Session 136 — Weak Root Pattern Identification

BBH 2024.1 · Review · 20 items · All Major Weak Root Classes

Instructions: Each form below is derived from a weak root. Identify the stem, conjugation, PGN, the weak root class that explains the form, and write the underlying three-letter root.
Quick Reference — Weak Root Diagnostics
PatternKey diagnostic
I-GutturalNo Dagesh in R1; Ḥateph or Pathaḥ instead of Shewa
II-GutturalNo Dagesh in R2; virtual doubling or compensatory lengthening
III-AlephFinal א quiesces; preceding vowel lengthens
III-HeFinal ה in perfect; He maps to other vowels in non-perfect
I-NunDagesh Forte in prefix consonant (Nun assimilated)
I-Yod/VavTsere (יֵ–) prefix in Qal Impf; Yod drops
Hollow (II-Vav/Yod)No middle consonant; long stem vowel
GeminateR2 = R3; contracted forms
I-Tet (Hithpael)Tet and Taw of הִתְ assimilate: הִטַּ–
Sibilant MetathesisSibilant + הִתְ → הִשְׁתַּ / הִזְדַּ / etc.
#HebrewStemConjugationPGNWeak PatternRoot
1יֵשֵׁב
✓יֵשֵׁבQalImperfect3msI-Yod/Vavישׁב — Tsere prefix (יֵ–) = I-Yod; Yod drops
2בָּנָה
✓בָּנָהQalPerfect3msIII-Heבנה — Final ה = III-He root
3יִפֹּל
✓יִפֹּלQalImperfect3msI-Nunנפל — Dagesh in פ = assimilated Nun
4קָם
✓קָםQalPerfect3msHollowקום — No middle consonant; Qamets holds place of Vav
5מָצָא
✓מָצָאQalPerfect3msIII-Alephמצא — Final א quiesces; vowel preserved
6עָמַד
✓עָמַדQalPerfect3msI-Gutturalעמד — ע as R1 resists Dagesh; Ḥateph vowels in some forms
7הִטַּהֵר
✓הִטַּהֵרHithpaelPerfect3msI-Tet (Hithpael)טהר — הִתְ + ט → Taw assimilates to Tet: הִטַּ
8סָבַב
✓סָבַבQalPerfect3msGeminateסבב — R2 = R3 (both ב); Dagesh Forte in final letter
9בֵּרֵךְ
✓בֵּרֵךְPielPerfect3msII-Gutturalברך — ר (R2) resists Dagesh; virtual doubling → long Tsere
10הִגִּיד
✓הִגִּידHiphilPerfect3msI-Nunנגד — Dagesh in ג = Nun assimilated; Hireq-Yod = Hiphil
11יָשִׂים
✓יָשִׂיםQalImperfect3msHollowשׂים — No middle consonant; Shureq stem vowel in imperfect
12גָּלָה
✓גָּלָהQalPerfect3msIII-Heגלה — Final ה = III-He; Qamets-He ending
13יֵדַע
✓יֵדַעQalImperfect3msI-Yod/Vavידע — Tsere prefix (יֵ–) = I-Yod
14הִשְׁתַּחֲוָה
✓הִשְׁתַּחֲוָהHithpaelPerfect3msSibilant Metathesisשׁחה — הִתְ + שׁ → Shin and Taw switch: הִשְׁתַּ
15יִתֵּן
✓יִתֵּןQalImperfect3msI-Nunנתן — Dagesh in ת = assimilated Nun (I-Nun doubly weak)
16קָרָא
✓קָרָאQalPerfect3msIII-Alephקרא — Final א quiesces; Qamets-Aleph pattern
17הֶחֱזִיק
✓הֶחֱזִיקHiphilPerfect3msI-Gutturalחזק — ח (R1): Hiphil prefix takes Seghol before guttural; Ḥateph Seghol under ח
18יָסֹב
✓יָסֹבQalImperfect3msGeminateסבב — Geminate Qal Impf: contracted form; Qamets + Holem
19יִבְנֶה
✓יִבְנֶהQalImperfect3msIII-Heבנה — Final ה root; Seghol ending in impf 3ms
20אָהַב
✓אָהַבQalPerfect3msI-Gutturalאהב — א (R1) guttural; Pathaḥ under R1; quiescent in some forms