Co-authored by Linda Liu and Brian L. Webster
Reference grammars properly refer to the participle as an atemporal form (e.g., Joüon 121), in that the predicate participle becomes temporal by drawing its time reference from context. Substantival participles are generally not discussed in terms of temporality since they function as nouns. But even when substantival, the verbal element of the participle has a reference time. The Hebrew substantival participle can refer to someone who has done something, is doing something, or does something regularly. The referent actions have a place in time. When the author wants to make a substantival reference out of an action with more than one step, the first element is the substantival participle and the second may be a consecutive form, vayyiqtol or veqatal. Substantival participles can also be followed by ʾašer clauses and other clause types with different finite conjugations. English bible versions vary in how to translate them, often defaulting to present participles even when the reference is past. When there are two or more steps embodied in the substantival idea, the second form, whether the choice of consecutive form or the finite verb in the ʾašer clause, clarifies the time reference for the set.