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:github_url: https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_uhg/src/branch/master/content/preposition_definite_article.rst |
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.. _preposition_definite_article: |
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Preposition Definite Article |
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============================ |
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Summary |
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A preposition introduces a phrase that describes another word/concept within a sentence, usually a :ref:`noun<noun>` or a :ref:`verb<verb>`. |
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However, like :ref:`adverbs<adverb>` and :ref:`particles<particle>`, sometimes a prepositional phrase can describe the sentence as a whole. |
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In Biblical Hebrew, prepositions can also be used with an infinitive construct verb to show its relationship to the main verb of a sentence. |
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.. note:: When a word contains both a prefixed preposition and a :ref:`definite article<particle_definite_article>`, the ה consonant of the definite article disappears and the shewa under the preposition lengthens, usually either to a pathah vowel or a qamets vowel. |
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Article |
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------- |
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Biblical Hebrew has four main prepositions: the prefix בְּ (in, at, by); |
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the prefix לְ (to, for); the prefix כְּ (as, like); and the prefix מִ |
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(which is a shortened form of the independent preposition מִן, meaning |
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"from"). However, there is also a family of other prepositions in |
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Biblical Hebrew. It is common in Biblical Hebrew for prepositions to be |
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combined together or with a noun to form new words that have their own |
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range of meanings (similar to :ref:`compound conjunctions<conjunction-compound>`) |
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that may or may not overlap with the meaning of the individual component |
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terms. |
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In Biblical Hebrew, prepositions also have a specialized function of |
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describing the relationship between a verbal complement (infinitive |
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construct or participles) and the main verb of a sentence. In some of |
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these instances, the preposition introduces a dependent verbal clauses |
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and thus changes its typical meaning. These specialized uses of |
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prepositions are listed in the article on :ref:`infinitive construct<infinitive_construct>` verbs. |
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.. note:: Of all the different kinds of words, prepositions are perhaps the |
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most flexible in their meaning and are often translated in a variety of |
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ways, or sometimes even left untranslated. For this reason, prepositions |
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must always be translated with great sensitivity to the context of each |
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use. A dictionary or lexicon will describe the various possible meanings |
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of each preposition, but generally will not include a complete list of |
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individual usages. |
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In Biblical Hebrew, there are 11 general types of prepositions: :ref:`indirect object<preposition-ind-obj>`; |
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:ref:`spatial<preposition-spatial>`; :ref:`locative<preposition-locative>`; :ref:`temporal<preposition-temporal>`; |
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:ref:`instrumental<preposition-instrumental>`; :ref:`correlative<preposition-correlative>`; :ref:`comparative<preposition-comparative>`; |
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:ref:`directional<preposition-directional>`; :ref:`causal<preposition-causal>`; :ref:`explanatory<preposition-explanatory>`; |
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and :ref:`direct object<preposition-dir-obj>`. However, this are also other types of prepositions in Biblical Hebrew. |
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The specific meanings of individual prepositions can be found in a dictionary or lexicon. |
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Form |
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---- |
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.. csv-table:: Prefix Preposition (with and without the definite article) |
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Parsing,Hebrew,Transliteration,Gloss |
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normal noun,נָהָר,nahar,river |
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noun + preposition only,בְּנָהָר,benahar,in a river |
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noun + definite article only,הַנָּהָר,hannahar,the river |
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noun + preposition + definite article,בַּנָּהָר,bannahar,in the river |
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**Preposition before a noun starting with a normal shewa** |
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.. csv-table:: |
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Word,Hebrew,Transliteration,Gloss |
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normal noun,מְרַגֵּל,meraggel,spy |
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noun + preposition only,כִּמְרַגֵּל,kimraggel,like a spy |
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noun + definite article only,הַמְּרַגֵּל,hammeraggel,the spy |
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noun + preposition + definite article,כַּמְּרַגֵּל,kammeraggel,like the spy |
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**Preposition before a noun with a guttural first consonant** |
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.. csv-table:: |
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Word,Hebrew,Transliteration,Gloss |
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normal noun,אִישׁ,'ish,man |
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noun + preposition only,לְאִישׁ,le'ish,to a man |
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noun + definite article only,הָאִישׁ,ha'ish,the man |
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noun + preposition + definite article,לָאִישׁ,la'ish,to the man |
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**Preposition before a noun starting with a composite shewa** |
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.. csv-table:: |
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Word,Hebrew,Transliteration,Gloss |
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normal noun,אֳנִיָה,'oniyah,ship |
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noun + preposition only,כָּאֳנִיָה,ko'oniyah,like a ship |
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noun + definite article only,הָאֳנִיָה,ha'oniyah,the ship |
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noun + preposition + definite article,כָּאֳנִיָה,ka'oniyah,like the ship |
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Examples |
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-------- |
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.. csv-table:: GEN 1:1 –– בְּ preposition without definite article. |
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בְּרֵאשִׁ֖ית בָּרָ֣א אֱלֹהִ֑ים |
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**bereshith** bara 'elohim |
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**In-beginning** he-created God |
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"**In the beginning,** God created" |
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.. csv-table:: ISA 5:11 –– בְּ preposition with definite article (shewa lengthens to pathah vowel). |
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הֹ֛וי מַשְׁכִּימֵ֥י בַבֹּ֖קֶר |
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howy mashkime **vabboqer** |
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Woe those-rising-early **in-the-morning** |
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Woe to those who rise up early **in the morning** |
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.. csv-table:: GEN 1:5 –– לְ preposition with definite article (shewa lengthens to qamets vowel). |
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וַיִּקְרָ֨א אֱלֹהִ֤ים׀ **לָאֹור֙** יֹ֔ום |
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wayyiqra 'elohim **la'owr** yowm |
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And-he-called **to-the-light** day |
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"God called **the light** ""day""" |
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.. csv-table:: GEN 1:18 –– לְ preposition with infinitive construct verb. |
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וְלִמְשֹׁל֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם וּבַלַּ֔יְלָה |
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**welimshol** bayyom uvallaylah |
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**and to rule** in the day and in the night |
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**to rule** over the day and over the night |
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