13: Construct Relationship: Plural

Question 1

What are some characteristics of the masculine plural construct?

Answer 1

1. The absolute plural ים ִ is changed for י ֵ◌ in the masculine plural construct.
2. Because the accent shifts, appropriate vowel changes take place
   
   • Medium vowels in open syllables usually reduce to sheva
   • If the vowel reduction to sheva results in two successive vocal shevas, the first becomes chireq or patach

Question 2

What are some characteristics of the feminine plural construct?

Answer 2

1. Ending is the same as the absolute plural ending, namely וֹת
2. Because the accent shifts, appropriate vowel changes take place
   
   • Medium vowels in open syllables usually reduce to sheva
   • If the vowel reduction to sheva results in two successive vocal shevas, the first usually becomes patach.

Question 3

Summary of Construct endings

Answer 3

• Changes are in feminine singular and masculine plural

Question 4

What is a construct chain?

Answer 4

When two or more words are in a construct relationship.

• Only the last word may have the definite article.

דִּבְרֵי נְבִיאֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ

“the words of the prophet of the king”

Question 5

How does the verb agrees with a construct chain?

Answer 5

When a construct chain is the subject of a sentence, the verb agrees with the first noun in the construct state, because it is the primary noun, the others being qualifiers.

מָלַךְ בֶּן־הַמֶלֶךְ

“the son of the king reigned”

Question 6

How do adjectives agree with a construct chain?

Answer 6

Any part of a construct chain can be modified by an adjective. The adjective agrees with the part of the chain that it modifies. If the adjective is attributive, it follows the entire chain.

דִּבְּרֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ הַטּוֹב

“the words of the good king”

Question 7

What is the construct form of כֹּל (all, every, whole)?

Answer 7

כָּל־

(qamets-chatuf)

Question 8

How do you translate כָּל־ when in construction with a definite plural noun?

Answer 8

“all of”

כָּל־הַדְּבָרִים

“all of the words”

Question 9

How do you translate כָּל־ when in construction with an indefinite singular noun?

Answer 9

“every”

כָּל־עִיר

“every city”

Question 10

How do you translate כָּל־ when in construction with a definite singular noun?

Answer 10

“the whole”

כָּל־הָעִיר

“the whole house”

Question 11

בֹּקֶר

Answer 11

morning

Question 12

חֹרֶשׁ

Answer 12

new moon, month

Question 13

לַיְלָה

Answer 13

night (masc.)

Question 14

עֶרֶב

Answer 14

evening

Question 15

עֵת

Answer 15

time, season

Question 16

בָּרָא

Answer 16

he created

Question 17

חָטָא

Answer 17

he sinned

Question 18

מָצָא

Answer 18

he found

Question 19

נָשָׂא

Answer 19

he lifted, carried, forgave

Question 20

קָרָא

Answer 20

he called, read aloud