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  • From: Trevor Peterson <abuian AT access4less.net>
  • To: hebrew <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Infinitive Construct
  • Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2005 20:03:21 -0500



C. Stirling Bartholomew wrote:

It seems that "construct state" as that term is commonly used is more than
just a morphological condition. Unless I have misunderstood the grammarians,
the term construct state is also used of a syntactical function that binds
two or more constituents into a semantic relationship of some kind. In this
case an infinitive construct could fill the same slot in a clause as a noun
in the construct state.

Well, it could anyway, regardless of what we call the relationship. I agree, though, there is a fuzziness to the terminology that complicates matters. As I said, though, I think we get a peek at the distinction in the way we talk about a noun being in construct but don't talk about one being in absolute.

I understand your point, but I have not found the actual use of the
terminology in the grammars to strictly follow the distinction you have
made. There is very often a blending in the grammars which mixes the issues
of morphology and function. So that the same term can be used with both
referents. This creates no end of chaos in Greek grammars and to some extent
it is also present in Hebrew grammars.

Agreed.

Trevor Peterson
CUA/Semitics




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