REAL/IRREAL MOOD AND WORD ORDER
In the last postI introduced the concept of real and irreal mood in Biblical Hebrew. In this post, we’ll take a look at real and irreal phrases and clauses in the Bible.
Recall that certain grammatical words at the beginning clauses indicate irreal mood. These include:
- The negatives אַל and לֹא;
- Conditional clause markers (אִם and כִּי אִם)
- Volitional forms: Imperatives (second-person), jussives (second- or third-person), traditionally-called cohortatives (more properly, first-person jussives).
- Purpose clause markers, such as לְמַעַן
Both the Imperfect and Perfect forms can express irreal mood.
Continue reading “Word order in Biblical Hebrew pt. 3(b): Real/Irreal Mood”