Advanced Accidence and Syntax
Accidence
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The notion of accidence in Hebrew encompasses forms of words, including various conjugations and declensions.
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Understand that strong verbs are roots with stable, unchanged consonants, unlike weak verbs (those with gutturals, diphtongs, or final weak letters).
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Identify the seven binyanim or verb stems: Qal, Niphal, Piel, Pual, Hiphil, Hophal, Hitpael.
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Each verb stem follows a particular pattern of vowel change which can be affecting both active and stative verbs.
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Differentiate between perfect and imperfect tense formations, understanding the use of prefixes and suffixes.
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Grasp the concept of construct state as used in Hebrew to show possession or association.
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Be familiar with the uses of independent personal pronouns, like distinguishing subject pronouns from object pronouns.
Syntax
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Syntax in Biblical Hebrew includes how words and sentences relate to each other structurally in phrases, clauses, and sentences.
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Understand the primary function of conjunctions and prepositions in linking words, phrases and clauses together.
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Master the understanding and usage of relative clauses including relative pronouns used to introduce them.
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Be familiar with casus pendens or hanging nominative, and nominative absolute, both used for emphasis purposes.
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Understand the two types of Biblical Hebrew sentences: verbless and verbal sentences. In verbless sentences, the predicate comes before the subject, while verbal sentences start with the verb.
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Grasp the function and use of waw consecutive in narrative sequences, changing imperfect to perfect tense and vice versa.
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Comprehend how interrogative words and particles are used to formulate questions.
Word Studies
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Master different ways of identifying and understanding the root of a word to determine its basic meaning.
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Understand the idea of semantic range, and how words can have a variety of meanings depending on their context.
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Identify common homonyms and synonyms, learning to distinguish them by usage and context.
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Grasp the role of idiomatic expressions in Biblical Hebrew, and how they often do not translate directly into English.
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Learn how cognate words and loan words from other Semitic languages can help in understanding the meaning of Biblical Hebrew words.