# Qal Imperfect — I-Guttural (Pe-Guttural) Paradigms

Full inflection tables for I-guttural roots in the Qal Imperfect.
Unlike the Perfect, the I-guttural produces significant and highly visible changes in the Imperfect.

## I-guttural (ע): עָמַד (stand) — Imperfect

Person | Form | Notes
--- | --- | ---
3ms | יַעֲמֹד | Patach under prefix (not hireq); chateph-patach under ע
3fs | תַּעֲמֹד | Same prefix vowel
2ms | תַּעֲמֹד |
2fs | תַּעַמְדִי | Chateph resolves to patach before the -ִי suffix
1cs | אֶעֱמֹד | 1cs aleph prefix; seghol before ע; chateph-seghol under ע
3mp | יַעַמְדוּ | Chateph resolves to patach before -וּ
3fp | תַּעֲמֹ֫דְנָה | Patach prefix + chateph retained
2mp | תַּעַמְדוּ | Same as 3mp
1cp | נַעֲמֹד | Nun prefix; patach

> Key rule: When R1 is ח, ה, or ע, the composite shewa (chateph-patach) under the
> guttural causes the prefix vowel to shift from hireq to patach. The 1cs is an
> exception: the aleph prefix takes seghol (not hireq), and the ע takes chateph-seghol.

## I-guttural (ח): חָלַם (dream) — Imperfect

Person | Form | Notes
--- | --- | ---
3ms | יַחֲלֹם | Patach under prefix; chateph under ח
3fs | תַּחֲלֹם |
2ms | תַּחֲלֹם |
2fs | תַּחֲלְמִי | Chateph resolves
1cs | אֶחֱלֹם | Seghol under aleph; chateph-seghol under ח
3mp | יַחַלְמוּ | Chateph resolves to patach before suffix
1cp | נַחֲלֹם | Patach prefix; chateph under ח

## I-guttural (א): אָמַר (say) — Imperfect

Person | Form | Notes
--- | --- | ---
3ms | יֹאמַר | Holem under prefix (not hireq or patach!) — aleph takes holem
3fs | תֹּאמַר |
2ms | תֹּאמַר |
2fs | תֹּאמְרִי |
1cs | אֹמַר | 1cs aleph prefix + holem; the aleph is the prefix
3mp | יֹאמְרוּ |
3fp | תֹּאמַ֫רְנָה |
2mp | תֹּאמְרוּ |
1cp | נֹאמַר | Nun prefix + holem

> Note on אָמַר: The aleph at R1 causes the prefix to take holem — not the
> expected chateph + patach pattern. This is because aleph (א) can behave as a
> quiescent letter rather than a true consonant. The entire paradigm uses the holem prefix.
> יֹאמַר is the single most common Imperfect form in the Torah. Memorize it.

## Strong Paradigm — Comparison

Person | Strong (יִקְטֹל) | I-gutt. ע (יַעֲמֹד) | I-gutt. א (יֹאמַר)
--- | --- | --- | ---
3ms | יִקְטֹל | יַעֲמֹד | יֹאמַר
3fs | תִּקְטֹל | תַּעֲמֹד | תֹּאמַר
2ms | תִּקְטֹל | תַּעֲמֹד | תֹּאמַר
2fs | תִּקְטְלִי | תַּעַמְדִי | תֹּאמְרִי
1cs | אֶקְטֹל | אֶעֱמֹד | אֹמַר
3mp | יִקְטְלוּ | יַעַמְדוּ | יֹאמְרוּ
1cp | נִקְטֹל | נַעֲמֹד | נֹאמַר

## Summary: I-Guttural Imperfect Prefix Vowels

R1 Guttural | Prefix Consonant | Prefix Vowel | Example
--- | --- | --- | ---
ח, ה, ע | י/ת/נ | patach | יַחֲלֹם, יַעֲמֹד
ח, ה, ע | א (1cs) | seghol | אֶעֱמֹד
א (quiescent) | all | holem | יֹאמַר