L1.4: Status Constructus - Part 1#

The status constructus is the form of a noun with none or a reduced case flexion. It can be definite or indefinite. It is used:

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The status constructus is found in every semitic language. In Hebrew it is known als סמיכות.

  • before a noun in genitive - Part 1

  • before a possessive suffixe - Part 2

  • before a asyndetic relative sentence - Part 3

Status Constructus: Before a Noun in Genitive#

Before a noun in Genitiv the noun loses the ending with the exeption of the masculine plural. There is therefore only one form for the singular and plural in all cases.

Status Rectus

Status Constructus

Example

Translation

bēlum

bēl

bēl aššatim

Lord of the wife

šarrum

šar

šar mišārim

King of the Justice

aššatum

aššat

aššat awīlim

Wife of the man

Note

The status constructus can be dismatled by the determinative pronoun ša

Forms of the Singular Noun in Status Constructus#

The nouns in singular can have different forms in status constructus:

  • Some nouns add a -i at the end

    Status Rectus

    Status Constructus

    Example

    Translation

    abum masc.

    abi

    father

    ṭuppum masc.

    ṭuppi

    (clay) tablet

    napištum fem.

    napišti

    life

  • Final long consonants of the stem are shortened

    Status Rectus

    Status Constructus

    Example

    Translation

    šarrum

    šar

    king

    kunukkum

    kunuk

    seal

  • Nouns with double consonants in end position of the model PaRS, PiRS and PuRS copy the initial vowel and insert it betwen the consonants

    Status Rectus

    Status Constructus

    Example

    Translation

    kalbum (PaRS)

    kalab (PaRaS)

    dog

    šiprum (PiRS)

    šipir (PiRiS)

    sending

  • Feminine nouns can add the vowel -i or the vowel a from the feminine ending -at- reappears. If it is a feminine with -e- the a becomes e.

    Status Rectus

    Status Constructus

    Example

    Translation

    qištum (<qiš-at-u)

    qišti

    wood, forest

    šubtum (<šub-at-u)

    šubat

    dwelling

    bēltum

    bēlet

    lady

    Note

    Sometime both forms are attested for a single word:

    • napištum (<napiš-at-u): st.const. = napišti or napišat

Forms of the Plural Noun in Status Constructus#

Nouns in Plural have the following forms:

  • Masculine nouns in plural have the same ending as in the status rectus:

    Status Rectus

    Status Constructus

    Example

    Translation

    kalbū

    kalbū

    dogs

    šiprī

    šiprī

    sendings

    inān

    inā

    eyes

  • Masculine adjectives in plural loses the ending:

    Status Rectus

    Status Constructus

    Example

    Translation

    dannūtum

    dannūt

    mighty, strength

    šiprī

    šiprī

    sending

  • Feminine nouns in plural lose their ending

    Status Rectus

    Status Constructus

    Example

    Translation

    kalbātum

    kalbāt

    she-dogs

    šarrātum

    šarrāt

    queens

    Note

    The same for femenine with -e-

    • belētum > belēt = ladies.