Genesis 1 word by word
The opening of the Torah is the usual first connected text: a few roots, heavy use of wayyiqtol, and the object marker.
Verse 1
Seven words. בְּרֵאשִׁית is a preposition plus a noun, not a separate "when." בָּרָא is qal perfect. אֵת marks the two objects. Definiteness on "heavens" and "earth" is the article.
in the beginning
Gen 1:1he created
Gen 1:1God
Gen 1:1object marker
Gen 1:1the heavens
Gen 1:1the earth
Gen 1:1Verses 2–3
הָיְתָה is perfect of היה. תֹהוּ and בֹהוּ are a paired rhyme more than a zoology. רוּחַ may be wind or spirit; the Hebrew does not pick for you. Then wayyiqtol: וַיֹּאמֶר, and the jussive יְהִי.
formless, waste
Gen 1:2void
Gen 1:2darkness
Gen 1:2deep, abyss
Gen 1:2let there be light
Gen 1:3How to keep going
Each day-block repeats וַיֹּאמֶר, וַיַּרְא, וַיְהִי עֶרֶב וַיְהִי בֹקֶר. Once those forms are automatic, the new nouns (seed, lights, swarm) are the only work left.
evening
Gen 1:5morning
Gen 1:5Read next
The Shema word by word
Deuteronomy 6:4–5 is short, liturgical, and packed with suffixes, construct, and the name of God.
Psalm 23 word by word
A short poem with shepherd imagery, first-person suffixes, and the parallelism typical of biblical verse.
Vav-conversive
A prefixed ו can flip the usual force of a perfect or imperfect. Narrative past in the Torah is mostly this form.