LECTURE XI.

E'en now, where Alpine solitudes ascend,I set me down a pensive hour to spend;And, placed on high, above the storm's career,Look downward where a hundred realms appear:—

Alas! the joys that fortune brings,Are trifling, and decay;And those who mind the paltry things,More trifling still than they.

NOTE. In the second sentence of the foregoing exercises,whichis governed by the verbto hide, according to RULE 16.Heis nom. tocarries; whois nom. toplans. Followsagrees withwhounderstood, and is connected toplansbyand; RULE 34. What did the king give? Areward tome. Thenrewardis in theobj. case, gov. bygave; RULE 20.Meis gov. bytounderstood; NOTE 1, RULE 32. The phrase,committing that barbarous act, is gov. byfor; NOTE 2, under RULE 28.Houris in theobj. case, gov. byto spend; RULE 20.Lookis connected tosetbyand; RULE 34.Joysis nom. toare. Thatis gov. bybrings; RULE 16.Thoseis nom. toareunderstood.Theyis nom. toareunderstood; RULE 35.

In a former lecture, I promised to give you a more extensive explanation of the cases of nouns; and, as they are, in many situations, a little difficult to be ascertained, I will now offer some remarks on this subject. But before you proceed, I wish you to parse all the examples in the exercises just presented, observing to pay particular attention to the remarks in the subjoined NOTE. Those remarks will assist you much in analyzing.

A noun is sometimes nominative to a verb placed many lines after the noun. You must exercise your judgment in this matter. Look at the sentence in the preceding exercises beginning with, "He who, every morning," &c. and see if you can find the verb to whichheis nominative. What doeshedo? He carries on a thread, &c.He, then, is nominative to the verbcarries. What doeswhodo? Whoplans, and whofollows, &c. Thenwhois nom. toplans, andwhounderstood, is nominative tofollows.

"A soul without reflection, like a pile

Without inhabitant, to ruin runs."

In order to find the verb to which the nounsoul, in this sentence, is the nominative, put the question; What does asoulwithout reflection do? Such, a soulrunsto ruin, like a pile without inhabitant. Thus you discover, thatsoulis nominative toruns.

When the words of a sentence are arranged according to their natural order, the nominative case, you recollect, is placed before the verb, and the objective, after it; but when the words of a sentence are transposed; that is, not arranged according to their natural order, it frequently happens, that the nominative comesafter, and the objective,beforethe verb; especially in poetry, or when a question is asked: as, "Whencearisesthemiseryof the present world?" "What goodthing shallIdoto inherit eternal life?" Put these expressions in the declarative form, and the nominative willprecede, and the objectivefollowits verb: thus, "Themiseryof the present worldariseswhence; Ishall dowhat goodthingto inherit eternal life."

"Now came stilleveningon, and twilight grayHad, in her sober livery, allthingsclad."

"Stern rugged nurse, thy rigidloreWith patience many ayearshe bore."

What did theeveningdo? The eveningcame on. Graytwilighthad clad what? Twilight had clad allthingsin her sober livery.Evening, then, is nom. tocame, and the nounthingsis in the objective case, and gov. byhad clad: RULE 20. What didshebear? She bore thy rigidlorewith patience,for, orduring, many a year. Hence you find, thatloreis in the objective case, and governed bybore, according to RULE 20.Yearis gov. byduringunderstood: RULE 32.

A noun is frequently nominative to a verb understood, or in the objective, and governed by a verb understood; as, "Lo, [there is] the poorIndian!whose untutored mind." "O, thepain[there is!] thebliss[there is] in dying!" "All were sunk, but the wakefulnightingale[was not sunk."] "He thought as asage[thinks,] though he felt as aman[feels."] "His hopes, immortal, blow them by, asdust[is blown by."] Rule 35 applies to these last three examples.

In the next place I will explain several cases of nouns and pronouns which have not yet come under our notice. Sometimes a noun or pronoun may be in the nominative case when it has no verb to agree with it.

Whenever a direct address is made, the person or thing spoken to, is in thenominative case independent; as, "James, I desire you to study."

