# Qal Imperfect — Geminate (Ayin-Doubled) Paradigms

Full inflection tables for geminate (II=III) roots in the Qal Imperfect.
Both the "short" (qamets prefix + holem) and "long" (hireq prefix + dagesh forte) patterns appear.

## Geminate: סָבַב (go around, surround) — Imperfect

Geminate verbs often show two alternate forms in the Imperfect — a "short-looking" form with
qamets prefix (similar to biconsonantal) and a "long" form with dagesh forte in the doubled root:

Person | Form A (qamets prefix) | Form B (dagesh) | Notes
--- | --- | --- | ---
3ms | יָסֹב | יִסֹּב | Both attested; qamets prefix is more common
3fs | תָּסֹב | תִּסֹּב |
2ms | תָּסֹב | תִּסֹּב |
3mp | יָסֹ֫בּוּ | יִסֹ֫בּוּ | Dagesh forte in ב even before -וּ
1cp | נָסֹב | נִסֹּב |
Wayyiqtol 3ms | וַיָּ֫סׇּב | — | Form A; qamets prefix + dagesh forte

## Geminate: תָּמַם (be complete, finished) — Imperfect

Person | Form | Notes
--- | --- | ---
3ms | יִתְמֹּם | Hireq prefix + dagesh forte in מ (R2=R3); holem
3fs | תִּתְמֹּם |
2ms | תִּתְמֹּם |
3mp | יִתְמְּמוּ | Dagesh in מ; shewa before -וּ
Wayyiqtol 3ms | וַיִּתְמֹּם | Hireq prefix form

## Geminate vs. Biconsonantal — Extended Comparison

Feature | Geminate (יָסֹב) | Biconsonantal (יָקוּם)
--- | --- | ---
3ms form | Short: יָסֹב (holem, no long vowel) | Long: יָקוּם (shureq as middle vowel)
Wayyiqtol | וַיָּ֫סׇּב (dagesh forte in ב) | וַיָּ֫קׇם (no dagesh in root)
3mp | יָסֹ֫בּוּ (dagesh) | יָקֻ֫מוּ (qibbuts, no dagesh)
Root structure | R2 = R3 | R2 = vowel letter (ו/י)
How to distinguish | Two identical root consonants visible | No R2 consonant; long vocalic element

> Root knowledge is required to distinguish these two classes when both show qamets prefix.
> Ask: does the root have two identical final consonants (geminate) or a long middle vowel letter
> (biconsonantal)? Once you know the root, the class is clear.

## Strong Paradigm — Comparison

Person | Strong (יִקְטֹל) | Geminate (יָסֹב) | Geminate (יִסֹּב) | Biconsonantal (יָקוּם)
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
3ms | יִקְטֹל | יָסֹב | יִסֹּב | יָקוּם
3fs | תִּקְטֹל | תָּסֹב | תִּסֹּב | תָּקוּם
2ms | תִּקְטֹל | תָּסֹב | תִּסֹּב | תָּקוּם
3mp | יִקְטְלוּ | יָסֹ֫בּוּ | יִסֹ֫בּוּ | יָקֻ֫מוּ
Wayyiqtol 3ms | וַיִּקְטֹל | וַיָּ֫סׇּב | — | וַיָּ֫קׇם