# "Weak-Form Identification Drill" — Exercise

*BBH Chapter 33 · Pual Weak Verbs*

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## Instructions

**Part A:** Forms are grouped by weak class (4–5 per class, 4 classes = 18 items). For each, identify: conjugation, PGN, root.
**Part B:** Forms are mixed. Identify: weak class first, then conjugation, PGN, root.

Pual weak verbs carry the Pual signature (qibbuts under R1 + dagesh forte in R2) but the weak root consonants introduce predictable modifications. These modifications follow the same phonological rules you have already seen in the Piel weak classes.

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## Diagnostic Reference

| Class | Key feature in Pual |
|---|---|
| **III-he** | Pual signature preserved (qibbuts + dagesh in R2); III-he ending: *qamets* + ה in perfect 3ms; shureq (וּ) in 3mp forms; ה drops in apocopated wayyiqtol |
| **I-nun** | Nun (R1) assimilates into dagesh forte in R2 in the Pual (contrast the Piel, where nun stays visible); the dagesh in R2 now has double duty: Pual stem marker + assimilated nun |
| **I-guttural** | Qibbuts under R1 normally, but guttural (especially ה/ח/ע) may reject simple shewa; composite shewa or compensatory lengthening possible; dagesh forte in R2 retained |
| **Geminate** | Root R2=R3; Pual dagesh forte doubles the already-doubled R2; pattern mirrors Piel Geminate |

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## Part A — By Class

### Group 1: III-he

| # | Form | Reference | Conjugation | PGN | Root |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | יְכֻלּוּ | Gen 2:1 | | | |
| 2 | יְכֻסּוּ | Gen 7:19 | | | |
| 3 | כֻּסָּה | Exo 15:5 | | | |
| 4 | צֻוֵּיתָ | Gen 45:19 | | | |
| 5 | כֻּלָּה | Isa 24:10 | | | |

### Group 2: I-nun

| # | Form | Reference | Conjugation | PGN | Root |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | נֻכָּה | Exo 9:31 | | | |
| 7 | נֻכּוּ | Exo 9:32 | | | |
| 8 | נֻתַּץ | Jdg 6:28 | | | |
| 9 | יֻכַּה | 2 Sam 11:15 | | | |

### Group 3: I-guttural

| # | Form | Reference | Conjugation | PGN | Root |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | עֻבַּד | Dan 3:12 | | | |
| 11 | אֹרָשָׂה | Exo 22:15 | | | |
| 12 | הֻמַּת | Jdg 6:30 | | | |

### Group 4: Geminate

| # | Form | Reference | Conjugation | PGN | Root |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | מְהֻלָּל | Ps 18:4 | | | |
| 14 | גֻּנַּב | Gen 40:15 | | | |
| 15 | יְאֻשַּׁר | Ps 41:3 | | | |

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## Part B — Mixed (identify weak class first)

| # | Form | Reference | Weak class | Conjugation | PGN | Root |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | נֻכָּה | Exo 9:31 | | | | |
| 17 | יְכֻסּוּ | Gen 7:20 | | | | |
| 18 | כֻּלָּה | Isa 24:10 | | | | |
| 19 | גֻּנַּב | Gen 40:15 | | | | |
| 20 | יֻכַּה | 2 Sam 11:15 | | | | |
| 21 | צֻוֵּיתָ | Gen 45:19 | | | | |
| 22 | מְהֻלָּל | Ps 18:4 | | | | |
| 23 | עֻבַּד | Dan 3:12 | | | | |
| 24 | נֻתַּץ | Jdg 6:28 | | | | |
| 25 | כֻּסָּה | Exo 15:5 | | | | |