You notice that, in this expression, I address myself toJamesthat is, I speak to him; and you observe, too, that there is no verb, either expressed or implied, to which James can be the nominative; therefore you know thatJamesis in the nom. case independent, according to Rule 5. Recollect, thatwhenever a noun is of the second person, it is in the nom. case independent; that is, independent of any verb; as,Selma, thy halls are silent; Love and meekness, mylord, become a churchman, better than ambition; OJerusalem, Jerusalem, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, but ye would not!—For a farther illustration of this case, see Note 2, under the 5th Rule of Syntax.

NOTE. When a pronoun of thesecondperson is in apposition with a noun independent, it is in the same case; as, "Thou traitor, I detest thee."

A noun or pronoun placed before a participle, without any verb to agree with it, is in the nominative caseabsolute; as, "Thesun being risen, we pursued our journey."

Sunis here placed before the participle "being risen," and has no verb to agree with it; therefore it is in the nominative case absolute, according to RULE 6.

NOTE 1. A noun or pronoun in the nominative case independent, is always of thesecondperson; but, in the case absolute, it is generally of thethirdperson.2. The case absolute is always nominative; the following sentence is therefore incorrect; "Whose top shall tremble,himdescending," &c.; it should be,hedescending.

NOTE 1. A noun or pronoun in the nominative case independent, is always of thesecondperson; but, in the case absolute, it is generally of thethirdperson.

2. The case absolute is always nominative; the following sentence is therefore incorrect; "Whose top shall tremble,himdescending," &c.; it should be,hedescending.

Two or more nouns or pronouns signifying the same person or thing, are put, byapposition, in the same case; as, "Cicero, the greatorator, philosopher, andstatesmanof Rome, was murdered by Antony."

Apposition, in a grammatical sense, means something added, or names added, in order more fully to define or illustrate the sense of the first name mentioned.

You perceive thatCicero, in the preceding example, is merely the proper name of a man; but when I give him the three additional appellations, and call him a greatorator, philosopher, andstatesman, you understand what kind of a man he was; that is, by giving him these three additional names, his character and abilities as a man are more fully made known. And, surely, you cannot be at a loss to know that these four nouns must be in the same case, for they are all names given to the same person; therefore, ifCicerowas murdered, theoratorwas murdered, and thephilosopherwas murdered, and thestatesmanwas murdered, because they all mean one and the same person.

Nouns and pronouns in the objective case, are frequently inapposition; as, He struckCharlesthestudent. Now it is obvious, that, when he struckCharles, he struck thestudent, because Charles was thestudent, and thestudentwasCharles; therefore the nounstudentis in the objective case, governed by "struck," and put by apposition with Charles, according to RULE 7.

Please to examine this lecture very attentively. You will then be prepared to parse the following examples correctly and systematically.

"Weep on the rocks of roaring winds, Omaidof Inistore."

Maidis a noun, the name of a person—- com. the name of a sort—fem. gender, it denotes a female—second pers. spoken to—sing. num. it implies but one—and in the nominative case independent, because it is addressed, and has no verb to agree with it, according to

RULE 5.When an address is made, the noun or pronoun addressed, is put in the nominative case independent.

"Thegeneralbeing ransomed, the barbarians permitted him to depart."

Generalis a noun, the name, &c. (parse it in full:)—and in the nominative case absolute, because it is placed before the participle "being ransomed," and it has no verb to agree with it, agreeably to

RULE 6.A noun or pronoun placed before a participle, and being independent of the rest of the sentence, is in the nominative case absolute.

"Thou manof God, flee to the land of Judah."

Thouis a pronoun, a word used instead of a noun—personal, it personates "man"—second pers. spoken to—mas. gender, sing. num. because the noun "man" is for which it stands; RULE 13 (Repeat the Rule.)—Thouis in the nominative case independent and put byappositionwithman, because it signifies the same thing, according to

RULE 7.Two or more nouns, or nouns and pronouns, signifying the same thing, are put, by apposition, in the same case.

Manis in the nominative case independent, according to Rule 5.Fleeagrees withthouunderstood.

"Lo!Newton, priestof Nature, shines afar,Scans the wide world, and numbers every star."

Newtonis a noun, (parse it in full,) and in the nominative case to "shines." RULE 3.

Priestis a noun, (parse it in full,) and in the nom. case, it is the actor and subject of the verb "shines," and put by apposition with "Newton," because it signifies the same thing, agreeably to Rule 7. (Repeat the Rule.)

