Ch. 6 Supplements

Requirements

In this chapter, we are expected to memorize the conjugations of the verbs as part of the vocabulary.
On page 41 of the textbook, note that Qatal and Wayyiqtol verbs are in gray boxes; Yiqtol verbs are in white.
Of the three, Wayyiqtol verbs are the easiest, because they always begin with Waw.
No Hebrew verbs in Biblical Hebrew begins with Waw. By the time of Biblical Hebrew, the first Waw of Hebrew verbs had been replaced by Yod. Therefore, when you see a verb beginning with Waw, you can almost be certain that it is a Wayyiqtol.
We will learn Weqatal verbs later. Waqatal verbs also begin with Waw. But by that time, it shall be easy for you to recognize which is which.

1. Qatal verbs: use the past tense or present perfect tense by default (e.g., “I did,” or “I have done”).
2. Wayyiqtol verbs: use past tense by default (e.g., “And I did”).
3. Yiqtol verbs: use future tense by default (e.g., “I will do”).
4. If the context indicates it’s a past time action, the yiqtol probably indicates a past time habitual action (e.g., “I used to do”). If weqatal verb follow this yiqtol verb, they usually indicate habitual actions as well.
5. If a yiqtol verb is the first word in the sentence, translate it as volitional, such as “should do”, “would do”, “may do”, “let do”…
(For more translation options of yiqtol, see pages 38–39 of the textbook, 2. Syntax and Mood.)