Hebrew course 5.5

Learn Hebrew Verbs (Part 2) ~ Lesson 5
The Infinitive
By Jeff A. Benner

The infinitive verb can take on two different forms, the construct and absolute.
The construct identifies a simple action such as we find in Genesis 8:12 where the infinitive שוב simply means "return." The letter ל, meaning "to" is commonly prefixed to to construct infinitive such as the word ולמשול (ve-lim-shol, Genesis 1:18) meaning "and to regulate."
The absolute intensifies another verb which follows it. For example, in Genesis 2:17 is the phrase מות תמות (mot tamut) where the infinitive absolute מות (mot - die) intensifies the following verb תמות (tamut - you will die).
The subject of the verb is identified by a pronoun suffixed to the infinitive. An example is found in Genesis 3:5; אכלכם (akhal’khem). The verb אכל (akhal) meaning "to eat" is followed by the suffix כם meaning "you."
Below is a chart of the infinitive forms of the verb in the pa’al form.

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