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## Answer Key — Part A

| # | Form | Conjugation | PGN | Root | Diagnostic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | יְכֻלּוּ | Wayyiqtol | 3mp | כָּלָה | *Qibbuts* under כ + dagesh forte in ל; III-he Pual 3mp *shureq* ending |
| 2 | יְכֻסּוּ | Wayyiqtol | 3mp | כָּסָה | *Qibbuts* under כ + dagesh forte in ס; III-he Pual 3mp ending |
| 3 | כֻּסָּה | Perfect | 3ms | כָּסָה | *Qibbuts* under כ + dagesh forte in ס; III-he: *qamets* + ה ending |
| 4 | צֻוֵּיתָ | Perfect | 2ms | צָוָה | *Qibbuts* under צ + dagesh forte in ו (R2); III-he Pual perfect 2ms: *tsere-yod* vowel letter before תָ suffix |
| 5 | כֻּלָּה | Perfect | 3fs | כָּלָה | *Qibbuts* under כ + dagesh forte in ל; *qamets* + ה is the III-he fs perfect ending |
| 6 | נֻכָּה | Perfect | 3fs | נָכָה | Nun has assimilated into dagesh forte in כ (R2); *qibbuts* under נ position shows assimilation; III-he: *qamets* + ה fs ending; "it was struck" (the flax) |
| 7 | נֻכּוּ | Perfect | 3cp | נָכָה | Nun assimilated → dagesh forte in כ; III-he Pual 3cp: *shureq* ending; "they were not struck" (wheat) |
| 8 | נֻתַּץ | Perfect | 3ms | נָתַץ | Nun assimilated into dagesh forte in ת (R2); *qibbuts* under נ position; *patach* final — Pual perfect 3ms; "the altar was torn down" |
| 9 | יֻכַּה | Imperfect | 3ms | נָכָה | Nun assimilated → dagesh forte in כ; *qibbuts* under יּ prefix; III-he Pual imperfect: III-he ending dropped in some forms; "let him be struck down" |
| 10 | עֻבַּד | Perfect | 3ms | עָבַד | *Qibbuts* under ע (I-guttural: ע accepts qibbuts); dagesh forte in ב (R2); *patach* final; "it was served/worked" |
| 11 | אֹרָשָׂה | Perfect | 3fs | אָרַשׂ | I-aleph: *holem* under א (compensatory lengthening — א rejects dagesh but ר after it also rejects dagesh → chain lengthening); III-he 3fs: *qamets* + ה ending; "she was betrothed" |
| 12 | הֻמַּת | Perfect | 3fs | מוּת | *Qibbuts* under הֻ prefix (Hophal) or: this form from הָמַת (Hiphil of מוּת with Hophal passive) — technically Hophal 3fs; "she was put to death"; grouped here to illustrate Pual-vs-Hophal for I-aleph/biconsonantal roots |
| 13 | מְהֻלָּל | Participle | ms | הָלַל | *Qibbuts* under הֻ (Pual participle prefix מְ + qibbuts under root R1 ה); dagesh forte in ל (R2=R3 Geminate); *tsere* final; "praised" |
| 14 | גֻּנַּב | Perfect | 3ms | גָּנַב | Nun (R2) takes dagesh forte (both Pual marker and standard dagesh in strong position here); *qibbuts* under ג; *patach* final; "was stolen" |
| 15 | יְאֻשַּׁר | Imperfect | 3ms | אָשַׁר | *Qibbuts* under א (I-aleph: א accepts qibbuts); dagesh forte in שׁ (R2); *patach* final; "he will be called blessed/happy" |

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## Answer Key — Part B

| # | Form | Weak class | Conjugation | PGN | Root | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | נֻכָּה | I-nun + III-he | Perfect | 3fs | נָכָה | Nun assimilated → dagesh in כ; III-he *qamets* + ה fs ending |
| 17 | יְכֻסּוּ | III-he | Wayyiqtol | 3mp | כָּסָה | *Qibbuts* under כ; dagesh forte in ס; III-he Pual 3mp |
| 18 | כֻּלָּה | III-he | Perfect | 3fs | כָּלָה | *Qibbuts* under כ; III-he *qamets* + ה fs ending |
| 19 | גֻּנַּב | (strong) | Perfect | 3ms | גָּנַב | *Qibbuts* under ג; dagesh forte in נ (R2); standard Pual strong root |
| 20 | יֻכַּה | I-nun + III-he | Imperfect | 3ms | נָכָה | Nun assimilated into dagesh in כ; *qibbuts* under prefix; III-he Pual imperfect |
| 21 | צֻוֵּיתָ | III-he | Perfect | 2ms | צָוָה | *Qibbuts* under צ; dagesh forte in ו; III-he Pual perfect 2ms |
| 22 | מְהֻלָּל | Geminate | Participle | ms | הָלַל | *Qibbuts* under ה (Pual participle); dagesh forte in ל (R2=R3); Geminate Pual participle ms |
| 23 | עֻבַּד | I-guttural | Perfect | 3ms | עָבַד | *Qibbuts* under ע; dagesh forte in ב; ע accepts qibbuts (no composite shewa needed) |
| 24 | נֻתַּץ | I-nun | Perfect | 3ms | נָתַץ | Nun assimilated into dagesh forte in ת; *qibbuts* under נ position |
| 25 | כֻּסָּה | III-he | Perfect | 3ms | כָּסָה | *Qibbuts* under כ; dagesh forte in ס; III-he *qamets* + ה |

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## Discussion Questions

**1.** Items 1–2 (כָּלָה and כָּסָה, both III-he Pual wayyiqtol 3mp) end in the shureq (וּ) plural ending. Compare these to the Piel wayyiqtol 3mp of the same roots. Does the Pual 3mp ending differ from the Piel 3mp ending? What changes between Piel and Pual in these III-he forms, and what stays the same?

**2.** Items 6–9 (I-nun Pual) show nun assimilating into a dagesh forte in R2. In the Piel of the same I-nun roots (e.g., יְנַחֵם from נָחַם), the nun does NOT assimilate. Explain the difference in behavior. What is the structural reason the Piel retains the nun while the Pual allows assimilation?

**3.** Item 11 (אֹרָשָׂה, I-aleph Pual): the expected Pual qibbuts under R1 does not appear in the expected place. Instead there is an *holem* (אֹ). Explain the chain of compensatory lengthening that produces this unusual vowel. Consider: what normally happens under R1 in the Pual, and then what happens when both R1 (aleph) and R2 (resh) reject the dagesh forte?

**4.** How would you distinguish a Pual perfect 3ms (e.g., כֻּסָּה from כָּסָה) from a Niphal perfect 3ms (e.g., נִגְלָה from גָּלָה)? List two features that differentiate them, independent of root identification.
