283 lines
9.2 KiB
ReStructuredText
283 lines
9.2 KiB
ReStructuredText
:github_url: https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_uhg/src/branch/master/content/verb.rst
|
||
|
||
.. _verb:
|
||
|
||
Verb
|
||
====
|
||
|
||
Summary
|
||
-------
|
||
|
||
A verb is the grammatical entity that describes the subject of a
|
||
sentence. A verb can describe either an action that the subject performs
|
||
or the state (or condition) of the subject.
|
||
|
||
Article
|
||
-------
|
||
|
||
A verb is a word in a sentence that describes either an action by the
|
||
subject of a sentence, or the subject itself. Therefore, the verb is
|
||
often the most important word in understanding a sentence or a clause.
|
||
|
||
Form
|
||
----
|
||
|
||
In Biblical Aramaic, the root of a verb consists of three consonants,
|
||
sometimes called the tri-literal (meaning "three letters") root. In
|
||
"strong" verbs, the three root consonants always stay the same and are
|
||
easy to recognize, but "weak" verbs have one or more consonants that
|
||
disappear in certain forms.
|
||
|
||
Verbs in Biblical Aramaic change form according to both conjugation
|
||
(:ref:`Perfect<verb_perfect>`,
|
||
:ref:`Imperfect<verb_imperfect>`,
|
||
:ref:`Infinitive Absolute<infinitive_absolute>`,
|
||
etc.) and stem formation
|
||
(:ref:`Niphal<stem_niphal>`,
|
||
:ref:`Hiphil<stem_hiphil>`,
|
||
etc.). Generally speaking, changes in verb forms happen by adding
|
||
prefixes/suffixes, by changing the vowels, or both. These changes in
|
||
form show the
|
||
:ref:`stem formation<stem>`
|
||
of a verb with its conjugation, which includes the person
|
||
(:ref:`first<person_first>`, :ref:`second<person_second>`,
|
||
or
|
||
:ref:`third<person_third>`),
|
||
the gender
|
||
(:ref:`masculine<gender_masculine>`
|
||
or
|
||
:ref:`feminine<gender_feminine>`),
|
||
the number
|
||
(:ref:`singular<number_singular>`
|
||
or
|
||
:ref:`plural<number_plural>`),
|
||
and sometimes the state
|
||
(:ref:`absolute<state_absolute>`
|
||
or
|
||
:ref:`construct<state_construct>`).
|
||
The person, gender, and number of a verb always agree with the subject.
|
||
|
||
Unlike English (but similar to other languages like Spanish), verbs in
|
||
Biblical Aramaic do not require a separate :ref:`personal pronoun<pronoun_personal>`
|
||
if the subject is not identified; this is because the form of the verb
|
||
itself includes the subject. A :ref:`pronominal suffix<suffix_pronominal>`
|
||
attached to a verb can function as its object.
|
||
|
||
.. _verb-finite:
|
||
|
||
Finite verbs
|
||
~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
||
|
||
Finite verbs are verbs that have a subject and do not require any verbal
|
||
complement to form a complete sentence. Their form shows tense as well as person and number.
|
||
Biblical Aramaic has 7 finite verb forms: :ref:`Perfect<verb_perfect>`, :ref:`Imperfect<verb_imperfect>`,
|
||
:ref:`Sequential Perfect<verb_sequential_perfect>`, :ref:`Sequential Imperfect<verb_sequential_imperfect>`,
|
||
:ref:`Imperative<verb_imperative>`, :ref:`Jussive<verb_jussive>`, and :ref:`Cohortative<verb_cohortative>`.
|
||
|
||
.. _verb-non-finite:
|
||
|
||
Non-finite verbs
|
||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
||
|
||
Properly speaking, non-finite verbs are verbal complements that require
|
||
a finite verb to form a complete sentence. The non-finite verb forms in Biblical Aramaic include
|
||
the :ref:`infinitive_absolute`, the :ref:`infinitive_construct`, and the participles (both
|
||
:ref:`active <participle_active>` and :ref:`passive <participle_passive>`).
|
||
Non-finite verbs can sometimes describe an action or an event in such a
|
||
way that the word functions like a :ref:`noun <noun>`.
