Page:Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar (1910 Kautzsch-Cowley edition).djvu/147

 the abstract verbal idea, without regard to the subject or object of the action. It stands most frequently as an adverbial accusative with a finite verb of the same stem (–s).

The flexibility and versatility of the Infin. constr. and the rigidity and inflexibility of the Infin. absol. are reflected in their vocalization. The latter has unchangeable vowels, while the ō of the Infin. constr. may be lost. For, according to , goes back to the ground-form qŭṭŭl.

Other forms of the Infin. constr. Qal of the strong verb are—

(a), e.g. , ; , ; especially with verbs which have ă in the second syllable of the Imperf.: hence sometimes also with those, whose second or third radical is a guttural (frequently besides the ordinary form). All the examples (except, see above) occur in the closest connexion with the following word, or with suffixes (see ). In the Masora seems to treat  (verse 20, in  ) as an Infinitive=; probably  should be read.

(b) and, attenuated from it, ;  and  (which are feminine forms of  and, mostly from intransitive verbs, and sometimes found along with forms having no feminine ending in use), e.g. , , , ; , often in Dt., to fear; ;  (in  ); , ; , ; , , &c.;  (also a subst.= uncleanness, like ) to be unclean, ; , , &c.; cf. ,, , , ; also , ; , ; cf. . On the other hand in, the original ă has been modified to ĕ; cf. , &c.

(c) In the Aramaic manner ( but cf. also Arab. maqtal) there occur as ''Infin. Qal'':, ; and ,  ; , , &c.; , , &c. (cf. even ); also with a feminine ending, , &c.; cf. for these forms (almost all very late) Ryssel, De Elohistae Pentateuchici sermone, p. 50, and Strack on.

(d) in  ;  ; probably also ,.

2. A kind of Gerund is formed by the ''Infin. constr.'' with the preposition ; as, (see ).