@ktm5124 Note that although the shureq is very common at the beginning of a "word" as seen in the text, it begins (and comprises) only one "lexeme": the conjunction and/or/but/so/then... (referred to in GKC -- confusingly, to me -- as the copula ). Even the consonantal vav begins only a handful of other words, mostly proper nouns. Only one common noun (vavim = nails) occurs with any frequency. I always found that curious.

It says that in GKC (the abbreviation including the editor and translator), which of course is indeed a useful resource as you point out, but personally I find it most helpful for reinforcing something I already know. If I don't know it, I have a hard time learning from that text, but that might just be my poor English competency.

@Dɑvïd Wow, thanks, not even in the online EHLL yet. Diachronic stuff always intrigues me for some reason, but "subjective and lacking in scientific rigor" always seems kind of inevitable. It's interesting to think about the methodology. (For some reason when you use my name and the word "Hebraist" in the same sentence I always feel like you're mocking me.... ;-) )

@Susan Could I ask you a random question? In the Hebrew word Abraham (I am transcribing the English since I don't have a Hebrew keyboard yet) what are the names of the two different "a" vowel sounds?

One looks like an underline, and the other looks like a T (though shorter than a capital English T).

@ktm5124 Here's a very readable intro grammar. See Lesson 2, p. 9 (PDF 18): patach, then qamets. (Another option, depending on your style.)

BTW, you can always just copy and paste from an online text. I'm not a fan of typing vowels myself.

@Susan Ah, patach and qamets. Thanks! I might end up remembering them as short "a" and long "a", since I'm afraid I might forget the Hebrew names!

The short/long distinction is good to know.