Page:Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar (1910 Kautzsch-Cowley edition).djvu/340

 do);, , , , , , , , , , . So again (see f) especially to express facts known by experience which may at any time come into effect again, e.g.  a gift blindeth , &c.; , , , , , , &c. Of the same kind also is the imperfect in such relative clauses (see § 155), as  Benjamin is  (properly, is accustomed to ravin). Finally, compare also the formulae  (wont to be) said (to introduce proverbial expressions) , , &c.;  (wont to be) so done (and hence may not, shall not be, see u), , , ,.

(c) To express actions, &c., which although, strictly speaking, they are already finished, are regarded as still lasting on into the present time, or continuing to operate in it, e.g. wherefore is it that thou dost ask  after my name?, , ,. In such cases, naturally, the perfect is also admissible, and is sometimes found in the same formula as the imperfect, e.g.   (just now)? but (cf. )  The imperfect represents the coming as still in its last stage, whereas the perfect represents it as an accomplished fact.

3. In the sphere of future time. To express actions, &c., which are to be represented as about to take place, and as continuing a shorter or longer time in the future, or as being repeated; thus:

(a) From the standpoint of the speaker’s present time, e.g. they will not believe  me, nor hearken  unto my voice: for they will say, &c., , , &c.

(b) In dependent clauses to represent actions, &c., which from some point of time in the past are to be represented as future, e.g. could we in any wise know that he would say ? ,, , ; , , , ,  that the generation to come might know,  (qui nascituri essent; the imperfect here with the collateral idea of the occurrence being repeated in the future).

(c) To represent a futurum exactum; cf. , (co-ordinated with a perfect used in the same sense, see ); so also sometimes after the temporal particles, , and , , , &c.

4. Finally to the sphere of future time belong also those cases in which the (modal) imperfect serves to express actions, events, or states, the occurrence of which is to be represented as willed (or not