12: Construct Relationship: Singular

Question 1

What are the two states a hebrew noun occurs?

Answer 1

1. Construct
2. Absolute

Question 2

What is the difference between a construct and an absolute state?

Answer 2

• The absolute state is the “regular” form of the noun, the form learned in the vocabulary.
• The construct state is the form of the noun when it is in construction with another noun.

Question 3

What is the use of the construct state?

Answer 3

• Hebrew does not have the word “of”. This is achieved by placing a noun in the construct state in front of a noun in the absolute state.
• This can be recognize by the presence of the maqqef between the nouns.

סוּס־הַמֶּלֶךְ = the horse of the king

Question 4

Does the noun in the construct state has a definite article?

Answer 4

No. It follows the last word.

If the last word is definite, so is the noun in construct.

סוּס־הַמֶּלֶךְ = the horse of the king

If the last word is indefinite, so is the noun in construct.

סוּס־מֶלֶךְ = a horse of a king

Question 5

What are the limits of the construct relationship?

Answer 5

It cannot be used “the ___ of a ___.”

For this, the preposition ל is used.

הַסּוּס לֶמֶלֶךְ = the horse belonging to a king; the horse of a king

Question 6

What are two relationships that the construct expresses?

Answer 6

1. Possessive - expresses possession
   
   1. Typically translated with apostrophe + s
      
      • בַּת הַאֵם = the daughter of the mother = the mother’s daughter.
2. Adjectival - describing something
   
   1. שֵׁמ־עוֹלָם = “a name of eternity” = “an eternal name”

Question 7

When does the construct state has the same form of the absolute state?

Answer 7

1. In one-syllable nouns with a long vowel
   
   • סוּס הַמֶּלֶךְ = the king’s horse
2. In one-syllable nouns with a short vowel
   
   • בַּת־הַאֵם = the mother’s daughter
3. In segolate nouns
   
   • מֶלֶךְ הַעִיר = the city’s king

Question 8

What are some rules about accents in nouns in construct state?

Answer 8

Two nouns in construct are treated as one word, in terms of accent, with the accent on the second noun.

1. In a final closed syllable, a medium vowel will often reduce to a short vowel, because the syllable is now closed and unaccented
   
   • the king’s son = בֵּן) בֶּן־הַמֶּלֶךְ)
2. In the first of two syllables, a medium vowel will reduce to sheva, if the syllable is open.
   
   • the king’s word = דָּבָר) דְּבַר הַמֶּלֶךְ)

Question 9

What is the construct form of nouns vocalized בַּיִת ?

Answer 9

בֵּית

Question 10

How do you form the construct on feminine singular nouns?

Answer 10

1. If it ends on ה ָ , it is replaced by ת ַ accompanied by the appropriate vowel changes.
2. If it has the מ beginning and ending with ת ָ , it forms the construct with segolization.

Question 11

אָדוֹן

Answer 11

lord, master

Question 12

זָהָב

Answer 12

gold

Question 13

כֹּל

Answer 13

all, every, whole

Question 14

כֶּסֶף

Answer 14

money, silver

Question 15

מָקוֹם

Answer 15

place

Question 16

עֶבֶד

Answer 16

slave, servant

Question 17

גָּאַל

Answer 17

he redeemed, claimed

Question 18

חָזַק

Answer 18

he was strong, courageous

Question 19

נָפַל

Answer 19

he fell

Question 20

עָבַד

Answer 20

he served, worked, worshipped