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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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