Turnfrom your evil ways, O house of Israel! Ye fields of light, celestial plains, ye scenes divinely fair! proclaim your Maker's wondrous power. O king!livefor ever. The murmur of thy streams, O Lora, brings back the memory of the past. The sound of thy woods, Garmallar, is lovely in my ear. Dost thou not behold, Malvina, a rock with its head of heath? Three aged pines bend from its face; green is the plain at its feet; there the flower of the mountain grows, and shades its white head in the breeze.

The General being slain, the army was routed. Commerce having thus got into the legislative body, privilege must be done away. Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place. I being in great haste, he consented. The rain having ceased, the dark clouds rolled away. The Son of God, while clothed in flesh, was subject to all the frailties and inconveniences of human nature, sin excepted; (that is, sin being excepted.)

In the days of Joram, king of Israel, flourished the prophet Elisha. Paul the apostle suffered martyrdom.Come, peace of mind, delightful guest! anddwellwith me. Friends, Romans, countrymen,lendme your ears.

Soul of the just, companion of the dead!Where is thy home, and whither art thou fled?

Till Hymen brought his love-delighted hour,There dwelt no joy in Eden's rosy bower:—The world was sad, the garden was a wild,And man the hermit sighed, till woman smiled.

NOTE. Those verbs initalics, in the preceding examples, are all in the imperative mood, andsecondperson, agreeing withthou, ye, oryou, understood.House of Israelis a noun of multitude.Was routedandmust be doneare passive verbs.Art fledis a neuter verb in a passive form.Clothedis a perfect participle.Tillis an adverbial conjunction.

When you shall have analyzed, systematically, every word in the foregoing exercises, you may answer the following

Repeat the list of interjections.—Repeat some interjective phrases.—Repeat the order of parsing an interjection.—In order to find the verb to which a noun is nom. what question do you put?—Give examples.—Is the nominative case ever placed after the verb?—When?—Give examples.—Does the objective case ever come before the verb?—Give examples.—Is a noun ever nom. to a verb understood?—Give examples.—When is a noun or pronoun in the nom. case independent?—Give examples.—Are nouns of thesecondperson always in the nom. case independent?—When a pronoun is put by apposition with a noun independent, in what case is it?—When is a noun or pronoun in the nom. case absolute?—Give examples.—When are nouns or nouns and pronouns put, by apposition, in the same case?—Give examples.—In parsing a noun or pronoun in the nom. case independent, what Rule should be applied?—In parsing the nom. case absolute, what Rule?—What Rule in parsing nouns or pronouns in apposition?—Do real interjections belong to written language?—(Phil. Notes.)—From what are the following words derived,pish, fy, lo, halt, farewell, welcome, adieu!

The term INTERJECTION is applied to thoseinarticulatesounds employed both by men and brutes, not to express distinct ideas, but emotions, passions, or feelings. The sounds employed by human beings in groaning, sighing, crying, screaming, shrieking, and laughing, by the dog in barking, growling, and whining, by the horse in snorting and neighing, by the sheep in bleating, by the cat in mewing, by the dove in cooing, by the duck in quacking, and by the goose in hissing, we sometimes attempt to represent by words; but, aswrittenwords are the ocular representatives ofarticulatesounds, they cannot be made clearly to denoteinarticulateorindistinct noises. Such indistinct utterances belong to natural language; but they fall below the bounds of regulated speech. Hence,realinterjections are not a part of written language.The meaning of those words commonly called interjections, is easily shown by tracing them to their roots.Pishandpshaware the Anglo-Saxonpaec, paeca; and are equivalent totrumpery! i.e.tromperie, fromtromper.Fyorfieis the imperative,foe, the past tense, andfohorfaugh, the past part. of the Saxon verbfian, to hate.Lois the imperative oflook. Haltis the imperative ofhealden, to hold.Farewell—fare-well, is a compound offaran, to go, and the adverbwell. It means, togo well. Welcome—well-come, signifies, it iswellthat you arecome. Adieucomes from the Frencha Dieu, to God; meaning, I commend youto God.

The meaning of those words commonly called interjections, is easily shown by tracing them to their roots.

Pishandpshaware the Anglo-Saxonpaec, paeca; and are equivalent totrumpery! i.e.tromperie, fromtromper.

