Samuel_Kim_en_uhg/content/state_construct.rst

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:github_url: https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_uhg/src/branch/master/content/state_construct.rst
.. _state_construct:
State Construct
===============
Summary
-------
The contruct state is a modified form of a word (noun, adjective, participle, or infinitive) in contrast to the standard form
called the absolute state. The construct state is used when a word takes a suffix or is connected to another term in a
construct chain.
Article
-------
:ref:`Nouns<noun>`, :ref:`adjectives<adjective>`, :ref:`participles<participle_active>` and
:ref:`infinitives<infinitive_construct>` can appear in either the :ref:`absolute state<state_absolute>` or the construct state.
The construct state ending is shorter than the absolute state ending and can take an attached :ref:`suffix<suffix>`.
Nouns, adjectives and participles can appear in either the absolute state or the construct state for both
:ref:`masculine<gender_masculine>` and :ref:`feminine<gender_feminine>` terms in both :ref:`singular<number_singular>`
and :ref:`plural<number_plural>` forms. Because infinitives do not change form for either gender or number, there is
usually only one :ref:`infinitive construct<infinitive_construct>` form and one :ref:`infinitive absolute<infinitive_absolute>`
form of a verb in Biblical Hebrew.
.. note:: Many masculine singular nouns appear exactly alike in both the absolute state and the construct state.
The construct state serves a unique function in Biblical Hebrew to grammatically link a word to the following word(s),making
a single grammatical unit called a :ref:`construct chain<state_construct-construct-chain>`. Words in a construct chain are often
translated into English with the word "of" between them. Construct chains can consist of two words (for example, "the *king* of
*Israel*") or more than two words (for example, "the *son* of the *king* of *Israel*").
Form
----
For most nouns, the masculine singular form is identical to the absolute state. The masculine plural construct ending drops the
final ם and changes the final hireq to a segol (i-sound to e-sound).
Usually, the feminine singular construct ending changes from a final ה to a final ת. The feminine plural construct ending is
identical to the absolute state.
Paradigm
~~~~~~~~
.. csv-table:: Construct State Examples
Parsing,Hebrew,Transliteration,Gloss
"Noun, masculine singular construct",סוּס,sus,stallion of
"Noun, masculine plural construct",סוּסֵי,suse,stallions of
"Noun, feminine singular construct",סוּסַת,susat,mare of
"Noun, feminine plural construct",סוּסוֹת,susoth,mares of
Function
--------
Appearing with a suffix
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
.. csv-table:: Example: 2SA 17:23
וַיָּ֜קָם וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ אֶל־\ **בֵּיתוֹ֙** אֶל־עִיר֔וֹ
wayyaqom wayyelekh 'el-**betho** 'el-**'iro**
And-he-stood-up and-went to\_\ **his-house** to\_\ **his-city**
He went **home** to **his own city**
.. _state_construct-construct-chain:
Forming a construct chain
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Two or more terms that are gramatically linked together to form a construct chain can express a wide range of meanings.
The initial term(s) in a construct chain always appears in the construct state and is called the "construct noun(s)."
The final term in a construct chain always appears in the absolute state and is called the
:ref:`"absolute noun"<state_absolute-absolute-noun>`. The absolute noun always determines whether a construct chain is
:ref:`definite<state_absolute-definite-chain>` or :ref:`indefinite<state_absolute-indefinite-chain>`.
Possessive
^^^^^^^^^^
A construct noun can indicate a person/thing possessed by the absolute noun.
.. csv-table:: Example: 1KI 9:10
בֵּ֥ית הַמֶּֽלֶךְ
**beth** hammelekh
**house-of** the-king
the king\ **'s palace**
Relational
^^^^^^^^^^
A construct noun can indicate a kind of personal relationship with reference to the absolute noun.
EXAMPLE
Material
^^^^^^^^
An absolute noun can indicate the substance or material of the construct noun.
.. csv-table:: Example: 1KI 10:25
כְּלֵ֣י כֶסֶף֩
**kele** khesef
**vessels-of** silver
**vessels** of silver
Attributive
^^^^^^^^^^^
An absolute noun can describe the construct noun, similar to an :ref:`attributive adjective<adjective-attributive>`.
.. csv-table:: Example: ISA 6:13
זֶ֥רַע קֹ֖דֶשׁ
**zera'** qodesh
**seed-of** holiness
a holy **seed**
Indicative
^^^^^^^^^^
An absolute noun can indicate the specific item described by the construct noun.
.. csv-table:: Example: EXO 7:19
אֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם
**'erets** mitsrayim
**land-of** Egypt
**the land** of Egypt
Purpose/Result
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
An absolute noun can indicate an intended purpose/result for the construct noun.
.. csv-table:: Example: PSA 44:22 (PSA 44:23 in Hebrew)
כְּצֹ֣אן טִבְחָֽה
**ketson** tivhah
**like-sheep-of** slaughter
**as sheep for** the slaughter
Agent/Instrument
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
An absolute noun can indicate the person/thing by which the construct noun is performed.
.. csv-table:: Example: ISA 53:4
מֻכֵּ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֖ים
**mukkeh** 'elohim
**struck-of** God
**struck by** God
Subject/object of an action
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
An absolute noun can indicate the person/thing that either performs or receives the action described by the construct noun.
.. csv-table:: Example: EXO 3:8
אֶ֛רֶץ \ **זָבַ֥ת** חָלָ֖ב וּדְבָ֑שׁ
'erets **zavath** halav udevash
land **flowing-with** milk and-honey
a land **flowing with** milk and honey
Superlative
~~~~~~~~~~~
A construct noun can indicate a unique item among a series described by the absolute noun.
.. csv-table:: Example: SNG 1:1
שִׁ֥יר הַשִּׁירִ֖ים
**shir** hashirim
**Song-of** the-songs
The greatest **song**