Hudío Grammar

Pronunciation table

a	ă	b	ḅ	d	ḍ	e	g	ġ	h	i	k	ḳ	l	m	n	o	p	ṗ	r	s	ś	š	t	ṭ	u	w	y	z	'
אַ	אְ	בּ	ב	דּ	ד	אֵ	גּ	ג	ה	אִ	כּ	כ	ל	מ	נ	אָ	פּ	פ	ר	ס	צ	ש	תּ	ת	אֻ	ו	י	ז	ע
/ä/	/ə/	/b/	/v/	/d/	/ð/	/e/	/g/	/ʝ/	/h/	/i/	/k/	/ç/	/l/	/m/	/n/	/o/	/p/	/f/	/ɾ/	/s/	/ʦ/	/ʃ/	/t/	/θ/	/u/	/w/	/j/	/z/	/ʔ/

Part II - -Grammar

2.0 The Alphabet

	a	ă	b	ḅ	d	ḍ	e	g	ġ	h	i	k	ḳ	l	m
א1	אַ	אְ	בּ	ב	דּ	ד	אֵ	גּ	ג	ה2 3	אִ	כּ	כ4	ל	מ
אַ֫לֵף álef	אַ a	אְ uh	בֵּתּ bet	בֵתּ vet	דַּ֜לֵתּ dálet	דַ֜לֵתּ ḍálet	אֵ e	גִּ֜מֵל gimel	גִ֜מֵל ġimel	הֵ he	אִ i	כַּף kaf	כַף ḳaf	לַמֵבּ lamed	מֵם mem
	/ä/	/ə/	/b/	/v/	/d/	/ð/	/e/	/g/	/ʝ/	/h/	/i/	/k/	/ç/	/l/	/m/

• ¹ Syllabic and initial vowels are written under álef, so there is no need for matres lectionis.
• ² ח (heth) has been deleted from the alphabet and replaced in all instances by ה (he).
• ³ ה (he) has been deleted when syllable final.
• ⁴ ק (quf) has been deleted from the alphabet and replaced in all instances by כ (ka).

n	o	p	ṗ	r	s	ś	š	t	ṭ	u	w	y	z	'
נ	אָ	פּ	פ	ר	ס	צ	ש1	תּ	ת2	אֻ	ו	י	ז	ע3
נֻן nun	אׇ o	פֵּ pe	פֵ fe	רֵש resh	סַ֜מֵכּ sámek	צַ֜דִּ tsadi	שִן shin	תַּף taf	תַף ṭaf	אֻ u	וַ wa	יׇדּ yod	זַ֜אִ zay	אַ֜אִן ain
/n/	/o/	/p/	/f/	/ɾ/	/s/	/ʦ/	/ʃ/	/t/	/θ/	/u/	/w/	/j/	/z/	/ʔ/

• ¹ שׂ (sin) /s/ has been deleted from the alphabet and replaced in all instances by ס (sámek). Thus the dot is not needed for shin.
• ² ט (tet) /t/ has been deleted from the alphabet and replaced in all instances by ת (taf) /t/.
• ³ The glottal stop <ע> /ʔ/ (') is used only to separate the same contiguous vowels, e.g., נֵ֜עַר, ná'ar, boy.

Notes

1. The Hebrew alphabet is used with some modifications.
2. The order of the Latin alphabet is used in place of the traditional Hebrew order.
3. When reciting the alphabet, the fricatives are not named.
4. When spelling a word, the names of the fricatives are used, e.g., דַּבַר, daḅar, word: dalet, a, vet, a, resh.
5. The schwa sign אְ is not used under syllable final consonants, e.g. אַרבַּ, arba, four.
6. There are no geminate consonants.

2.0 General Notes

• 2.0.1 Sentence order is subject, verb, (indirect object pronoun), direct object, (indirect object noun), other elements.
• 2.0.2 Most words are accented on the ultimate syllable.
• 2.0.3 A few words are accented on the penultimate syllable. These words are indicated by an acute accent on the vowel in the Latin transliteration, e.g., מֵ֜לֵכּ mélek, king.

2.1 The Verb

• 2.1.1 Huḍio has reduced the many type of verbs in Biblical Hebrew to four.

