# Chapter 30 — Stem Identification Drill (Strong Roots)

BBH Chapter 30 · Piel Strong Verbs

For each form, identify the Stem (Qal / Niphal / Hiphil / Hophal / Piel), Conjugation, PGN (where applicable), and Root. Type your answers in the fields, then click ▶ Answer to check.

Stem | Key Marker
--- | ---
Qal | No prefix; basic a–a perfect / i-vowel imperfect; no dagesh in R2
Niphal | נִ prefix (perfect); assimilated נ → dagesh in R1 (imperfect/wayyiqtol)
Hiphil | הִ prefix (perfect); יַ / תַ / נַ / אַ (imperfect); chirik + yod vowel chain
Hophal | הָ / הֻ prefix; no dagesh; o/u vowel pattern
Piel | Dagesh forte in R2 + ִ–ֵ (perfect) / shewa–patach (imperfect)

Quick check: See a dagesh in the middle consonant? → Piel (or Pual). See נִ prefix or assimilated dagesh with qamets-tsere vowels? → Niphal. See הִ + chirik–yod chain? → Hiphil.

# | Hebrew | Stem | Conjugation | PGN | Root |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
1 | קָטַל |  |  |  |  |
Qal · Perfect · 3ms · קטל — Basic a–a vowel pattern; no prefix, no dagesh in ט
2 | קִטֵּל |  |  |  |  |
Piel · Perfect · 3ms · קטל — Dagesh forte in ט (R2) + chirik–tsere vowels = Piel perfect marker
3 | הִקְטִיל |  |  |  |  |
Hiphil · Perfect · 3ms · קטל — הִ prefix + chirik + yod (long ī vowel) = Hiphil perfect
4 | נִקְטַל |  |  |  |  |
Niphal · Perfect · 3ms · קטל — נִ prefix visible in the 3ms perfect; the נ assimilates in imperfect/wayyiqtol forms
5 | דִּבֶּר |  |  |  |  |
Piel · Perfect · 3ms · דבר — Dagesh in ב (R2) + chirik–segol; compare Qal #6 דָּבַר which has no dagesh
6 | דָּבַר |  |  |  |  |
Qal · Perfect · 3ms · דבר — No dagesh in ב; qamets–patach = standard Qal perfect
7 | יְדַבֵּר |  |  |  |  |
Piel · Imperfect · 3ms · דבר — Shewa under prefix יְ + dagesh in ב + tsere = Piel imperfect pattern
8 | יִדְבַּר |  |  |  |  |
Qal · Imperfect · 3ms · דבר — Chirik under יִ; no dagesh in ב; patach under ב = Qal imperfect
9 | יַדְבִּיר |  |  |  |  |
Hiphil · Imperfect · 3ms · דבר — Patach under יַ (Hiphil imperfect prefix) + chirik + yod
10 | יִדָּבֵר |  |  |  |  |
Niphal · Imperfect · 3ms · דבר — Dagesh in ד (assimilated נ) + qamets–tsere = Niphal imperfect pattern
11 | וַיְדַבֵּר |  |  |  |  |
Piel · Wayyiqtol · 3ms · דבר — Waw-consecutive + Piel imperfect; note shewa under יְ and dagesh in ב
12 | וַיִּדְבַּר |  |  |  |  |
Qal · Wayyiqtol · 3ms · דבר — Dagesh in יּ (wayyiqtol marker) + Qal imperfect pattern (no dagesh in ב)
13 | וַיַּדְבֵּר |  |  |  |  |
Hiphil · Wayyiqtol · 3ms · דבר — Waw + patach under יַ (Hiphil prefix) + tsere
14 | וַיִּדָּבֵר |  |  |  |  |
Niphal · Wayyiqtol · 3ms · דבר — Waw + dagesh in ד (assimilated נ) + qamets–tsere
15 | דַּבֵּר |  |  |  |  |
Piel · Imperative · 2ms · דבר — Patach + dagesh in ב + tsere; no prefix. Note: identical to #19 (Piel Inf. Abs.); context distinguishes them.
16 | דְּבַר |  |  |  |  |
Qal · Imperative · 2ms · דבר — Shewa under ד, patach under ב; no dagesh in ב; no prefix
17 | הַדְבֵּר |  |  |  |  |
Hiphil · Imperative · 2ms · דבר — הַ prefix + Hiphil vowel chain (tsere)
18 | הִדָּבֵר |  |  |  |  |
Niphal · Imperative · 2ms · דבר — הִ + dagesh in ד (assimilated נ) + qamets–tsere = Niphal imperative
19 | דַּבֵּר |  |  |  |  |
Piel · Infinitive Absolute · — · דבר — Identical to Piel Imperative 2ms (#15). Context determines function (Inf. Abs. intensifies a finite verb; Imperative issues a command).
20 | דָּבוֹר |  |  |  |  |
Qal · Infinitive Absolute · — · דבר — Qamets + holem-waw = standard Qal Inf. Abs. pattern
21 | מְדַבֵּר |  |  |  |  |
Piel · Participle · ms · דבר — מְ prefix + dagesh in ב + tsere = Piel active participle
22 | דֹּבֵר |  |  |  |  |
Qal · Participle · ms · דבר — Holem + tsere; no מ prefix; no dagesh in ב = Qal active participle
23 | מַדְבִּיר |  |  |  |  |
Hiphil · Participle · ms · דבר — מַ prefix + chirik + yod = Hiphil participle pattern
24 | נִדְבָּר |  |  |  |  |
Niphal · Participle · ms · דבר — נִ prefix + qamets = Niphal participle pattern

Note on items 15 and 19: דַּבֵּר is spelled identically whether it is the Piel Imperative 2ms ("Speak!") or the Piel Infinitive Absolute. For strong roots these two forms always share the same spelling. Context — whether the form commands an action or adverbially intensifies a finite verb — is the only distinguishing factor.