Qal Imperfect — III-א (Lamed-Aleph) Paradigms

Full inflection tables for III-א weak roots in the Qal Imperfect.
The aleph at R3 quiesces; the preceding vowel lengthens.


III-א: מָצָא (find) — Imperfect

Person Form Notes
3ms יִמְצָא Qamets before silent aleph; long form
3fs תִּמְצָא Same pattern
2ms תִּמְצָא Identical to 3fs
2fs תִּמְצְאִי Shewa under aleph before hireq-yod suffix
1cs אֶמְצָא Aleph prefix; qamets before silent aleph
3mp יִמְצְאוּ Shewa under aleph before -וּ
3fp תִּמְצֶ֫אנָה Tsere before aleph + נָה
2mp תִּמְצְאוּ Same as 3mp
2fp תִּמְצֶ֫אנָה Same as 3fp
1cp נִמְצָא Nun prefix; qamets-aleph

Key: The Jussive 3ms is identical to the long form (יִמְצָא) — III-א does not
shorten in the Jussive. This distinguishes it from III-ה.


III-א: קָרָא (call, read) — Imperfect

Person Form Notes
3ms יִקְרָא Qamets before silent aleph
3fs תִּקְרָא
2ms תִּקְרָא
2fs תִּקְרְאִי
1cs אֶקְרָא Aleph prefix
3mp יִקְרְאוּ
1cp נִקְרָא

III-א vs. III-ה — Jussive Contrast

Form III-א (יִמְצָא) III-ה (יִבְנֶה → יִבֶּן)
Long Imperfect 3ms יִמְצָא יִבְנֶה
Short Jussive 3ms יִמְצָא (no change) יִבֶּן (ה drops)

This distinction is important: a form ending in א is either III-א long Imperfect OR Jussive
(they are identical). A form ending in ֶן or ֶם is typically a III-ה Jussive.


Strong Paradigm — Comparison

Person Strong (יִקְטֹל) III-א (יִמְצָא) III-א (יִקְרָא)
3ms יִקְטֹל יִמְצָא יִקְרָא
3fs תִּקְטֹל תִּמְצָא תִּקְרָא
2ms תִּקְטֹל תִּמְצָא תִּקְרָא
2fs תִּקְטְלִי תִּמְצְאִי תִּקְרְאִי
1cs אֶקְטֹל אֶמְצָא אֶקְרָא
3mp יִקְטְלוּ יִמְצְאוּ יִקְרְאוּ
1cp נִקְטֹל נִמְצָא נִקְרָא