diff --git a/content/verb.rst b/content/verb.rst index 946072a..d90f87a 100644 --- a/content/verb.rst +++ b/content/verb.rst @@ -5,11 +5,278 @@ Verb ==== -Glossary +Summary -------- +.. include:: en_uhg/content/includes/verb_summary.rst + +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 Hebrew, 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 Hebrew change form according to both conjugation +(:ref:`Perfect`, +:ref:`Imperfect`, +:ref:`Infinitive Absolute`, +etc.) and stem formation +(:ref:`Niphal`, +:ref:`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` +of a verb with its conjugation, which includes the person +(:ref:`first`, :ref:`second`, +or +:ref:`third`), +the gender +(:ref:`masculine` +or +:ref:`feminine`), +the number +(:ref:`singular` +or +:ref:`plural`), +and sometimes the state +(:ref:`absolute` +or +:ref:`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 Hebrew do not require a separate :ref:`personal pronoun` +if the subject is not identified; this is because the form of the verb +itself includes the subject. A :ref:`pronominal suffix` +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 Hebrew has 7 finite verb forms: :ref:`Perfect`, :ref:`Imperfect`, +:ref:`Sequential Perfect`, :ref:`Sequential Imperfect`, +:ref:`Imperative`, :ref:`Jussive`, and :ref:`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 Hebrew include +the :ref:`infinitive_absolute`, the :ref:`infinitive_construct`, and the participles (both +:ref:`active ` and :ref:`passive `). +Non-finite verbs can sometimes describe an action or an event in such a +way that the word functions like a :ref:`noun `. + +.. note:: In Biblical Hebrew, 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`, +or a noun and an +:ref:`adjective`. +Hebrew 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 Hebrew 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 Hebrew 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 Hebrew 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 Hebrew verb. + +helping verbs in questions and negations +^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ + +The following example in English adds the helping verb "have" +(not present in the Hebrew 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 Hebrew 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 Hebrew, 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 Hebrew 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 + -A **verb** is a word used to describe an action, event, or state of being. It is the main part of the -predicate of a sentence. Article -------