Chapter 13 — Peal Perfect vs. Peal Imperfect Contrast Drill

Basics of Biblical Aramaic, Van Pelt — Ch13: Peal Perfect: Recognizing and Distinguishing Conjugations

Instructions

For each numbered Aramaic verbal form from Daniel or Ezra, enter: Conj (Pf = Perfect or Impf = Imperfect), Person (1/2/3), Gender (m/f/c), Number (s/pl), Root (3 consonants), and Translation. Click ▶ Answer to reveal the answer row.

Perfect (no prefix): 3ms bare form CvCaC; endings: 3fs ‑ַת, 3mp ‑וּ, 1cp ‑נָא.    Imperfect (with prefix): preformative yod/tav/nun/aleph before root; 3ms יִ‑ prefix + CvCvC; 3mp ends in ‑וּן.    1cp contrast: Perfect ‑נָא at end; Imperfect נִ‑ at start.
# Form Conj (Pf/Impf) Person Gender Number Root Translation
1
כְּתַב
Conj: Perfect  |  PGN: 3ms  |  Root: כתב  |  Trans: he wrote (CvCaC pattern; no prefix)
2
יִכְתֻּב
Conj: Imperfect  |  PGN: 3ms  |  Root: כתב  |  Trans: he will write (יִ‑ prefix + qibbuts under R2)
3
אֲמַר
Conj: Perfect  |  PGN: 3ms  |  Root: אמר  |  Trans: he said (I-aleph root; hateph-patach under aleph)
4
תֵּאמַר
Conj: Imperfect  |  PGN: 2/3 fs  |  Root: אמר  |  Trans: you (f.s.) will say / she will say (תְּ‑ prefix; I-aleph compensatory lengthening → tsere)
5
קְטַלַת
Conj: Perfect  |  PGN: 3fs  |  Root: קטל  |  Trans: she killed (‑ַת = 3fs Perfect ending)
6
יִקְטֻל
Conj: Imperfect  |  PGN: 3ms  |  Root: קטל  |  Trans: he will kill (יִ‑ prefix; qibbuts under R2 is the 3ms Impf marker)
7
שְׁמַעְנָא
Conj: Perfect  |  PGN: 1cp  |  Root: שׁמע  |  Trans: we heard (‑נָא at the end = 1cp Perfect suffix)
8
נִשְׁמַע
Conj: Imperfect  |  PGN: 1cp  |  Root: שׁמע  |  Trans: we will hear (נִ‑ at the start = 1cp Imperfect preformative)
9
עֲבַד
Conj: Perfect  |  PGN: 3ms  |  Root: עבד  |  Trans: he made/did (guttural R1 ע takes hateph-patach: עֲ‑)
10
יַעְבֵּד
Conj: Imperfect  |  PGN: 3ms  |  Root: עבד  |  Trans: he will make/do (יַ‑ prefix with patach; guttural ע in R1)
11
קְטַלוּ
Conj: Perfect  |  PGN: 3mp  |  Root: קטל  |  Trans: they killed (‑וּ = 3mp Perfect ending; no prefix)
12
יִקְטְלוּן
Conj: Imperfect  |  PGN: 3mp  |  Root: קטל  |  Trans: they will kill (יִ‑ prefix + ‑וּן = 3mp Imperfect ending)
13
יְדַעְתְּ
Conj: Perfect  |  PGN: 2ms  |  Root: ידע  |  Trans: you knew (‑תְּ = 2ms Perfect suffix; I-yod root: yod dropped)
14
תִּנְדַּע
Conj: Imperfect  |  PGN: 2ms  |  Root: ידע  |  Trans: you will know (תִּ‑ prefix = 2ms Impf; nun assimilated into dagesh in R2 ד)
15
נְפַל
Conj: Perfect  |  PGN: 3ms  |  Root: נפל  |  Trans: he fell (I-nun root; Perfect = no prefix; נְ is the root's first consonant)
16
יִּנְפֵּל
Conj: Imperfect  |  PGN: 3ms  |  Root: נפל  |  Trans: he will fall (יִּ‑ prefix with dagesh = I-nun Impf; Aramaic retains nun unlike Hebrew יִפֹּל)
17
שָׁלַחְנָא
Conj: Perfect  |  PGN: 1cp  |  Root: שׁלח  |  Trans: we sent (‑נָא at end = 1cp Perfect; no preformative)
18
יִשְׁלַח
Conj: Imperfect  |  PGN: 3ms  |  Root: שׁלח  |  Trans: he will send (יִ‑ prefix = 3ms Imperfect preformative)
19
קְרָא
Conj: Perfect  |  PGN: 3ms  |  Root: קרא  |  Trans: he called/read (III-aleph root: final aleph + qamets; no prefix = Perfect)
20
יִקְרֵא
Conj: Imperfect  |  PGN: 3ms  |  Root: קרא  |  Trans: he will call/read (יִ‑ prefix + tsere before final aleph = III-aleph Imperfect)

Discussion Questions

  1. The Aramaic Peal Perfect 3ms (e.g., כְּתַב) looks similar to the Hebrew Qal Perfect 3ms. What is the key vowel difference that distinguishes Aramaic Peal from Hebrew Qal in the 3ms?
  2. Looking at items 7 and 8 (שְׁמַעְנָא vs. נִשְׁמַע): both are 1cp. What is the diagnostic difference that tells you which is perfect and which is imperfect?
  3. I-nun roots (like נפל, items 15–16): in the Peal Imperfect, does the nun assimilate? Compare item 16 (יִּנְפֵּל) with its Hebrew cognate (יִפֹּל). What does this tell you about Aramaic vs. Hebrew treatment of I-nun in the Imperfect?