Full inflection tables for the Qal Imperfect (yiqtol) — strong (קָטַל) root.
All attested forms drawn from MACULA Hebrew WLC unless marked †.
BBH §15.3 — Most action verbs. Theme vowel: holem (ō) under R2: יִקְטֹל.
| Person | Form (שָׁמַר → יִשְׁמֹר) | Prefix | Suffix | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3ms | יִשְׁמֹר | יִ | — | Base form; accent usually on ultima |
| 3fs | תִּשְׁמֹר | תִּ | — | Same as 2ms — context distinguishes |
| 2ms | תִּשְׁמֹר | תִּ | — | Same as 3fs |
| 2fs | תִּשְׁמְרִי | תִּ | ִי- | Hireq-yod suffix |
| 1cs | אֶשְׁמֹר | אֶ | — | Patach under prefix (not hireq) |
| 3mp | יִשְׁמְרוּ | יִ | וּ- | Shureq suffix; accent on suffix |
| 3fp | תִּשְׁמֹרְנָה | תִּ | ְנָה- | Nah-ending |
| 2mp | תִּשְׁמְרוּ | תִּ | וּ- | Shureq suffix |
| 2fp | תִּשְׁמֹרְנָה | תִּ | ְנָה- | Same as 3fp |
| 1cp | נִשְׁמֹר | נִ | — | Nun prefix |
Key: The prefix letter + hireq vowel under it (except 1cs which has patach) is the
defining feature of the Imperfect. The holem under R2 is the most common theme vowel.
Some transitive and stative verbs use patach under R2 in the Imperfect.
| Person | Form (שָׁמַע → יִשְׁמַע) | Form (כָּתַב → יִכְתֹּב or יִכְתֹב) |
|---|---|---|
| 3ms | יִשְׁמַע | יִכְתֹּב |
| 3fs | תִּשְׁמַע | תִּכְתֹּב |
| 2ms | תִּשְׁמַע | תִּכְתֹּב |
| 2fs | תִּשְׁמְעִי | תִּכְתְּבִי |
| 1cs | אֶשְׁמַע | אֶכְתֹּב |
| 3mp | יִשְׁמְעוּ | יִכְתְּבוּ |
| 3fp | תִּשְׁמַ֫עְנָה | תִּכְתֹּ֫בְנָה |
| 2mp | תִּשְׁמְעוּ | תִּכְתְּבוּ |
| 2fp | תִּשְׁמַ֫עְנָה | תִּכְתֹּ֫בְנָה |
| 1cp | נִשְׁמַע | נִכְתֹּב |
Key: Whether a verb takes A-class (holem) or B-class (patach) in the Imperfect
is a lexical property — not predictable from the Perfect. Always check the lexicon.
Stative roots often use patach in the Imperfect regardless of Perfect vowel class.
| Person | Form (כָּבֵד → יִכְבַּד) | Form (גָּדֵל → יִגְדַּל) |
|---|---|---|
| 3ms | יִכְבַּד | יִגְדַּל |
| 3fs | תִּכְבַּד | תִּגְדַּל |
| 2ms | תִּכְבַּד | תִּגְדַּל |
| 1cs | אֶכְבַּד | אֶגְדַּל |
| 3mp | יִכְבְּדוּ | יִגְדְּלוּ |
| 1cp | נִכְבַּד | נִגְדַּל |
The Jussive is a shortened form of the Imperfect, used for 3rd-person wishes/commands.
For most strong verbs, the Jussive = Imperfect (no distinction). Differences appear in
III-ה and some other weak verbs (covered in Ch16).
| Form | Jussive 3ms | Jussive 3fs | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strong | יִשְׁמֹר | תִּשְׁמֹר | No distinction from regular Imperfect |
| III-ה (יִהְיֶה) | יְהִי | תְּהִי | Final ה drops in Jussive |
The Cohortative adds ָה- to the 1cs or 1cp Imperfect, expressing a volitional "let me/us."
| Person | Imperfect | Cohortative | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1cs | אֶשְׁמֹר | אֶשְׁמְרָה | Qamets-he suffix added |
| 1cp | נִשְׁמֹר | נִשְׁמְרָה | Same suffix |
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Prefix | Required: יִ/תִּ/אֶ/נִ |
| Prefix vowel | Hireq under prefix (except 1cs: patach) |
| A-class theme | Holem under R2: יִקְטֹל |
| B-class theme | Patach under R2: יִשְׁמַע |
| Stative theme | Patach under R2: יִכְבַּד |
| 3ms/3fs | Both תִּ prefix — identical form |
| 3mp/2mp | Both תִּ/יִ + shureq suffix |
| Quick ID | Prefix consonant before root → Imperfect |