An introductory Hebrew grammar with progressive exercises in reading and writing / by A.B. Davidson.

  • Andrew B. Davidson
Date:
1909
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: An introductory Hebrew grammar with progressive exercises in reading and writing / by A.B. Davidson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    65/232 (page 53)
    5. Conjugations. What are called in other languages conjugations, do not exist. The various classes of irregular or weak verbs most nearly correspond to conjugations. The above seven parts are all growths of the original simple stem, which undergoes some modification, conso- nantal or vocalic, to produce them. 6. Inflection. Inflection to express person takes place by the connexion of the significant parts of the personal pronoun with the stem (§ 12 and 15. 2); and the third sing, as simplest is taken first, then the second, and finally the first. In an action which is finished rather the action itself than the actor is prominent: hence in the perfect the stem is put before the personal designations. In the imperfect, or action going on, the actor is more prominent, and the personal modification is prefixed. THE PERFECT. Sing. Plur. 3 mas. b6p he killed &c. 3 c. they &c. C = m 3 f. she „ pi. of 2 m. T]bht) thou „ 2 m. ye {tern of ’’attem) 2 f- nbajj „ 2/. ■|nbap „ {ten of ''atten') 1 c. I 1 c. ^3^ap we The terminations te7n, ten are heavy, and, removing the accent, destroy the tone-long vowel in first syllable (§ 6.2c). Of great importance are the vocalic additions a i ^/, which bring out the peculiarity of the verb, thus: In verhal inflection with vocalic additions the vowels a e o in the tone syllalle are lost, i. e. become vocal sh^va (§ 6. Rem. c, p. 17). formations, which may even have a passive; at the same time from the meaning of these forms they not unnaturally take the place of the pass., which they have altogether superseded in Aramean and Ethiopic. The above scheme, therefore, though an accommodation to Western methods, is not altogether without ground even from Shemitic usage.