Adjective Rules

Question 1

What are the three possible functions of a Hebrew Adjective?

Answer 1

Attributive, Predicate, and Substantive

Question 2

How do you identify an attributive adjective?

Answer 2

1. Come after the noun it is modifying.

2. The adjective will agree with its noun in gender, number, and definiteness.

Question 3

What is an attributive adjective?

Answer 3

An adjective that modifies a noun.

Question 4

What does “definiteness” mean?

Answer 4

It refers to the presence of the definite article (definiteness) or the abscence of the definite article (indefiniteness)

Question 5

What is a predicate adjective?

Answer 5

An adjective that asserts something about the noun.

Question 6

How do you identify a predicate adjective?

Answer 6

1. When an adjective matches the noun in gender and number, but NOT definiteness.
2. A predicate adjective never has the article.
3. It usually precedes the noun, it sometimes will follow.

Question 7

How should you translate a verbless clauses with predicate adjectives?

Answer 7

Only with the English present tense of the verb “to be,” so present helping verbs “is” or “are.”
Past helping verbs should only be used when warranted by the context or if a past tense verbal form is present. In such cases use “was” or “were.”a

Question 8

What is a substantive adjective?

Answer 8

An adjective that is used independently as a noun.

Question 9

How do you identify a substantive adjective?

Answer 9

1. There will be no noun for the adjective to modify.

Question 10

How do you translate a substantive adjective with and without the definite article?

Answer 10

1. Without the article use “a _____ one/man.”

2. With the article use “the _____ one/man.”

Question 11

What is ALWAYS the lexical form of a Hebrew adjective?

Answer 11

Masculine singular

Question 12

What is a directional ending?

Answer 12

It is ָ ה The Qamets should be on the oppostive side. It expresses the idea of motion toward someone or something, and is ALWAYS unaccented.

Question 13

Directional ending is similar to what endings?

Answer 13

1. Feminine, singular, nouns.
2. Feminine, singular, adjectives
   3,. There will be a future 3fs noun suffix learned that will have a mappiq in it.

Question 14

What are the four basic adjective inflection patterns?

Answer 14

1. No change.
2. Propretonic Reduction
3. Inflection of adjectives ending in seghol he.
4. Geminate adjectives

Question 15

What is the “no change inflection” look like?

Answer 15

טוֹב
טוֹבִים

טוֹבָה
טוֹבוֹת