Chapter 13 — Peal Perfect vs. Peal Imperfect Contrast Drill

Basics of Biblical Aramaic, Van Pelt — Ch13: Peal Perfect: Recognizing and Distinguishing Conjugations

Instructions

For each numbered Aramaic verbal form from Daniel or Ezra, enter: Conj (Pf = Perfect or Impf = Imperfect), Person (1/2/3), Gender (m/f/c), Number (s/pl), Root (3 consonants), and Translation. Click ▶ Answer to reveal the answer row.

Perfect (no prefix): 3ms bare form CvCaC; endings: 3fs ‑ַת, 3mp ‑וּ, 1cp ‑נָא.    Imperfect (with prefix): preformative yod/tav/nun/aleph before root; 3ms יִ‑ prefix + CvCvC; 3mp ends in ‑וּן.    1cp contrast: Perfect ‑נָא at end; Imperfect נִ‑ at start.
# Form Conj (Pf/Impf) Person Gender Number Root Translation
1
כְּתַב
Perfect 3ms כתב he wrote (CvCaC pattern; no prefix)
2
יִכְתֻּב
Imperfect 3ms כתב he will write (יִ‑ prefix + Qibbuts under R2)
3
אֲמַר
Perfect 3ms אמר he said (I-aleph root; Hateph Pathach under aleph)
4
תֵּאמַר
Imperfect 2/3 fs אמר you (f.s.) will say / she will say (תְּ‑ prefix; I-aleph compensatory lengthening → Tsere)
5
קְטַלַת
Perfect 3fs קטל she killed (‑ַת = 3fs Perfect ending)
6
יִקְטֻל
Imperfect 3ms קטל he will kill (יִ‑ prefix; Qibbuts under R2 is the 3ms Impf marker)
7
שְׁמַעְנָא
Perfect 1cp שׁמע we heard (‑נָא at the end = 1cp Perfect suffix)
8
נִשְׁמַע
Imperfect 1cp שׁמע we will hear (נִ‑ at the start = 1cp Imperfect preformative)
9
עֲבַד
Perfect 3ms עבד he made/did (guttural R1 ע takes Hateph Pathach: עֲ‑)
10
יַעְבֵּד
Imperfect 3ms עבד he will make/do (יַ‑ prefix with Pathach; guttural ע in R1)
11
קְטַלוּ
Perfect 3mp קטל they killed (‑וּ = 3mp Perfect ending; no prefix)
12
יִקְטְלוּן
Imperfect 3mp קטל they will kill (יִ‑ prefix + ‑וּן = 3mp Imperfect ending)
13
יְדַעְתְּ
Perfect 2ms ידע you knew (‑תְּ = 2ms Perfect suffix; I-yod root: yod dropped)
14
תִּנְדַּע
Imperfect 2ms ידע you will know (תִּ‑ prefix = 2ms Impf; nun assimilated into dagesh in R2 ד)
15
נְפַל
Perfect 3ms נפל he fell (I-nun root; Perfect = no prefix; נְ is the root's first consonant)
16
יִּנְפֵּל
Imperfect 3ms נפל he will fall (יִּ‑ prefix with dagesh = I-nun Impf; Aramaic retains nun unlike Hebrew יִפֹּל)
17
שָׁלַחְנָא
Perfect 1cp שׁלח we sent (‑נָא at end = 1cp Perfect; no preformative)
18
יִשְׁלַח
Imperfect 3ms שׁלח he will send (יִ‑ prefix = 3ms Imperfect preformative)
19
קְרָא
Perfect 3ms קרא he called/read (III-aleph root: final aleph + Qamets; no prefix = Perfect)
20
יִקְרֵא
Imperfect 3ms קרא he will call/read (יִ‑ prefix + Tsere before final aleph = III-aleph Imperfect)

Discussion Questions

  1. The Aramaic Peal Perfect 3ms (e.g., כְּתַב) looks similar to the Hebrew Qal Perfect 3ms. What is the key vowel difference that distinguishes Aramaic Peal from Hebrew Qal in the 3ms?
  2. Looking at items 7 and 8 (שְׁמַעְנָא vs. נִשְׁמַע): both are 1cp. What is the diagnostic difference that tells you which is perfect and which is imperfect?
  3. I-nun roots (like נפל, items 15–16): in the Peal Imperfect, does the nun assimilate? Compare item 16 (יִּנְפֵּל) with its Hebrew cognate (יִפֹּל). What does this tell you about Aramaic vs. Hebrew treatment of I-nun in the Imperfect?