|
||
|
||
.. note:: In Biblical Aramaic, the non-finite verb forms are sometimes used
|
||
as finite verbs, and the imperfect form is sometimes used as a non-finite verb.
|
||
|
||
Types
|
||
-----
|
||
|
||
Grammarians often distinguish between different types of verbs. When
|
||
considering the best way to translate a sentence, it is helpful to
|
||
understand what kind of verb is being used in any given instance.
|
||
|
||
.. _verb-dynamic:
|
||
|
||
Dynamic (or action) verbs
|
||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
||
|
||
Dynamic verbs describe a subject performing an action. The subject is
|
||
*doing* something.
|
||
|
||
.. csv-table:: Example: 2KI 1:5
|
||
|
||
וַיָּשׁ֥וּבוּ הַמַּלְאָכִ֖ים אֵלָ֑יו
|
||
**wayyashuvu** hammal'akhim 'elayw
|
||
**And-they-returned** the-messangers to-him
|
||
When the messengers **returned** to him
|
||
|
||
.. csv-table:: Example: JON 1:4
|
||
|
||
וַֽיהוָ֗ה **הֵטִ֤יל** רֽוּחַ־גְּדֹולָה֙ אֶל־הַיָּ֔ם
|
||
wayhwah **hetil** ruah-gedowlah 'el-hayyam
|
||
And-Yahweh **cast** wind-great on-the-sea
|
||
But Yahweh **sent** out a great wind on the sea
|
||
|
||
.. _verb-stative:
|
||
|
||
Stative (or non-action) verbs
|
||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
||
|
||
Rather than describing a specific action, stative verbs describe the
|
||
subject's state of being (the way the subject is). The subject is *not*
|
||
doing anything.
|
||
|
||
.. csv-table:: Example: GEN 48:10 –– stative verb "to be heavy"
|
||
|
||
וְעֵינֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ **כָּבְד֣וּ** מִזֹּ֔קֶן
|
||
we'ene yisra'el **kovdu** mizzoqen
|
||
And-the-eyes-of Israel **were-heavy** from-age
|
||
Now Israel's eyes **were failing** because of his age
|
||
|
||
.. csv-table:: Example: NUM 13:33 –– stative verb "to be"
|
||
|
||
וַנְּהִ֤י בְעֵינֵ֨ינוּ֙ כַּֽחֲגָבִ֔ים
|
||
**wannehi** ve'enenu kahagavim
|
||
**And-we-were** in-our-eyes like-grashoppers
|
||
In our own sight **we were** like grasshoppers
|
||
|
||
.. _verb-transitive:
|
||
|
||
Transitive verbs
|
||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
||
|
||
A transitive verb is a dynamic verb that requires an object that
|
||
receives the verbal action. A sentence with a transitive verb is not
|
||
complete without the object. Stative verbs are never transitive.
|
||
|
||
The phrase "And they lifted up" is unclear without an object.
|
||
They lifted up...\ *what?*, for example:
|
||
|
||
.. csv-table:: Example: RUT 1:14
|
||
|
||
וַתִּשֶּׂ֣נָה קֹולָ֔ן
|
||
**wattissenah** qowlan
|
||
**And they lifted up** their voice
|
||
**Then they lifted up** their voices
|
||
|
||
The phrase "[you must] keep" is unclear without an object.
|
||
You must keep...\ *what?*, for example:
|
||
|
||
.. csv-table:: Example: PRO 7:1
|
||
|
||
שְׁמֹ֣ר אֲמָרָ֑י
|
||
**shemor** 'amaray
|
||
**keep** my-words
|
||
**keep** my words
|
||
|
||
.. _verb-intransitive:
|
||
|
||
Intransitive verbs
|
||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
||
|
||
An intransitive verb is a verb that does NOT require an object to
|
||
receive the verbal action. A sentence with an intransitive verb is
|
||
complete without an object. Dynamic verbs can be either transitive or
|
||
intransitive, but stative verbs are always intransitive.
