Sentence structure and sentence types

Sentence Structure in Biblical Hebrew

In Biblical Hebrew, the traditional sentence structure is Verb-Subject-Object (VSO). This contrasts with many other languages, including English, that typically follow a Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) pattern.
However, in later forms of Biblical Hebrew, there can be a shift towards the SVO form, especially in narrative texts.
Many sentences start with a ‘vav’ conjunctive, often translated as ‘and’, which may also cause a switch in verb tense.
The use of ‘vav’ consecutive can introduce a sequence of events and is a distinctive feature of Hebrew narrative. It typically reverses the tense of the verb following it.
Biblical Hebrew often uses paratactic sentence structures, connecting sentences or phrases without expressing their logical or grammatical relationship.
In Hebrew, prepositions are attached directly to the nouns they modify, unlike in English.
There is no equivalent to the English ‘be’ verb in Hebrew; instead, sentences can be constructed simply with a subject and a predicate.

Sentence Types in Biblical Hebrew

Declarative sentences form the basis of Hebrew narrative. These sentences often follow a VSO structure, but can also use SVO, especially with the use of ‘vav’ conjunctive.
Interrogative sentences are indicated not by word order but by an interrogative particle ‘ה’ at the beginning of the sentence.
Hebrew features imperative sentences, which constitute commands or requests. They are usually formed from the imperative mood of the verb.
Conditional sentences express hypotheses. They usually start with ‘if’ (‘אם’) or ‘unless’ (‘אם לא’).
Causative sentences demonstrate a cause and effect relationship. They typically use ‘because’ (‘כי’) or ‘therefore’ (‘על כן’).

Grammar Features in Biblical Hebrew

Concordance: Hebrew nouns, pronouns, and verbs must agree in gender and number.
Gender: Hebrew has masculine and feminine genders, and all nouns and adjectives will either be masculine or feminine.
Number: Hebrew has singular, dual, and plural forms for nouns, verbs, and adjectives.
Tense and Aspect: Hebrew uses perfect and imperfect verb tenses. These don’t directly correspond to English tenses; instead, they demonstrate completed action (perfect) and incomplete action (imperfect).
Construct State: This is a special form of two nouns where the first noun modifies the second. It is equivalent to the English ‘of’ construction.

This content should provide a broad overview of sentence structures, sentence types, and grammar features in Biblical Hebrew. Good luck as you continue to revise and practise your language skills!