1. Those with the syllabic form CVCVC, e.g., כַּתַב kaṭab, write.
2. Those with the syllabic form VCVC, e.g., אַכַל akal, eat.
3. Those with the syllabic form CVC, e.g., נַם nam, sleep.
4. Those with the syllabic form CV, e.g., בַּ ba, come.

• 2.1.2 These forms are the forms of the perfect tense and are lemmas for the verbs.
• 2.1.3 The verb has only two numbers, singular and plural.
• 2.1.4 Vowels are infixed to these forms to specify the meaning.
• 2.1.5 The verb agrees in person and number with its subject. The personal pronoun may be used for emphasis.
• 2.1.6 The verb is negated with לָ lo placed immediately before the verb.
• 2.1.7 Traditionally, the conjugation paradigm is given in the order 3rd, 2nd, and 1st persons.
• 2.1.8 No distinction is made in the second person between male and female.
• 2.1.9 The perfect tense translates the simple past or the present perfect. With verbs of perception or attitude it translates the general present. With verbs signifying mental or physical state it translates "to be" + adjective.

Perfect Tense

	CVCVC write		CVCV eat		CVC sleep		CV come
	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
3rd	kaṭab כַּתַבּ	katbu כַּבֻּ	aḳal אַכַל	aklu אַכּלֻ	nam נַם	namu נַמֻ	ba בַּ	bau בַּאֻ
2nd	kaṭábta כַּתַ֜בּתַּ	kaṭábtem כַּתַ֜בּתֵּם	aḳálta אַכַ֜לתַּ	aḳáltem אַכַ֜לתֵּם	námta נַ֫מתַּ	námtem כַ֜מתֵּם	báṭa בַּ֜תַ	báṭem בַּ֜תֵם
1st	kaṭábti כַּתַ֜בּתִּ	kaṭábnu כֵּתַ֜בּנֻ	aḳálti אַכַ֜לתִּ	aḳálnu אַכַ֜לנֻ	námti נַ֜מתִּ	námnu נַ֜מנֻ	báṭi בַּ֜תִ	bánu בַּ֜נֻ

• 2.1.10 Verbs with the form CaCeC are stative verbs for the most part, e.g., kaḅed, he is/was/has become heavy.

Perfect Tense of Stative Verbs

	CVCVC be heavy		CVCV be afraid		CVC die
	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
3rd	kaḅed כַּתַבּ	kabdu כַּבֻּ	yare אַכַל	yaru אַכּלֻ	met נַם	métu נַמֻ
2nd	kaḅédta כַּתַ֜בּתַּ	kaḅédtem כַּתַ֜בּתֵּם	yaréta אַכַ֜לתַּ	yarétem אַכַ֜לתֵּם	méta נַ֫מתַּ	métem כַ֜מתֵּם
1st	kaḅédti כַּתַ֜בּתִּ	kaḅédnu כֵּתַ֜בּנֻ	yaréti אַכַ֜לתִּ	yarénu אַכַ֜לנֻ	méti בַּ֜תִ	métnu בַּ֜נֻ

• 2.1.11 There are no irregular verbs.
• 2.1.12 CoCeC is the form of the active participle, e.g., כָתֵב koṭeb, writing. This form is an adjective in function, e.g., הַאִש הַכָתֵב ha-iš ha-ḳoṭeb, the writing man or the man who is writing; הַאִש כָתֵב ha-iš koṭev, the man is writing.
• 2.1.13 In order to state that something exists, the word יֵש yeš is used, e.g., אִש יֵש iš yeš, there is a man; אְנַשִם יֵש ănašim yeš, there are men. The negative expression uses אֵן en, e.g., אִש אֵן iš en, there is no man.
  • This construction is used to express possession, e.g., כֵּסֵף אֵן לְאִש késef en lăiš, the man has no silver.
• 2.1.14 Although a juxtaposed noun and articleless adjective may constitute a predication, it is more common to use the verb הַיַ haya.

הַאִש הַיַ תָבּ ha-iš haya tob, the man was good.

• 2.1.15 With the preposition לְ lă, the verb means become.

דַּוִדּ הַיַ לְמֵ֜לֵכּ תָבּ dawid haya lămélek tob, David became a good king.

