paa'l (thus Paa'l "sagar", "closed", turns into Nifa'l "nisgar", got closed); however ancient use suggests that it was originally used as a reflexive structure. In modern Hebrew, hitpae'l carries the reflexive function. |
|
There are 3 active binyans (Paa'l, Pie'l, Hifi'l) and 4 passive ones (Nipha'l, Pua'l, Hufa'l, Hitpae'l). Usually Pie'l verbs (i.e. "piteax", developed) become passive in Pua'l ("putax", was developed). Similarilly, Hifi'l turns into Hufa'l for passive. Nifa'l is often used as the passive of Paa'l (thus Paa'l "sagar", "closed", turns into Nifa'l "nisgar", got closed); however ancient use suggests that it was originally used as a reflexive structure. In modern Hebrew, hitpae'l carries the reflexive function. |
|
The system of the binyan is relatively easy to understand and grasp; however it has numerous exceptions due to regular phonetical changes. For example, roots beginning with N, such as N-P-K (signifying the concept of making or refining), often lose this consonant, as in the verb "mapik" ("he makes, refines"), singlular masculine present of binyan Hifi'l, which should have been read "manfik", with [n] being assymilated into [f] and thus causing it to harden into [p]. |
|
The system of the binyan is relatively easy to understand and grasp; however it has numerous exceptions due to regular phonetical changes. For example, roots beginning with N, such as N-P-K (signifying the concept of making or refining), often lose this consonant, as in the verb "mapik" ("he makes, refines"), singlular masculine present of binyan Hifi'l, which should have been read *"manfik", with /n/ being assimilated into /f/, creating a compliamenting emphasis upon it and thus causing it to harden into /p/. |
The Noun ("shem") |
The Noun ("shem") |
|
Hebrew distinguishes between masculine nouns (such as "yeled", "boy, child") and feminine (such as "yaldah", "girl"). Generally, almost all nouns which end in "ah" are feminine. Often, as in the example, a feminine noun can be formed through adding a final "ah" (written as the letter "he"). However few exceptions exist, most of them orignating in ancient Hebrew forms. |
|
Hebrew distinguishes between masculine nouns (such as "yeled", "boy, child") and feminine (such as "yaldah", "girl"). Generally, almost all nouns which end in "ah" are feminine. Often, as in the example, a feminine form can be formed through adding a final "ah" to a masculine noun (written as the letter "he"). However few exceptions exist, most of them orignating in ancient Hebrew forms. |
|
Generally, Hebrew distinguishes between singular and plural forms of a noun. Masculine plural forms always end with the suffix "-im"; feminine singular "-ah" turns into "-ot". Thus we get the forms "yeladim", "boys, children", and "yeladot", "girls". Hebrew also has a dual number. Thus, "yom", "day", becomes "yomaim", "two days". However for most nouns the dual form is discarded in favor of the plural. Thus, "dirah", "appartment", becomes "shtei dirot" ("two appartments"), rather than "dirataim". |
|
Generally, Hebrew distinguishes between singular and plural forms of a noun. Masculine plural forms always end with the suffix "-im"; feminine singular "-ah" turns into "-ot". Thus we get the forms "yeladim", "boys, children", and "yeladot", "girls". Hebrew also has a dual number. Thus, "yom", "day", becomes "yomaim", "two days". However for most nouns the dual form is discarded in favor of the plural. Thus, "dirah", "appartment", becomes "shtei dirot" ("two appartments"), rather than *"dirataim". |
|
Often nouns are inflected by possession. They are added suffixes which signify the person to whom an object belongs. Thus, "dirah", "appartment", may change into "dirati" ("my appartment"), "diratkha" ("your appartment") and "diratam" ("their appartment"). Unlike Arabic, which has only this system of representing possession, Hebrew has an alternative system, based on the inflexion of the preposition "shel", "of". For words of three or more syllables (like "a'gvaniyah", tomato), it is often preferred to say "ha-agvaniyah shelkha", "your tomato", over "agvaniyatkha" (which is morphologically correct). |
|
Often nouns are inflected by possession. They are added suffixes which signify the person to whom an object belongs. Thus, "dirah", "appartment", may change into "dirati" ("my appartment"), "diratkha" ("your appartment") and "diratam" ("their appartment"). Unlike Arabic, which has only this system of representing possession, Hebrew has an alternative system, based on the inflexion of the preposition "shel", "of". For words of three or more syllables (like "a'gvaniyah", tomato), it is often preferred to say "ha-a'gvaniyah shelkha", "your tomato", over "a'gvaniyatkha" (which is morphologically correct). |
![[Home]](wikipedia.png)