# Chapter 32 — Qal–Piel–Pual Contrast Drill (Strong Roots)

*BBH Chapter 32 · Pual Strong Verbs*

---

## Instructions

Each triplet below shows the **same root** in three stems: Qal, Piel, and Pual. For each form:

1. Identify the **stem** (Qal / Piel / Pual).
2. Provide the full **parse** (conjugation, person, gender, number).
3. Give the **translation**.

Focus on the vowel pattern under R1 and the presence/absence of dagesh forte in R2 as your primary diagnostic.

The answer key is at the bottom.

---

## Stem Reference

| Stem | R1 vowel (Perfect 3ms) | R2 | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Qal** | Variable (patach, tsere, holem) | No extra dagesh | Simple active |
| **Piel** | Hiriq (קִ) or tsere (קֵ) | Dagesh Forte | Intensive/factitive active |
| **Pual** | Qibbuts (קֻ) or holem (קֹ) when R2 is guttural | Dagesh Forte | Passive of Piel |

---

## Triplet 1 — Root: ברך

| # | Form | Stem | Conjugation | PGN | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | בָּרַךְ | | | | |
| 2 | בֵּרַךְ | | | | |
| 3 | בֹּרַךְ | | | | |

---

## Triplet 2 — Root: שׁלח

| # | Form | Stem | Conjugation | PGN | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | שָׁלַח | | | | |
| 5 | שִׁלַּח | | | | |
| 6 | שֻׁלַּח | | | | |

---

## Triplet 3 — Root: דבר

| # | Form | Stem | Conjugation | PGN | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | דָּבַר | | | | |
| 8 | דִּבֶּר | | | | |
| 9 | דֻּבַּר | | | | |

---

## Triplet 4 — Root: כבד

| # | Form | Stem | Conjugation | PGN | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | כָּבֵד | | | | |
| 11 | כִּבֵּד | | | | |
| 12 | כֻּבַּד | | | | |

---

## Triplet 5 — Root: ספר

| # | Form | Stem | Conjugation | PGN | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | סָפַר | | | | |
| 14 | סִפֵּר | | | | |
| 15 | סֻפַּר | | | | |

---

## Answer Key

### Triplet 1 — Root: ברך

| # | Form | Stem | Conjugation | PGN | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | בָּרַךְ | Qal | Perfect | 3ms | he knelt |
| 2 | בֵּרַךְ | Piel | Perfect | 3ms | he blessed |
| 3 | בֹּרַךְ | Pual | Perfect | 3ms | he was blessed |

*Notes: בָּרַךְ (Qal) is rare; the primary usage of ברך is in the Piel. בֵּרַךְ shows tsere under ב (Piel stem vowel) with ר rejecting dagesh — compensatory lengthening. בֹּרַךְ (Pual) shows holem instead of qibbuts because ר rejects dagesh forte.*

### Triplet 2 — Root: שׁלח

| # | Form | Stem | Conjugation | PGN | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | שָׁלַח | Qal | Perfect | 3ms | he sent |
| 5 | שִׁלַּח | Piel | Perfect | 3ms | he sent away / released |
| 6 | שֻׁלַּח | Pual | Perfect | 3ms | he was sent away |

*Notes: Qal שָׁלַח uses qamets under שׁ. Piel שִׁלַּח uses hiriq + dagesh in ל. Pual שֻׁלַּח uses qibbuts + dagesh in ל. Piel often adds the nuance of releasing or dismissing.*

### Triplet 3 — Root: דבר

| # | Form | Stem | Conjugation | PGN | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | דָּבַר | Qal | Perfect | 3ms | he spoke (rare) |
| 8 | דִּבֶּר | Piel | Perfect | 3ms | he spoke |
| 9 | דֻּבַּר | Pual | Perfect | 3ms | it was spoken |

*Notes: דבר is one of several roots used almost exclusively in the Piel (דִּבֶּר). The Qal exists but is uncommon. The Pual דֻּבַּר shows qibbuts under ד + dagesh in ב.*

### Triplet 4 — Root: כבד

| # | Form | Stem | Conjugation | PGN | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | כָּבֵד | Qal | Perfect | 3ms | he was heavy / was honored |
| 11 | כִּבֵּד | Piel | Perfect | 3ms | he honored |
| 12 | כֻּבַּד | Pual | Perfect | 3ms | he was honored |

*Notes: Qal כָּבֵד is a stative verb (tsere theme vowel). Piel כִּבֵּד is factitive ("he made/treated as heavy/honorable"). Pual כֻּבַּד is the passive: "he was treated as honored."*

### Triplet 5 — Root: ספר

| # | Form | Stem | Conjugation | PGN | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | סָפַר | Qal | Perfect | 3ms | he counted |
| 14 | סִפֵּר | Piel | Perfect | 3ms | he recounted / told |
| 15 | סֻפַּר | Pual | Perfect | 3ms | it was told / recounted |

*Notes: Qal סָפַר = count/number. Piel סִפֵּר = tell/recount (iterative/intensive). Pual סֻפַּר = the passive of telling. Note the systematic vowel shift: qamets (Qal) → hiriq (Piel) → qibbuts (Pual) under R1.*