• 2.1.16 The imperfect tense adds a prefix to the inflected forms. The imperfect has two meanings, the future and habitual or customary action.

Imperfect Tense

	CVCVC write		CVCV eat		CVC sleep		CV come
	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
3rd	yiktob יִכּתׇּבּ	yiktoḳun יִכּתׇּבֻן	yiḳol יִכֶל	yiḳolun יִכׇלֻן	yinom יִנׇם	yinomun יִנׇמֻן	yiḅo יִבׇ	yiḅoun יִבֶאֻן
2nd	tiktob תִּכּתׇּבּ	tiktoḅun תִּכּתׇּבֻן	tiḳol תִּכׇל	tiḳolun תִּכׇלֻן	tinom תִּנׇם	tinomun תִּנׇמֻן	tiḅo תִּבׇ	tiḅoun תִּבׇאֻן
1st	ektob אֵכּתׇּבּ	niktob נִכּתׇּבּ	eḳol אֵכׇל	niḳol נִכׇל	enom אֵנׇם	ninom נׅנׇם	eḅo אֵבׇ	niḅo נִבׇ

• 2.1.17 The imperative is formed by changing the first vowel of the imperfect to ă in the singular, and to i in the plural.

imperfect	singular	plural
yiktob יִכּתׇּבּ	kăṭob כְּתׇבּ	kitbu כִּתּבֻּ
yiḳol יִכֶל	ăḳol אְכׇל	iklu אִלֻ
yinom יִנׇם	ănom אְנׇם	inmu אִנמֻ
yiḅo yiḅo	ăḅo	iḅu

• 2.1.18 The negative imperative is formed with לׇ lo, e.g., לׇ lo ăḅo, don't go.
• 2.1.19 The infinitive is formed by changing the first vowel of the perfect to ă and the second to o. If a suffix is added the first vowel is o and the second is deleted.

kaṭab כַּתַבּ	kăṭob כְּתׇבּ	kotbi כׇּתּבִּ
aḳal אַכַל	ăḳol אְכׇל	okli אׇכּלִ
nam נׇם	ănom אְנׇם	onmi אׇנמִ
ba בַּ	ăḅo אְבׇ	iḅu אִבֻ

• 2.1.20 The infinitive has both nominal and verbal functions. As a verb it may have subjects, objects, and other verbal adjuncts.
• 2.1.21 The infinitive is used with lă to indicate the complement of a verb. The schwa is elided.

בַּאֻ לְשמָ báu lăšmo, they came to hear.

• 2.1.22 הַיַ haya + ă + the infinitive expresses to be about to... or to be compelled to....

הַ-שַ֜מַר הַיַ לְסגׇּר ha-šámar haya lăsgor, the gate was about to close.

• 2.1.23 אַל al + noun/pronoun + לְ lă + the infinitive expresses obligation or responsibility.

אַלִ לְמצָ אֵתּ-הֻ ali lămśo et-hu, I must find him.

• 2.1.24 אִן en + לְ lă + the infinitive expresses possibility or permission.

אֵן לְבׇ en lăḅo, entering is forbidden.

• 2.1.24 The infinitive is negated with לׇ lo.
• 2.1.25 The passive participle has the pattern CaCuC, e.g., כַּתֻבּ kaṭub, written.

2.2 The Noun

• 2.2.1 The Huḍío noun belongs to one of two classes, masculine and feminine. In general, those nouns ending in -a are feminine and those ending in a consonant are masculine, although there are some exceptions.
• 2.2.2 There are two numbers, singular and plural. The singular is unmarked. The plural endings are –ot for feminine nouns and –im for masculine nouns.

מֵ֜לֵכּ mélek (king), מְלַכִם mălaḳim; מַלכַּ malka (queen), מַלכׇּתּ malkot.

• 2.2.3 If the noun is disyllabic and the first syllable contains an a or e, then the vowel of the first syllable becomes ă and the second vowel becomes a.

דַּבַר daḅar, word; דְּבַרִם dăvarim, words; סֵ֜פֵר séfer, book; סְפַרִם săfarim, books.

