The Infinite Verb VersionWhen a verb is being used in the infinitive form, there are two different formats. These are known as the absolute and construct forms. The purpose of the absolute infinite is to intensify the meaning or level of action in the following verb. For instance, the biblical phrase מות תמות ('mot tamut') contains an absolute definitive that changes the verb 'mot' (die) to 'you will die'. On the other hand, the construct form identifies a simple action. This can be seen with an infinitive construct such as שוב which means 'return'. Sometimes, the character for 'to' (ל) is used as a prefix with construct infinitives to create such phrases as ולמשול (ve-lim-shol - 'and to regulate'). With both absolute and construct infinitives, the subject of the verb can be recognized because of the pronoun that is added to the infinitive as a suffix. For example, the verb אכל (akhal - to eat) has an added pronoun כם suffixed, so the term אכלכם (akhal'khem) means 'to eat you' (i.e. 'you eat'). Introduction to Reading Hebrew The first basics The Hebrew AlephBet The Letters of the AlephBet Aleph Bet (Beyt) Gimmel Dalet Hey Vav Zayin Chet Tet Yod Kaf Lamed Mem Nun Samekh Ayin Pey (Fey) Tsade (Tsadik) Qof Resh Shin Tav The Significance of the Alephbet The Basics of Hebrew Verbs The Hebrew Verb Subject The Hebrew Verb Object Hebrew Verb Tenses Hebrew Verb Voices and Moods Hebrew Verb Participles The Infinite Verb Version Hebrew Nouns Hebrew Noun Constructs Using Prefixes With Nouns Hebrew Pronouns Hebrew Plural Nouns Hebrew Adjectives Identifying Hebrew Questions Adverbs, Prepositions and Conjunctions Hebrew Reading Conclusion |