6.4 There are seven basic verb “patterns” in Hebrew.1 A pattern is the root plus the characteristic added elements. The pattern you will learn in this lesson is the qal (from the Hebrew word קָל meaning “light” or “simple”), and the qal is the simple active pattern.2 Another pattern, for example, is the niphal, which is formed by prefixing a נ‍ to the root and is used for the passive of the qal, among other uses. 6.5 Changing from one pattern to another changes the meaning of the verb.