# Qal Imperfect — III-א (Lamed-Aleph) Paradigms

Full inflection tables for III-א weak roots in the Qal Imperfect.
The aleph at R3 quiesces; the preceding vowel lengthens.

## III-א: מָצָא (find) — Imperfect

Person | Form | Notes
--- | --- | ---
3ms | יִמְצָא | Qamets before silent aleph; long form
3fs | תִּמְצָא | Same pattern
2ms | תִּמְצָא | Identical to 3fs
2fs | תִּמְצְאִי | Shewa under aleph before hireq-yod suffix
1cs | אֶמְצָא | Aleph prefix; qamets before silent aleph
3mp | יִמְצְאוּ | Shewa under aleph before -וּ
3fp | תִּמְצֶ֫אנָה | Tsere before aleph + נָה
2mp | תִּמְצְאוּ | Same as 3mp
2fp | תִּמְצֶ֫אנָה | Same as 3fp
1cp | נִמְצָא | Nun prefix; qamets-aleph

> Key: The Jussive 3ms is identical to the long form (יִמְצָא) — III-א does not
> shorten in the Jussive. This distinguishes it from III-ה.

## III-א: קָרָא (call, read) — Imperfect

Person | Form | Notes
--- | --- | ---
3ms | יִקְרָא | Qamets before silent aleph
3fs | תִּקְרָא |
2ms | תִּקְרָא |
2fs | תִּקְרְאִי |
1cs | אֶקְרָא | Aleph prefix
3mp | יִקְרְאוּ |
1cp | נִקְרָא |

## III-א vs. III-ה — Jussive Contrast

Form | III-א (יִמְצָא) | III-ה (יִבְנֶה → יִבֶּן)
--- | --- | ---
Long Imperfect 3ms | יִמְצָא | יִבְנֶה
Short Jussive 3ms | יִמְצָא (no change) | יִבֶּן (ה drops)

> This distinction is important: a form ending in א is either III-א long Imperfect OR Jussive
> (they are identical). A form ending in ֶן or ֶם is typically a III-ה Jussive.

## Strong Paradigm — Comparison

Person | Strong (יִקְטֹל) | III-א (יִמְצָא) | III-א (יִקְרָא)
--- | --- | --- | ---
3ms | יִקְטֹל | יִמְצָא | יִקְרָא
3fs | תִּקְטֹל | תִּמְצָא | תִּקְרָא
2ms | תִּקְטֹל | תִּמְצָא | תִּקְרָא
2fs | תִּקְטְלִי | תִּמְצְאִי | תִּקְרְאִי
1cs | אֶקְטֹל | אֶמְצָא | אֶקְרָא
3mp | יִקְטְלוּ | יִמְצְאוּ | יִקְרְאוּ
1cp | נִקְטֹל | נִמְצָא | נִקְרָא