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 |