Lesson 2 | Qal Imperfect
[4] The Sequential-Imperfect
In this step of Lesson 7 of Hebrew II, we saw how a ו + perfect could create a sequential-perfect construction in which the aspect is flipped to imperfect and a further step in a sequence is indicated. Almost the exact same thing happens with the imperfect. When a ו conjunction is prefixed to an imperfect form, the result is usually a sequential-imperfect (also called a wayyiqtol). The effect of the sequential-imperfect is twofold:
It flips the imperfect aspect of the verb to perfect aspect.
That is, a sequential-imperfect has perfect aspect.
The sequential-imperfect usually indicates a step forward in the text.
Hence the name sequential-imperfect.
This construction is extremely common! The reason being that so much of the Hebrew Bible consists of narrative. And in narratives, one thing happens after another thing after another thing. This progression in the narrative is most often expressed by use of the sequential-imperfect.
The big difference between the sequential-perfect and the sequential-imperfect (besides them being opposites) is that the sequential-imperfect does, in fact, take on a slightly different form than a “normal” ו + imperfect. That difference in form is seen by an a-class vowel underneath the ו, plus a dagesh in the prefix consonant that follows.
ו + imperfect — וְיִקְרָא
sequential-imperfect — וַיִּקְרָא
qal sequential-imperfect for קָרָא
| 1cs |
וָאֶקְרָא |
and I called |
| 1cp |
וַנִּקְרָא |
and we called |
| | |
| 2ms |
וַתִּקְרָא |
and you [sir] called |
| 2fs |
וַתִּקְרְאִי |
and you [ma’am] called |
| 2mp |
וַתִּקְרְאוּ |
and you all called |
| 2fp |
וַתִּקְרֶאנָה |
and [ladies] you all called |
| | |
| 3ms |
וַיִּקְרָא |
and he called |
| 3fs |
וַתִּקְרָא |
and she called |
| 3mp |
וַיִּקְרְאוּ |
and they called |
| 3fp |
וַתִּקְרֶאנָה |
and [those ladies] called |
Weak form: א as first letter in the root
By far the most common sequential-imperfect you will find in the Hebrew Bible is the qal form of אָמַר (appearing 2,327 times!). The presence of א as the first letter of its root causes its vowels to inflect differently. This is true for its imperfect form whether or not it is a sequential, and it is also true of certain other verbs with א as the first letter of their root. (E.g. אָכַל.)
qal sequential-imperfect for אָמַר
| 1cs |
וָאֹמַר |
and I said |
| 1cp |
וַנֹּאמֶר |
and we said |
| | |
| 2ms |
וַתֹּאמֶר |
and you [sir] said |
| 2fs |
וַתֹּאמְרִי |
and you [ma’am] said |
| 2mp |
וַתֹּאמְרוּ |
and you all said |
| 2fp |
וַתֹּאמַרְנָה |
and [ladies] you all said |
| | |
| 3ms |
וַיֹּאמֶר |
and he said |
| 3fs |
וַתֹּאמֶר |
and she said |
| 3mp |
וַיֹּאמְרוּ |
and they said |
| 3fp |
וַתֹּאמַרְנָה |
and [those ladies] said |
Just like in the Weak Verbs step, you don’t need to memorize these paradigms. But you will need to be able to distinguish between a sequential-imperfect and a ו + imperfect. And you also need to not be thrown off by the different vowels in the imperfect form of אָמַר since, again, you will see it everywhere!