|
||
|
||
.. csv-table:: Example: EXO 11:1
|
||
|
||
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוָ֜ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֗ה
|
||
**wayyomer** yehwah 'el-mosheh
|
||
**And-he-said** Yahweh to\_Moses
|
||
Then Yahweh **said** to Moses
|
||
|
||
.. csv-table:: Example: DAN 9:4
|
||
|
||
וָֽאֶתְפַּֽלְלָ֛ה לַיהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהַ֖י
|
||
**wa'ethpalelah** layhwah 'elohay
|
||
**And-I-prayed** to-Yahweh my-God
|
||
**I prayed** to Yahweh my God
|
||
|
||
.. _verb-linking-verbs:
|
||
|
||
Linking verbs
|
||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
||
|
||
Linking verbs are verbs that link two
|
||
:ref:`noun<noun>`,
|
||
or a noun and an
|
||
:ref:`adjective<adjective>`.
|
||
Aramaic has very few linking verbs, so often a linking verb has to be
|
||
supplied in English.
|
||
|
||
.. csv-table:: Example: RUT 2:6 –– linking verb "is", not present in the Aramaic text
|
||
|
||
נַעֲרָ֤ה מֹֽואֲבִיָּה֙ הִ֔יא
|
||
na'arah mow'aviyyah hi
|
||
Young-woman Moabite she
|
||
She **is** the young Moabite woman
|
||
|
||
.. csv-table:: Example: 1SA 11:10 –– linking verb "seems", not present in the Aramaic text
|
||
|
||
כְּכָל־הַטֹּ֖וב בְּעֵינֵיכֶֽם׃
|
||
kekhol-hattowv be'enekhem
|
||
like-all\_the-good in-your-eyes.
|
||
whatever **seems** good to you.
|
||
|
||
.. _verb-helping-verb:
|
||
|
||
Helping verbs
|
||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
||
|
||
Helping verbs are extra verbs that "help" express the meaning of the main verb. Biblical Aramaic does not use helping verbs,
|
||
but English does. Often, it is necessary to supply a helping verb in English to express the meaning of a Aramaic verb.
|
||
|
||
helping verbs in questions and negations
|
||
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
|
||
|
||
The following example in English adds the helping verb "have"
|
||
(not present in the Aramaic text):
|
||
|
||
.. csv-table:: Example: 1SA 13:11
|
||
|
||
מֶ֣ה עָשִׂ֑יתָ
|
||
meh 'asitha
|
||
What you-did?
|
||
What **have** you done?
|
||
|
||
The following example in English adds the helping verb "did"
|
||
(not present in the Aramaic text):
|
||
|
||
.. csv-table:: Example: EZR 5:5
|
||
|
||
וְלָא־בַטִּ֣לוּ הִמֹּ֔ו
|
||
wela-vattilu himmow
|
||
and-not\_they-stopped them
|
||
and they **did** not stop them
|
||
|
||
helping verbs to express possibility or desirability
|
||
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
|
||
|
||
English uses helping verbs to express varying degrees of possiblity or
|
||
desirability of verbs. This includes a vast range from strong
|
||
possibility (*He **can** do this* or *He **would** do this*) to weak
|
||
possibility (*He **might** do this* or *He **could** do this*) or from
|
||
strong desirability (*He **should** do this* or ***Let** him do this*)
|
||
to weak desirability (***May** he do this* or *He **wants** to do
|
||
this*). In Biblical Aramaic, this sense of possibility or desirability is
|
||
implied by the context and already present in the form of the verb
|
||
itself.
|
||
|
||
The following examples in English add the helping verb "may"
|
||
(not present in the Aramaic text):
|
||
|
||
.. csv-table:: Example: GEN 3:16
|
||
|
||
מִכֹּ֥ל עֵֽץ־הַגָּ֖ן אָכֹ֥ל תֹּאכֵֽל׃
|
||
mikkol 'ets-haggan 'akhol tokhel
|
||
from-every tree-of\_the-garden eating you-eat
|
||
From every tree in the garden you **may** freely eat
|
||
|
||
.. csv-table:: JOB 38:34
|
||
|
||
וְֽשִׁפְעַת־מַ֥יִם תְּכַסֶּֽךָּ׃
|
||
weshif'ath-mayim tekhassekka
|
||
and-large-amount-of\_water cover-you
|
||
so that an abundance of rainwater **may** cover you
|