Inseparable prepositions

The letters Bet, Kaf and Lamed form inseparable prepositions when they attach to a word.

in, with, on
like, as
to, for

The inseparable preposition normally takes a sh’va (), e.g. (house); (in a house).
In some circumstances the inseparable prepositions take other vowels.

Exact rules:

• When connected with a word with (the) the following occurs: the is dropped; any vowel that appeared under the is transferred to the inseparable preposition, any dagesh that occurred in the first letter following the hey is retained. e.g., .

• When appearing before a noun that begins with a sheva the vowel under the preposition changes from ()
  to ( ), e.g., (with, on an animal); (to/for an animal).
• Before a noun that begins with the vowel under the preposition changes from () to ( ) and the sheva under the disappears, e.g. (Jerusalem); (from Jerusalem).
• Before a noun beginning with a combination vowel the preposition changes to , , or .