• 2.2.4 A few nouns have irregular plurals:

אִש iš, man; אְנַשִם ănašim, men; אִשַ iša, woman; נַשִם našim, women; אִר ir, city; אְרִם ărim, cities; בַּ֜יִתּ báyit, house; בַּתִם baṭim.

• 2.2.5 When the direct object of a verb is a noun, definite or indefinite, or is a proper name, it is preceded by the object marker אֵתּ et-.

הַעַם אׇהֵבּ אֵתּ-דַּוִדּ ha-am ohev et-Dawid, the people love David.

• 2.2.6 The indirect object is formed with the preposition לְ lă.

נַתַנתִּ אֵתּ-הַסֵ֜פֵר לְאִש naṭánti et-séfer lăiš, I gave the book to the man.

• 2.2.7 The suffix אַ- -a added to both proper and common nouns indicates motion toward, the latter with or without the article. It is never stressed.

הַהַ֜רַ ha-hára, to the mountain

כֻ֜סכׇאַ, kúskoa to Cusco

2.3 The Construct Chain

• 2.3.1 The juxtaposition of two nouns serves to mark a modifying relationship. The first noun in such a chain is said to be in a construct state.

הַכׇּל הַנַבִ ha-kol ha-naḅi, the voice of the prophet.

• 2.3.2 A different form of the construct noun is preserved in bisyllabic nouns with unstressed a or e in the first syllable, which changes to ă.

הַדְּבַר הַמֵ֜לֵכּ ha-dăḅar ha-mélek, the word of the king; but

הַנַ֜עַר הַמֵ֜לֵכּ ha-ná'ar ha-mélek, the attendant of the king.

• 2.3.3 Either noun may take either the definite article or the indefinite article.

הַכׇל הַנַכִ, ha-kol ha-naḅi, the voice of the prophet

הַכׇל נַבִ, ha-kol naḅi, the voice of a prophet.

• 2.3.4 An adjective may follow either noun of the construct chain.

הַדְּבַר הַמֵ֜לֵכּ הַתׇבּ, ha-dăḅar ha-mélek ha-tob, the word of the good king.

הַדְבַר הַתׇבּ הַמֵ֜לֵכּ ha-dăḅar ha-tob ha-mélek, the good word of the king.

• 2.3.5 Nouns in -a replace this ending with -aṭ.

הַמַלכַּת הַעַ֜רֵץ ha-malkat ha-'áreś, the queen of the land.

• 2.3.6 Plural nouns in -im change the ending to -e, יַמִם yamim, seas.

הַ-יַמֵ הַ-אׇלַם ha-yame ha-olam, the seas of the world,

• 2.3.7 Irregular Construct Forms

house	בַּיִתּ bayit	בֵּתּ bet
death	מַוֵתּ mawet	מׇתּ mot
woman	אִשַ iša	אֵ֜שֵתּ éšet

2.4 Adjective

• 2.4.1 Adjectives agree in class and number with the nouns they modify.
• 2.4.2 Monosyllabic adjectives have the following forms.

	singular	plural
masculine	תׇּבּ tob good	תׇּבִם toḅim
feminine	תׇּבּ tob	תׇּבׇתּ toḅot

• 2.4.3 Disyllabic adjectives have the following forms.

	singular	plural
masculine	גַּדׇל gaḍol great	גְּדׇלִם găḍolim
feminine	גַּדׇל gaḍol	גְּדׇלִם găḍolot

• 2.4.4 Adjectives ending in –e have the following forms.

	singular	plural
masculine	יַפֵ yaṗe beautiful	יַפִם yaṗim
feminine	יַפֵ yaṗe	יַפׇתּ yaṗot

• 2.4.5 The attributive adjective follows the noun and agrees with it in class and number.

אִש תׇּבּiš tob, a good man; הַ-אִש תׇּבּ ha-iš tob, the good man; אְנַשִם תׇּבִם ănašim toḅim, good men; הַ-אְנַשׅם תׇּבִם ha-ănašim toḅim, the good men.

• 2.4.6. A juxtaposed noun and articleless adjective, before or after the noun may constitute a predication: תׇּבּ הַ-אִש tob ha-iš , הַ-אִש תׇּבּ ha-iš tob, the man is good.
• 2.4.7. An adjective may be modified by a prepositional phrase in the predicate.

