Page:Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar (1910 Kautzsch-Cowley edition).djvu/342

 (3) In dependent clauses after final conjunctions, as , ;  , , 19, , &c.;  ;  , , , and  , in order that ; ... not, , ; also after , , , , &c. ; cf. also the instances introduced by in .—In  such an imperfect (or jussive? see the examples in ) is added to the expression of the command by an asyndeton, and in  to the principal clause simply by : while they sought them food  (cf. also, it is good and let him hope, i.e. that he should hope); so after an interrogative clause,. Finally also in a relative clause,.

(b) To express actions, &c., which are to be represented as possibly taking place or not taking place (sometimes corresponding to the potential of the classical languages, as also to our periphrases with can, may, should ). More particularly such imperfects are used—

(1) In a permissive sense, e.g. of every tree of the garden  thou mayest freely eat (the opposite in verse );, , , 22,. In the 1st pers. , (I may, or can, tell); in a negative sentence, e.g..

(2) In interrogative sentences, e.g.  Cf. ,, , ,  , , , . So especially in a question expressing surprise after , e.g.  how then can I...? , , , and even with regard to some point of time in the past, looking forward from which an event might have been expected to take place, e.g.   Cf. (, i.e. was he destined to die...?), and so probably also (should he deal...?). Very closely connected with this is the use of the imperfect—

(3) In a consecutive clause depending on an interrogative clause, e.g., who am I that I should (ought, could) go? , , , , , , , , similarly after  ,.