Ch15 Parsing Drill — Qal Imperfect Strong Verbs

BBH Chapter 15 · 25 forms

Instructions: For each form, give: (a) Person, (b) Number, (c) Gender, (d) Root (3ms lexical form).
Part C only: also identify whether the form is a Jussive or Cohortative.

Part A — A-Class (Holem): Clear Prefix Pattern

#FormPersonNumberGenderRoot
1יִשְׁמֹר
יִשְׁמֹר3smשמר
2תִּכְתְּבוּ
תִּכְתְּבוּ2pmכתב
3נִפְקֹד
נִפְקֹד1pcפקד
4תִּלְמְדִי
תִּלְמְדִי2sfלמד
5יִזְכְּרוּ
יִזְכְּרוּ3pmזכר
6אֶשְׁמֹר
אֶשְׁמֹר1scשמר
7תִּמְשֹׁל
תִּמְשֹׁל3/2sf/mמשלAmbiguous: 3fs or 2ms
8יִכְתְּבוּ
יִכְתְּבוּ3pmכתב
9תִּשְׁמֹרְנָה
תִּשְׁמֹרְנָה3/2pfשמרנָה- suffix marks 3/2fp
10אֶבְחַר
אֶבְחַר1scבחרB-class patach under R2

Part B — B-Class (Patach) and Disambiguation

#FormPersonNumberGenderRootNotes
11יִשְׁמַע
יִשְׁמַע3smשמעB-class patach under R2
12תִּשְׁמַע 3fs or 2ms?
תִּשְׁמַע3/2sf/mשמעAmbiguous: 3fs or 2ms — context required
13תִּשְׁמְעִי
תִּשְׁמְעִי2sfשמעHireq-yod suffix disambiguates 2fs
14יִכְבַּד
יִכְבַּד3smכבדStative; patach under R2
15תִּגְדַּל
תִּגְדַּל3/2sf/mגדלStative patach; ambiguous 3fs/2ms
16יִכְבְּדוּ
יִכְבְּדוּ3pmכבד3mp
17תִּשְׁמַעְנָה
תִּשְׁמַעְנָה3/2pfשמענָה- ending; B-class
18אֶשְׁמַע
אֶשְׁמַע1scשמעPatach under prefix (1cs) + B-class patach
19נִשְׁמַע
נִשְׁמַע1pcשמע1cp nun prefix
20יִגְדַּל
יִגְדַּל3smגדלStative patach

Part C — Jussive and Cohortative Forms

For most strong verbs, the Jussive 3ms is identical in form to the regular Imperfect 3ms — no shortening occurs. Only weak verbs (especially III-ה) show a distinct Jussive shape. Items 23–24 test this awareness.
#FormPersonNumberGenderRootForm Type
21יִשְׁמְרָה
יִשְׁמְרָה3smשמרUnusual ָה- on 3ms — energic-nun form; standard Jussive 3ms = יִשְׁמֹר (no shortening for strong verb)
22נִשְׁמְרָה
נִשְׁמְרָה1pcשמרCohortative — ָה- on 1cp; "Let us keep"
23יִשְׁמֹר
יִשְׁמֹר3smשמרJussive (or Imperfect) — strong root: Jussive = Imperfect in form; context determines
24תִּשְׁמֹר
תִּשְׁמֹר3/2sf/mשמרJussive (or Imperfect) — same: no form distinction for strong roots
25אֶשְׁמְרָה
אֶשְׁמְרָה1scשמרCohortative — ָה- on 1cs; "Let me keep"