HebBinyan: binyan (verb form in Hebrew)
Binyan (plural binyanim; “building, structure”) is a traditional part of verbal morphology in Hebrew (see, e.g., page 1347 of books.google.com or http://tzion.org/devarim/The%20Seven%20Binyanim.pdf). It mostly corresponds to Voice, but also Mood in other languages.
The individual binyan categories reflect the root-vowel templates for the given forms.
For example, template CaCaC means that the three consonants of the root of the verb
are interspersed with two vowels a.
PAAL: basic/simple form
Template CaCaC. The basic form corresponds to the active voice.
Examples
- katav “wrote”
NIFAL: basic/simple-passive form
Template niCCaC. This form corresponds to the passive voice.
Examples
- niktav “was written”
PIEL: intensive form
Template CiCeC. Active voice, but the action is done intensively.
Examples
- kitev “inscribed, engraved”
PUAL: intensive-passive form
Template CuCaC. Passive voice, but the action is done intensively.
Examples
- kutav “was inscribed/engraved” (theoretical, to illustrate the binyanim; not used with this root)
HIFIL: causative form
Template hiCCiC. Causative voice.
Examples
- hiktiv “dictated”
HUFAL: causative-passive form
Template huCCaC. Causative-passive voice.
Examples
- huktav “was dictated”
HITPAEL: reflexive-cooperative form
Template hitCaCeC. Reflexive, reciprocal or middle voice.
Examples
- hitkatev “corresponded”
HebBinyan in other languages: [hbo] [he]