הַאִר הַיַ תׇּבַ לַעַם ha-ir haya tova la-'am, the city is good for the people.

• 2.4.8. Adjectives may be used as nouns in two ways.
  • 2.4.8.1 The adjective with the definite article may mean "the one who is...",

הַכַם haḳam, wise; הַ-הַכַם ha-haḳam, the wise one.

• • 2.4.8.2 The singular form may be used as an abstract noun with the addition of אַ- -a.

הַרַ hara, evil; הַרַעַ hara'a wickedness.

• 2.4.9 The adjective כׇּל kol, all, has the meaning "each, every, all, the whole". It is not inflected and precedes the noun it modifies.

כׇּל יׇם kol yom each day, every day

כׇּל הַיׇם kol ha-yom, all day, the whole day

כׇּל הַיַמִם kol ha-yamim, all the days.

• 2.4.10 The expression כׇּל שֵר kol šer means "everything that/which". When the object of a verb it is preceded by et-.

He gave him everthing that he had acquired.

נַתַן אֵתּכׇּל שֵר כַּנַ לׇ naṭan et-kol šer kana lo.

• 2.4.11 With an adjective kol has an indefinite pronominal sense.

כׇּם הַדַש kol haḍaš, anything new.

• 2.4.12 To express the comparative the preposition -מִן min- is used before the noun which is the basis of comparison.

The man is wiser than the boy.

הַאִש הַיַ הַכַם מִן-הַ-֜נַעַר ha-iš haya haḳam min-ha-ná'ar.

• • 2.4.13 This construction is also used to express "too...for...".

The work is too hard for the man.

הַעַבׇדַ הַיַ כַשַ מִן-הַ-אִש ha'aḅoḍa haya ḳaša min-ha-iš.

• 2.4.14. The demonstrative adjective stands last in a series of adjectives.

מַאִש הַתׇבּ הַזֵ ha-iš ha-tob ha-ze, this good man.

	singular	plural
this	ze	éle
that	hi	héna

2.5 The Definite Article

• 2.5.1. The definite article is ha- and is prefixed to the noun:

דַּבַר daḅar, word; הַ-דַּבַר ha-daḅar, the word; מֵ֜גֵכּ mélek, king; הַ-מֵ֜גֵכּ ha-mélek, the king.

• • 2.5.1.2 If the noun begins with ha- or ḳa-, then the definite article is הְhă:

הְ-הַר hă-har, the mountain; הְ-הַיִם hă-harim, mountains.

• 2.5.2. The noun with the definite article is also used to express the vocative.

הַ-מֵ֜גֵכּ ha-mélek, O king!

• 2.5.3. There is no indefinite article.

2.6 The Numbers

• 2.6.1 The numbers have become indeclinable and precede the noun.
• 2.6.2 The multiple ordinal numbers govern a noun in the singular.

אַהַל פַּרַ ahal para, one cow; אַרבַּ פַּרַ arba para, four cows.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
ordinal	אַהַל ahal	שֵנַ šena	שַלשַ šalša	אַרבַּ arba	הַמשַ hamša	שֵשַ šeša	שֵבַ šeḅa	שמׇנַ šmona	תֵּשַ teša	אֵצרַ eśra
cardinal	הַלִ hali	שֵנִ šeni	שַלשִ šalši	ארבִּ arbi	הַמשִ hamši	שֵשִ šeši	שֵבִ šeḅi	שמׇנִ šmoni	תֵּשִ teši	אצרִ eśri
+10	הַלשַר halšar	שֵנשַר šenšar	שַלשַר šalšar	אַרבַּשַר arbašar	הַמשַר hamšar	שֵשַר šešar	שֵבּשַר šebšar	שמׇנשַר šmonšar	תֵּשַר tešar
x10		שֵנִם šenim	שַלשִם šalšim	אַרבִּם arbim	הַמשִם hamšim	שֵשִם šešim	שֵבִם šeḅim	שמׇנִם šmonim	תֵּשׄם tešim	אֵצרִם eśrim

