In the Nif’al binyan, roots that begin with nun (נ) undergo assimilation in the past tense just as they do in the present. The nun disappears, and the second root letter is doubled with a dagesh. The verb להינשא (“to get married”) is a clear example of this pattern.
Example
- נ.שׂ.א → להינשא (to get married)
- נִשֵּׂאתִי – I got married
- נִשֵּׂאתָ – you (m.s.) got married
- נִשֵּׂאת – you (f.s.) got married
- נִשָּׂא – he got married
- נִשְּׂאָה – she got married
- נִשֵּׂאנוּ – we got married
- נִשֵּׂאתֶם – you (m.pl.) got married
- נִשֵּׂאתֶן – you (f.pl.) got married
- נִשְּׂאוּ – they got married
Quick Summary for Learners
- In Nif’al past tense with Peh‑Nun roots, nun disappears.
- The second root letter doubles with a dagesh.
- Pattern: נִ– + doubled consonant + suffixes.
- Example: נִשֵּׂאתִי, נִשָּׂא, נִשְּׂאוּ.