Advanced Accidence and Syntax

Accidence

The notion of accidence in Hebrew encompasses forms of words, including various conjugations and declensions.
Understand that strong verbs are roots with stable, unchanged consonants, unlike weak verbs (those with gutturals, diphtongs, or final weak letters).
Identify the seven binyanim or verb stems: Qal, Niphal, Piel, Pual, Hiphil, Hophal, Hitpael.
Each verb stem follows a particular pattern of vowel change which can be affecting both active and stative verbs.
Differentiate between perfect and imperfect tense formations, understanding the use of prefixes and suffixes.
Grasp the concept of construct state as used in Hebrew to show possession or association.
Be familiar with the uses of independent personal pronouns, like distinguishing subject pronouns from object pronouns.

Syntax in Biblical Hebrew includes how words and sentences relate to each other structurally in phrases, clauses, and sentences.
Understand the primary function of conjunctions and prepositions in linking words, phrases and clauses together.
Master the understanding and usage of relative clauses including relative pronouns used to introduce them.
Be familiar with casus pendens or hanging nominative, and nominative absolute, both used for emphasis purposes.
Understand the two types of Biblical Hebrew sentences: verbless and verbal sentences. In verbless sentences, the predicate comes before the subject, while verbal sentences start with the verb.
Grasp the function and use of waw consecutive in narrative sequences, changing imperfect to perfect tense and vice versa.
Comprehend how interrogative words and particles are used to formulate questions.

Master different ways of identifying and understanding the root of a word to determine its basic meaning.
Understand the idea of semantic range, and how words can have a variety of meanings depending on their context.
Identify common homonyms and synonyms, learning to distinguish them by usage and context.
Grasp the role of idiomatic expressions in Biblical Hebrew, and how they often do not translate directly into English.
Learn how cognate words and loan words from other Semitic languages can help in understanding the meaning of Biblical Hebrew words.