Summary

The construct state is a modified form of a word (noun, adjective, participle, or infinitive) in contrast to the standard form called the absolute state. The construct state is used when a word takes a suffix or is connected to another term in a construct chain.

Article

Nouns, adjectives, participles and infinitives can appear in either the absolute state or the construct state. The construct state ending is shorter than the absolute state ending and can take an attached suffix. Nouns, adjectives and participles can appear in either the absolute state or the construct state for both masculine and feminine terms in both singular and plural forms. Because infinitives do not change form for either gender or number, there is usually only one infinitive construct form and one infinitive absolute form of a verb in Biblical Hebrew.

The construct state serves a unique function in Biblical Hebrew to grammatically link a word to the following word(s),making a single grammatical unit called a construct chain. Words in a construct chain are often translated into English with the word "of" between them. Construct chains can consist of two words (for example, "the king of Israel") or more than two words (for example, "the son of the king of Israel").

Form

For most nouns, the masculine singular form is identical to the absolute state. The masculine plural construct ending drops the final ם and changes the final hireq to a segol (i-sound to e-sound).

Usually, the feminine singular construct ending changes from a final ה to a final ת. The feminine plural construct ending is identical to the absolute state.

Function