2.7 The Pronoun

2.7.1 The Personal Pronouns

person	singular	plural
1st	אְנִ ăni	אְנַ֜נֻ ănánu
2nd	אְתַ ăṭa	אְתֵם ăṭem
3rd	הֻ hu	הֵם hem

• • 2.7.1.1 These forms are used as the subjects of verbs, mostly of non-verbal sentences, אְנִ תׇבּ ăni tob, I am good.
  • 2.7.1.2 These forms are used as the direct object, e.g., אְנִ אׇהֵב אֵתּ-הֻ ăni oheḅ et-hu, I love him.
  • 2.7.1.3 When it is the object of a preposition, a personal pronoun is suffixed to the preposition, e.g., with לְ lă,

person	singular	plural
1st	לִ li	לַ֜נֻ lánu
2nd	לְכּ lăk	לְכֵם lăḳem
3rd	לְהֻ lăhu	לְהֵם lăhem

• • 2.7.1.4 The personal pronoun with מִן min, from, is declined differently.

person	singular	plural
1st	מִנֵ֜נִ minéni	מִנֵ֜נֻ minénu
2nd	מִנֵ֜כַ minéḳa	מִנֵ֜כֵם minéḳem
3rd	מִנֵ֜הֻ minéhu	מִנֵ֜הֵם minéhem

2.7.2 The Demonstrative Pronoun

• 2.8.2.1 The demonstrative adjective without the definite article is used as the demonstrative pronoun.

זֵ הַיַ הַ-אִש ze haya ha-iš, this is the man.

אֵ֜לֵ הַיַ הַ-דְּבַיִם éle haya ha-dăḅarim, these are the words.

2.7.3 The Interrogative Pronoun

• 2.7.3.1 The interrogative pronouns מִ mi, who, and מַ ma, what, are not inflected for number or class.

2.7.4 The Possessive Pronoun

• 2.7.4.1 Pronominal possession is indicated by suffixing a form of the personal pronoun to the noun.

person	singular	plural
1st	סֻסִ susi my horse	סֻסֵ֜נֻ susénu our horse
2nd	סֻסכַּ suska your horse	סֻסכֵּם suskem your horse
3rd	סֻסׇ suso his/her horse	סֻסַם susam their horse

person	singular	plural
1st	סֻסֵ֜אִ suséi my horses	סֻסֵ֜נֻ susénu our horses
2nd	סֻסֵ֜כַ suséka your horses	סֻסֵ֜כֵם susékem your horses
3rd	סֻסֵ֜אׇ suséo his/her horses	סֻסֵ֜הֵם suséhem their horses

• 2.7.4.2 The usual vowel reduction takes place in disyllabic nouns.

person	singular	plural
1st	דְּבַיִ dăḅari my word	דְּבַרֵ֜נֻ dăḅarénu our word
2nd	דְּבַיכַּ dăḅarka your word	דְּבַיכֵּם dăḅarkem your word
3rd	דְּבַיׇ dăḅaro his/her word	דְּבַיַם dăḅaram their word

• 2.7.4.3 Feminine nouns in -a have אַתּ- -at before the pronominal endings.

person	singular	plural
1st	תׇּרַתִ toraṭi my law	תׇּרַתֵ֜נֻ toraṭénu our law
2nd	תׇּרַתּכַּ toratka your law	תׇּרַתּכֵּם toratkem your law
3rd	תׇּרַתׇ toraṭo his/her law	תׇּרַתַם toraṭam their law

person	singular	plural
1st	תׇּרׇתִ toroṭi my laws	תׇּרׇתֵ֜נֻ toroṭénu our laws
2nd	תׇּרׇתֵ֜כַ toroṭéḳa your laws	תׇּרׇתֵ֜כֵם toroṭéḳem your laws
3rd	תׇּרׇתׇ toroṭo his/her laws	תׇּרׇתֵ֜הֵם toroṭéhem their laws

• 2.7.4.5 A noun with a pronominal suffix is definite, therefore:
  • 2.7.4.5.1 a modifying adjective has the definite article.

סֻסִ הְ-הַזַכּ susi hă-hazak, my strong horse

בְּבַרׇ הַ-תׇבִם dăḅaro ha-ṭoḅim, his good words.

• • 2.7.4.5.2 when the direct object of a verb, et- is required.