Fyorfieis the imperative,foe, the past tense, andfohorfaugh, the past part. of the Saxon verbfian, to hate.Lois the imperative oflook. Haltis the imperative ofhealden, to hold.Farewell—fare-well, is a compound offaran, to go, and the adverbwell. It means, togo well. Welcome—well-come, signifies, it iswellthat you arecome. Adieucomes from the Frencha Dieu, to God; meaning, I commend youto God.

You have now acquired a general, and, I may say, an extensive, knowledge of nine parts of speech; but you know but little, as yet, respecting the most important one of all; I mean the VERB. I will, therefore, commence this lecture by giving you an explanation of the Moods and Tenses of verbs. Have the goodness, however, first to turn back and read over Lecture II., and reflect well upon what is there said respecting the verb; after which I will conduct you so smoothly through the moods and tenses, and the conjugation of verbs, that, instead of finding yourself involved in obscurities and deep intricacies, you will scarcely find an obstruction to impede your progress.

The MOOD or MODE of a verb means themannerin which its action, passion, or being, is represented.

When I wish to assert a thing, positively, I use thedeclarativeorindicativemode; as, The manwalks; but sometimes the action or occurrence of which I wish to speak, is doubtful, and then I must not declare it positively, but I must adopt anothermodeof expression; thus,Ifthe manwalk, he will refresh himself with the bland breezes. This second mode or manner of representing the action, is called thesubjunctiveorconditionalmode.

Again, we sometimes employ a verb when we do not wish todeclarea thing, nor to represent the action in adoubtfulorconditionalmanner; but we wish tocommandsome one to act. We then use theimperativeorcommandingmode, and say,Walk, sir. And when we do not wish to command a man to act, we sometimes allude to hispowerorabilityto act. This fourth mode of representing action, is called thepotentialmode; as, Hecan walk; Hecould walk. The fifth and last mode, called theinfinitiveorunlimitedmode, we employ in expressing action in an unlimited manner; that is, without confining it, in respect to number and person, to any particular agent; as,To walk, to ride. Thus you perceive, that the mood, mode, or manner of representing the action, passion, or being of a verb, must vary according to the different intentions of the mind.

Were we to assign a particular name toeverychange in the mode or manner of representing action or being, the number of moods in our language would amount to many hundreds. But this principle of division and arrangement, if followed out in detail, would lead to great perplexity, without producing any beneficial result. The division of Mr. Harris, in his Hermes, is much more curious than instructive. He has fourteen moods; hisinterrogative, optative, hortative, promissive, precautive, requisitive, enunciative, &c. But as far as philosophical accuracy and the convenience and advantage of the learner are concerned, it is believed that no arrangement is preferable to the following. I am not unaware that plausible objections may be raised against it; but what arrangement cannot be objected to?

There are five moods of verbs, the Indicative, the Subjunctive, the Imperative, the Potential, and the Infinitive.The INDICATIVE MOOD simply indicates or declares a thing; as, "Hewrites;" or it asks a question; as, "Doeshewrite? Whowrotethat?"

There are five moods of verbs, the Indicative, the Subjunctive, the Imperative, the Potential, and the Infinitive.

The INDICATIVE MOOD simply indicates or declares a thing; as, "Hewrites;" or it asks a question; as, "Doeshewrite? Whowrotethat?"

The termindicative, comes from the Latinindico, todeclare. Hence, the legitimate province of the indicative mood, is todeclarethings, whether positively or negatively; thus,positively, Hecamewith me;negatively, Hecame notwith me. But in order to avoid a multiplication of moods, we extend its meaning, and use the indicative mood in asking a question; as, Whocamewith you?

The subjunctive mood being more analogous to the indicative in conjugation, than any other, it ought to be presented next in order. This mood, however, differs materially from the indicative in sense; therefore you ought to make yourself well acquainted with the nature of the indicative, before you commence with the subjunctive.

TheSUBJUNCTIVE MOOD expresses action, passion, or being, in a doubtful or conditional manner or,When a verb is preceded by a word that expresses a condition, doubt, motive, wish, or supposition, it is in the SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD; as, "Ifhestudy, he will improve; I will respect him,thoughhechideme; He will not be pardoned,unlessherepent;Hadhebeenthere, he would have conquered;" (that is,ifhehad beenthere.)

TheSUBJUNCTIVE MOOD expresses action, passion, or being, in a doubtful or conditional manner or,

When a verb is preceded by a word that expresses a condition, doubt, motive, wish, or supposition, it is in the SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD; as, "Ifhestudy, he will improve; I will respect him,thoughhechideme; He will not be pardoned,unlessherepent;Hadhebeenthere, he would have conquered;" (that is,ifhehad beenthere.)

