Rabbi Kornfeld,
Hash-m emachem. I have a grammar question in מסכת קידושין about the conjunction of multiple acquisitions, and I hope you can help me.
When there are three ways to acquire something, like in the first משנה referring to a man acquiring a woman, the first two ways are separated by a comma and the third way is separated by a vav hahipuch (is that the correct term?) "נקנית בכסף בשטר ובביאה" would read כסף [comma] שטר [comma] ו [conjunctive vav] בביאה.
When there are only two ways to acquire something, like almost all of the following cases, the two ways are separated only by vav hahipuch. "וקונה את עצמה בגט ובמיתת הבעל" would read גט [comma] ו [conjunctive vav] במיתת הבעל.
I understand using the ו [conjunctive vav] when there are only two ways, but why not also use it when there are three ways? "נקנית בכסף ובשטר ובביאה".
Pardon my ignorance about the grammar, but the differences kept jumping out at me as I learned the משניות in preparation for the next several months of daf yomi.
Cheers,
Mort Cohen
Shalom R' Cohen,
Great to hear from you!
The Vav used for conjunction is at times called a Vav ha'Chibur. For example, see Malbim's discussion on Vayikra 20:9, specifically Sifra 101:1.
The Vav ha'Hipuch, on the other hand, is where the addition of a Vav to the beginning of a verb transforms its tense from past to future or vice-versa. See Malbim on Vayikra 13:6, specifically Sifra 65:1.
Indeed, at times, the Vav ha'Chibur is used in between each and every item in a list. At other times, the items will be, let's say, grouped into sets of three, in which there is only a Vav between the second a third items in the series. See the Ohr ha'Chayim ha'Kadosh on Shemos 35:5 DH Zahav v'Kesef.
Wishing you a Kesivah v'Chasimah Tovah!
Warmest regards,
Yishai Rasowsky