רַאִ֜תִ אֵתּ-סֻסׇ raiṭi et-suso, I see his horse.

• • 2.7.4.5.3 But et- is omitted when reference is made to a part of the body. ::שַלַכּ יַדׇ šalak yaḍo, he put forth his hand.

2.8 The Preposition

• 2.8.1 There are three types of prepositions.
• 2.8.2 The first type consists of the three prepositions בְּ bă (in), לְ lă (to), and כְּ kă (like) that are prefixed to the noun.

לְמֵ֜לֵכּ lămélek, to a king

• • 2.8.2.1 When the noun is determined by the definite article, the two combine into a single syllable retaining the vowel of the article.

לַמֵ֜לֵכּ lamélek, to the king.

These words are proclitic and are pronounced as the first syllable of the word.

• • 2.8.2.2 If the noun begins with יְ yă-, these prepositions become בִּ bi, לִli, and כִּ ki and replace the יְ yă-.

יְרֻשַלַ֜אִם yărušaláim, Jerusalem; בִּרֻשַלַ֜אִם birušaláim, to Jerusalem.

• • 2.8.2.3 If the noun begins with Că-, these prepositions become בִּ bi, לִli, and כִּ ki and the ă is dropped.

שְמֻאֵל šămuel, Samuel; כִּשמֻאֵל kišmuel, like Samuel.

• • 2.8.2.4 In all other cases these prepositions become ba, la, and ka.

כַּלׇם kalom, dream; בַּכַלׇם baḳalom, in a dream.

• 2.8.3. The second type consists of those joined to the noun with a hyphen (maḳaf). The most common are אֵל el- (to, towards), אַל al- (on, upon), and מִן min- (from).

מִן-הַ-בַיִתּ min-ha-ḅayit, from the house.

• 2.8.4. The third and largest group consists of prepositions written as separate words.

אֵ֜צֵל-הַ-בַיִתּ éśel ha-ḅayit, near the house.

• 2.8.5. A juxtaposed noun and prepositional phrase (or local adverb) constitute a predication.

הַ-נַ֜עַר בַּבַיִתּ ha-ná'ar baḅayit , the young man is in the house.

• 2.8.6 The noun פַּנִם panim, face, in the plural, forms a part of several prepositions.

לִפנֵ lifne, in the presence of, before; לִפנֵ הַ-מֵ֜לֵכּ lifne ha-mélek, before the king.

מִפנֵ mifne, from the presence of, from before, because of; מִפנֵ מִלכַּמַ mifne milkama, because of the war.

אַל-פנֵ al-fne, on the surface of, up against; אַל-פנֵ הַ-כׅר al-fne ha-ḳir, up against the wall.

• 2.8.7 There are other prepositions compounded from nouns.

אַל-דְּבַר al-dăḅar because of, אַל-דְּבַר אֵ֜זֵרִ al-dăvar ézeri, because of my help.

בְּתׇכּ băṭok, in the midst of; בְּתׇכׇ băṭoḳo, in the midst of it.

• 2.8.10 The suffix אַ- –a added to a noun, proper or common, indicates motion toward, with or without the article.

הַר har, mountain; הַ-הַ֜יַ ha-hára, to the mountain.

2.9 The Conjunction

• 2.9.1 The coordinating conjunction "and" is אֻ u, and is prefixed to the noun.

u-ḅayit, and a house.

2.10 The Interrogative

• 2.10.1 Any sentence may be converted into a question by prefixing hă- to the first word.

הְ-תׇּבַ הַיַ הַ-עַ֜רֵץ hă-tova haya ha-'áreś. Is the land good?

2.11 The Relative Construction

• 2.11.1 A relative clauses is expressed with שֵר šer.

הַ-כׇּהֵן שֵר כּתַבּ אֵתּ-הַ-סֵ֜פֵר ha-kohen šer kaṭab et-ha-séfer. The priest who wrote the book.

• 2.11.2. When the relative construction involves a preposition, שֵר šer is combined with the preposition as if it were a noun.

לַשֵר lašer, to whom/which

מִנ-שֵר min-šer, from whom/which

אֵ֜שֵל שֵר éśel šer, near whom/which.