The conjunctionsif, though, unless, in the preceding examples, express condition, doubt, &c.; therefore, the verbsstudy, chide, repent, andhad been, are in the subjunctive mood.

NOTE 1. A verb in this mood is generally attended by another verb in some other mood. You observe, that each of the first three of the preceding examples, contains a verb in the indicative mood, and the fourth, a verb in the potential.2. Whenever the conjunctionsif, though, unless, except, whether,lest, or any others, denote contingency or doubt, the verbs that follow them are in the subjunctive mood; as, "Ifherideout every day, his health will probably improve;" that is, if heshallorshouldride out hereafter. But when these conjunctions do not imply doubt, &c. the verbs that follow them are in the indicative, or some other mood; as, "Thoughheridesout daily, his health is no better." The conjunctive and indicative forms of this mood, are explained in the conjugation of the verb tolove. See page.

2. Whenever the conjunctionsif, though, unless, except, whether,lest, or any others, denote contingency or doubt, the verbs that follow them are in the subjunctive mood; as, "Ifherideout every day, his health will probably improve;" that is, if heshallorshouldride out hereafter. But when these conjunctions do not imply doubt, &c. the verbs that follow them are in the indicative, or some other mood; as, "Thoughheridesout daily, his health is no better." The conjunctive and indicative forms of this mood, are explained in the conjugation of the verb tolove. See page.

The IMPERATIVE MOOD is used for commanding, exhorting, entreating, or permitting; as,"Departthou;Remembermy admonitions;Tarryawhile longer;Goin peace."

The verbdepartexpresses a command;rememberexhorts;tarryexpresses entreaty; andgo, permission; therefore they are all in the imperative mood.

Theimperative, fromimpero, to command, is literally that mood of the verb used incommanding;but its technical meaning in grammar is extended to the use of the verb in exhorting, entreating, and permitting.

A verb in the imperative mood, is always of the second person, though never varied in its terminations, agreeing withthou, ye, oryou, either expressed or implied. You may know a verb in this mood by the sense; recollect, however, that the nominative is alwayssecondperson, and frequently understood; as, George,giveme my hat; that is, give thou, or give you. When the nominative is expressed, it is generally placed after the verb; as, Gothou; Departye; or between the auxiliary and the verb; as, Dothougo; Doyedepart. (Dois the auxiliary.)

The POTENTIAL MOOD implies possibility, liberty, or necessity, power, will, or obligation; as, "Itmay rain; Hemay goorstay; Wemust eatanddrink; Ican ride; Hewould walk; Theyshould learn."

In the first of these examples, the auxiliarymayimplies possibility; in the second it implies liberty; that is, he is at liberty to go or to stay; in the third,mustdenotes necessity;candenotes power or ability;wouldimplies will or inclination; that is, he had amindto walk; andshouldimplies obligation. Hence you perceive, that the verbs, may rain, may go, must eat, must drink, can ride, world walk, and should learn, are in thepotentialmood.

NOTE 1. As a verb in the indicative mood is converted into the subjunctive when it is preceded by a conjunction expressing doubt, contingency, supposition, &c., so a verb in the potential mood, may, in like manner, be turned into the subjunctive; as, "IfIcould deceivehim, I should abhor it;Thoughheshould increasein wealth, he would not be charitable." Icould deceive, is in the potential;IfIcould deceive, is in the subjunctive mood.2. The potential mood, as well as the indicative, is used in asking a question; as, "May I go? Could you understand him? Must we die?"

2. The potential mood, as well as the indicative, is used in asking a question; as, "May I go? Could you understand him? Must we die?"

The INFINITIVE MOOD expresses action, passion, or being, in a general and unlimited manner, having no nominative, consequently, neither person nor number; as,"To speak, to walk."

Infinitivemeansunconfined, orunlimited. This mood is called the infinitive, because its verb is not confined or limited to a nominative. A verb in any other mood is limited; that is, it must agree in number and person with its nominative; but a verb in this mood hasnonominative, therefore, it never changes its termination, except to form the perfect tense. Now you understand why all verbs are calledfiniteorlimited, excepting those in the infinitive mood.

