# Qal Perfect Paradigm

Full inflection tables for the Qal Perfect — strong (קָטַל) root.
All attested forms drawn from MACULA Hebrew WLC unless marked †.

## Perfect — Fientive Verb (Type-A: qamets under R1)

BBH §13.4 — Most action verbs. Theme vowel: qamets (ā) under R1; patach (a) under R2.

Person | Form (קָטַל) | Suffix | Notes
--- | --- | --- | ---
3ms | קָטַל | — | No suffix; accent on R2 syllable
3fs | קָטְלָה | ָה- | Qamets-he; R1 vowel reduces to shewa
2ms | קָטַלְתָּ | ָתּ- | R1 retains qamets; accent shifts to suffix
2fs | קָטַלְתְּ | תְּ- | Same as 2ms consonants, shewa under tav
1cs | קָטַלְתִּי | תִּי- | Hireq-yod suffix
3cp | קָטְלוּ | וּ- | R1 reduces to shewa; same pattern as 3fs
2mp | קְטַלְתֶּם | תֶּם- | R1 reduces to shewa; R2 has patach
2fp | קְטַלְתֶּן | תֶּן- | Same as 2mp, nun final
1cp | קָטַלְנוּ | נוּ- | Qamets retained under R1

> Key: The absence of any prefix letter and the presence of person–suffixes on the verb
> root identifies this as a Perfect. The 3ms bare root (no affix) is the lexical/citation form.

## Perfect — Stative-e Verb (Type-B: tsere under R2)

BBH §13.7 — State/quality roots. Theme vowel: tsere (ē) under R2 in the 3ms/3fs forms.

Person | Form (כָּבֵד) | Form (גָּדֵל) | Notes
--- | --- | --- | ---
3ms | כָּבֵד | גָּדֵל | Tsere under R2 — key diagnostic
3fs | כָּבְדָה | גָּדְלָה | Tsere lost; R1 reduces to shewa
2ms | כָּבַדְתָּ | גָּדַלְתָּ | Patach under R2 (tsere → patach before suffix)
2fs | כָּבַדְתְּ | גָּדַלְתְּ | Same as 2ms
1cs | כָּבַדְתִּי | גָּדַלְתִּי | Patach under R2
3cp | כָּבְדוּ | גָּדְלוּ | R1 reduces; tsere lost
2mp | כְּבַדְתֶּם | גְּדַלְתֶּם | Both radicals reduce
2fp | כְּבַדְתֶּן | גְּדַלְתֶּן | Same as 2mp, nun final
1cp | כָּבַדְנוּ | גָּדַלְנוּ | Patach under R2

> Key: The tsere under R2 in the 3ms/3fs identifies a stative-e verb. In all other
> persons the tsere reduces to patach. Common stative-e roots: כָּבֵד (heavy/honored),
> גָּדֵל (great/large), זָקֵן (old), מָלֵא (full), יָרֵא (afraid/reverent).

## Perfect — Stative-o Verb (Type-C: holem under R2)

BBH §13.7 — Less common; describes a diminished or lesser state.

Person | Form (קָטֹן) | Form (יָכֹל) | Notes
--- | --- | --- | ---
3ms | קָטֹן | יָכֹל | Holem under R2 — key diagnostic
3fs | קָטְנָה | יָכְלָה | Holem lost; R1 reduces
2ms | קָטֹנְתָּ | יָכֹלְתָּ | Holem retained
2fs | קָטֹנְתְּ | יָכֹלְתְּ | Holem retained
1cs | קָטֹנְתִּי | יָכֹלְתִּי | Holem retained
3cp | קָטְנוּ | יָכְלוּ | Holem lost; R1 reduces
2mp | קְטֹנְתֶּם | יְכֹלְתֶּם | Both patterns; holem may be retained
2fp | קְטֹנְתֶּן | יְכֹלְתֶּן | Same as 2mp, nun
1cp | קָטֹנְנוּ | יָכֹלְנוּ | Holem retained

> Key: Holem under R2 in the 3ms is the signature of this class. The most common
> stative-o verbs are קָטֹן (small), יָכֹל (able/can), and אָהֹב (love — though אָהֵב is
> also common).

## Summary — Qal Perfect at a Glance

Feature | Value
--- | ---
Prefix | None
Suffix | Person/number/gender ending attached to root
Fientive 3ms | qamets + patach: קָטַל
Stative-e 3ms | qamets + tsere: כָּבֵד
Stative-o 3ms | qamets + holem: קָטֹן
Vowel reduction rule | R1 qamets → shewa when a syllable is added (3fs, 3cp, 2mp, 2fp)
Quick ID | No prefix + suffix endings → Perfect