Modern Hebrew: An Essential Grammar

The noun pattern PA’ALAN (verbs or nouns: ) has several functions, again based onNouns withthe suffix and 1 someone doing a job, e.g. ‘paratrooper’ ( ‘saboteur’ ( ‘to damage’), ‘manufacturer’ ( manufacture’). ‘to parachute’), ‘to2 someone engaged in some voluntary activity, e.g. ‘swimmer’( ‘swim’), ‘card-player’ ( ‘card’).3 a device, e.g. ‘accompany’).4 a personality type, e.g. ‘rattle’ ( ‘noise’), ‘satellite’ ( ‘flatterer’ ( ‘flatter’), ( ‘close’), ‘punctual person’ ( ‘to be punctual’). ‘miser’The Hebrew noun and adjective – unlike the Hebrew verb – have amultitude of patterns, many of which have no clear-cut meaning. So it isdifficult to say, on the basis of its pattern, what a noun or adjective means.Conversely, it is just as difficult to anticipate which pattern to use forexpressing a given concept.67 Nouns with the suffix ö Ö and êÔa The suffix The suffix is often added to an existing word to denote an activity, apersonality, or even an object:1 ‘gunner’ ( ‘big gun’), ‘importer’ ( ‘economist’ ( ‘economics’), ‘soloist’ ( ‘poultry-keeper’ ( ‘hen-house’) ‘imports’), ‘solo’),2 ‘cheeky person’ ( ‘cheek’), ‘racist’ ( ‘race’), ‘adventurer’ ( ‘adventure’), ‘aggressor’ ( ‘attacking’)3 ‘diary’ ( ‘hydrogen’ ( ‘day’), ‘water’) ‘can-opener’ ( ‘opens’), 117