NOTE.To, the sign of the infinitive mood, is often understood before the verb; as, "Let me proceed;" that is, Let metoproceed. See RULE 25.Tois not a preposition when joined to a verb in this mood; thus,toride,torule; but it should be parsed with the verb, and as a part of it.

If you study this lecture attentively, you will perceive, that when I say, Iwrite, the verb is in the indicative mood; but when I say,ifI write, or,unlessI write, &c. the verb is in the subjunctive mood;writethou, orwriteye or you, the imperative; Imay write, Imust write, Icould write, &c.the potential; andto write, the infinitive. Any other verb (except the defective) may be employed in the same manner.

TENSE means time.Verbs have six tenses, the Present, the Imperfect, the Perfect, the Pluperfect, and the First and Second Future tenses.The PRESENT TENSE represents an action or event as taking place at the time in which it is mentioned; as, "Ismile; Isee; Iam seen."

TENSE means time.

Verbs have six tenses, the Present, the Imperfect, the Perfect, the Pluperfect, and the First and Second Future tenses.

The PRESENT TENSE represents an action or event as taking place at the time in which it is mentioned; as, "Ismile; Isee; Iam seen."

NOTE 1. The present tense is also used in speaking of actions continued, with occasional intermissions, to the present time; as, "Heridesout every morning."2. This tense is sometimes applied to represent the actions of persons long since dead; as, "Senecareasonsandmoralizeswell; An honest manisthe noblest work of God."3. When the present tense is preceded by the words,when, before,after, as soon as, &c. it is sometimes used to point out the relative time of a future action; as, "Whenhearriveswe shall hear the news."

NOTE 1. The present tense is also used in speaking of actions continued, with occasional intermissions, to the present time; as, "Heridesout every morning."

2. This tense is sometimes applied to represent the actions of persons long since dead; as, "Senecareasonsandmoralizeswell; An honest manisthe noblest work of God."

3. When the present tense is preceded by the words,when, before,after, as soon as, &c. it is sometimes used to point out the relative time of a future action; as, "Whenhearriveswe shall hear the news."

The IMPERFECT TENSE denotes a past action or event, however distant; or,The IMPERFECT TENSE represents an action or event as past and finished, but without defining the precise time of its completion; as, "Ilovedher for her modesty and virtue; Theyweretravelling post when hemetthem."

The IMPERFECT TENSE denotes a past action or event, however distant; or,

The IMPERFECT TENSE represents an action or event as past and finished, but without defining the precise time of its completion; as, "Ilovedher for her modesty and virtue; Theyweretravelling post when hemetthem."

In these examples, the verbslovedandmetexpress past andfinishedactions, and therefore constitute aperfecttense as strictly as any form of the verb in our language; but, as they do not define the precise time of the completion of these actions, their tense may properly be denominated anindefinite past. By defining the present participle in conjunction with the verb, we have animperfecttense in the expression,were travelling. This course, however, would not be in accordance with the ordinary method of treating the participle. Hence it follows, that the termsimperfectandperfect, as applied to this and the next succeeding tense, are not altogether significant of their true character; but if you learn to apply these tensescorrectly, the propriety or impropriety of their names is not a consideration of very great moment.

The PERFECT TENSE denotes past time, and also conveys an allusion to the present; as, "Ihavefinished my letter."

The verbhave finished, in this example, signifies that the action, though past, was perfectly finished at a point of time immediately preceding, or in the course of a period which comes to the present. Under this view of the subject, the termperfectmay be properly applied to this tense, for it specifies, not only the completion of the action, but, also, alludes to the particular period of its accomplishment.

The PLUPERFECT TENSE represents a past action or event that transpired before some other past time specified; as, "Ihad finishedmy letter before my brother arrived."

You observe that the verbhad finished, in this example, represents onepastaction, and the arrival of my brother, anotherpastaction; thereforehad finishedis in the pluperfect tense, because the action took place prior to the taking place of the other past action specified in the same sentence.

The FIRST FUTURE TENSE denotes a future action or event; as "Iwill finish; Ishall finishmy letter."The SECOND FUTURE TENSE represents a future action that will be fully accomplished, at or before the time of another future action or event; as, "Ishall have finishedmy letter when my brother arrives."

The FIRST FUTURE TENSE denotes a future action or event; as "Iwill finish; Ishall finishmy letter."

