Qal Perfect Paradigm¶
Full inflection tables for the Qal Perfect — strong (קָטַל) root. All attested forms drawn from MACULA Hebrew WLC unless marked †.
Perfect — Fientive Verb (Type-A: qamets under R1)¶
BBH §13.4 — Most action verbs. Theme vowel: qamets (ā) under R1; patach (a) under R2.
| Person | Form (קָטַל) | Suffix | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3ms | קָטַל | — | No suffix; accent on R2 syllable |
| 3fs | קָטְלָה | ָה- | Qamets-he; R1 vowel reduces to shewa |
| 2ms | קָטַלְתָּ | ָתּ- | R1 retains qamets; accent shifts to suffix |
| 2fs | קָטַלְתְּ | תְּ- | Same as 2ms consonants, shewa under tav |
| 1cs | קָטַלְתִּי | תִּי- | Hireq-yod suffix |
| 3cp | קָטְלוּ | וּ- | R1 reduces to shewa; same pattern as 3fs |
| 2mp | קְטַלְתֶּם | תֶּם- | R1 reduces to shewa; R2 has patach |
| 2fp | קְטַלְתֶּן | תֶּן- | Same as 2mp, nun final |
| 1cp | קָטַלְנוּ | נוּ- | Qamets retained under R1 |
Key: The absence of any prefix letter and the presence of person–suffixes on the verb root identifies this as a Perfect. The 3ms bare root (no affix) is the lexical/citation form.
Perfect — Stative-e Verb (Type-B: tsere under R2)¶
BBH §13.7 — State/quality roots. Theme vowel: tsere (ē) under R2 in the 3ms/3fs forms.
| Person | Form (כָּבֵד) | Form (גָּדֵל) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3ms | כָּבֵד | גָּדֵל | Tsere under R2 — key diagnostic |
| 3fs | כָּבְדָה | גָּדְלָה | Tsere lost; R1 reduces to shewa |
| 2ms | כָּבַדְתָּ | גָּדַלְתָּ | Patach under R2 (tsere → patach before suffix) |
| 2fs | כָּבַדְתְּ | גָּדַלְתְּ | Same as 2ms |
| 1cs | כָּבַדְתִּי | גָּדַלְתִּי | Patach under R2 |
| 3cp | כָּבְדוּ | גָּדְלוּ | R1 reduces; tsere lost |
| 2mp | כְּבַדְתֶּם | גְּדַלְתֶּם | Both radicals reduce |
| 2fp | כְּבַדְתֶּן | גְּדַלְתֶּן | Same as 2mp, nun final |
| 1cp | כָּבַדְנוּ | גָּדַלְנוּ | Patach under R2 |
Key: The tsere under R2 in the 3ms/3fs identifies a stative-e verb. In all other persons the tsere reduces to patach. Common stative-e roots: כָּבֵד (heavy/honored), גָּדֵל (great/large), זָקֵן (old), מָלֵא (full), יָרֵא (afraid/reverent).
Perfect — Stative-o Verb (Type-C: holem under R2)¶
BBH §13.7 — Less common; describes a diminished or lesser state.
| Person | Form (קָטֹן) | Form (יָכֹל) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3ms | קָטֹן | יָכֹל | Holem under R2 — key diagnostic |
| 3fs | קָטְנָה | יָכְלָה | Holem lost; R1 reduces |
| 2ms | קָטֹנְתָּ | יָכֹלְתָּ | Holem retained |
| 2fs | קָטֹנְתְּ | יָכֹלְתְּ | Holem retained |
| 1cs | קָטֹנְתִּי | יָכֹלְתִּי | Holem retained |
| 3cp | קָטְנוּ | יָכְלוּ | Holem lost; R1 reduces |
| 2mp | קְטֹנְתֶּם | יְכֹלְתֶּם | Both patterns; holem may be retained |
| 2fp | קְטֹנְתֶּן | יְכֹלְתֶּן | Same as 2mp, nun |
| 1cp | קָטֹנְנוּ | יָכֹלְנוּ | Holem retained |
Key: Holem under R2 in the 3ms is the signature of this class. The most common stative-o verbs are קָטֹן (small), יָכֹל (able/can), and אָהֹב (love — though אָהֵב is also common).
Summary — Qal Perfect at a Glance¶
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Prefix | None |
| Suffix | Person/number/gender ending attached to root |
| Fientive 3ms | qamets + patach: קָטַל |
| Stative-e 3ms | qamets + tsere: כָּבֵד |
| Stative-o 3ms | qamets + holem: קָטֹן |
| Vowel reduction rule | R1 qamets → shewa when a syllable is added (3fs, 3cp, 2mp, 2fp) |
| Quick ID | No prefix + suffix endings → Perfect |