The SECOND FUTURE TENSE represents a future action that will be fully accomplished, at or before the time of another future action or event; as, "Ishall have finishedmy letter when my brother arrives."

This example clearly shows you the meaning and the proper use of the second future tense. The verb "shall have finished" implies a future action that will be completely finished, at or before the time of the other future event denoted by the phrase, "whenmy brotherarrives."

NOTE. What is sometimes called theInceptivefuture, is expressed thus, "I am goingto write;" "I am aboutto write." Future time is also indicated by placing the infinitive present immediately after the indicative present of the verbto be; thus, "I amto write;" "Harrison isto be, or oughtto be, commander in chief;" "Harrison isto commandthe army."

You may now read what is said respecting the moods and tenses several times over, and then you may learn toconjugatea verb. But, before you proceed to the conjugation of verbs, you will please to commit the following paragraph on theAuxiliaryverbs and, also, thesignsof the moods and tenses; and, in conjugating, you must pay particular attention to the manner in which these signs are applied.

AUXILIARY or HELPING VERBS are those by the help of which the English verbs are principally conjugated.May, can, must, might, could, would, should,andshall, are always auxiliaries;do, be, have, andwill, are sometimes auxiliaries, and sometimes principal verbs.

The use of the auxiliaries is shown in the following conjugation.

TheIndicativeMood is known by thesense, or by its havingno sign, except in asking a question; as, "Wholovesyou?"The conjunctionsif, though, unless, except, whether, andlest, are generally signs of theSubjunctive; as, "IfIlove; unlessIlove," &c.A verb is generally known to be in, theImperativeMood by its agreeing withthou, oryeoryou, understood; as,"Lovevirtue,and followher steps;" that is, lovethou, or loveyeoryou; followthou, &c.May, can, andmust, might, could, would, andshould, are signs of thePotentialMood; as, "Imaylove; Imustlove; Ishouldlove," &c.Tois the sign of theInfinitive; as, "Tolove,tosmile,tohate,towalk."SIGNS OF THE TENSES.The first form of the verb is the sign of the present tense; as,love, smile, hate, walk.Ed—the imperfect tense of regular verbs; as,loved, smiled, hated, walked.Have—the perfect; as,haveloved.Had—the pluperfect; as,hadloved.Shallorwill—the first future; as,shalllove, orwilllove;shallsmile,willsmile.Shallorwill have—the second future; as,shall haveloved, orwill haveloved.

TheIndicativeMood is known by thesense, or by its havingno sign, except in asking a question; as, "Wholovesyou?"

The conjunctionsif, though, unless, except, whether, andlest, are generally signs of theSubjunctive; as, "IfIlove; unlessIlove," &c.

A verb is generally known to be in, theImperativeMood by its agreeing withthou, oryeoryou, understood; as,"Lovevirtue,and followher steps;" that is, lovethou, or loveyeoryou; followthou, &c.

May, can, andmust, might, could, would, andshould, are signs of thePotentialMood; as, "Imaylove; Imustlove; Ishouldlove," &c.

Tois the sign of theInfinitive; as, "Tolove,tosmile,tohate,towalk."

The first form of the verb is the sign of the present tense; as,love, smile, hate, walk.

Ed—the imperfect tense of regular verbs; as,loved, smiled, hated, walked.

Have—the perfect; as,haveloved.

Had—the pluperfect; as,hadloved.Shallorwill—the first future; as,shalllove, orwilllove;shallsmile,willsmile.

Shallorwill have—the second future; as,shall haveloved, orwill haveloved.

NOTE. There are some exceptions to these signs, which you will notice by referring to the conjugation in the potential mood.

Now, I hope you will so far consult your own ease and advantage, as to commit, perfectly, the signs of the moods and tenses before you proceed farther than to the subjunctive mood. If you do, the supposed Herculean task of learning to conjugate verbs, will be transformed into a few hours of pleasant pastime.

The Indicative Mood hassixtenses.The Subjunctive has alsosixtenses.The Imperative has onlyonetense.The Potential hasfourtenses.The Infinitive hastwotenses.CONJUGATION OF VERBS.The CONJUGATION of a verb is the regular combination and arrangement of its several numbers, persons, moods, and tenses.The Conjugation of an active verb, is styled theactive voice; and that of a passive verb, thepassive voice.Verbs are calledRegular when they form their imperfect tense of the indicative mood, and their perfect participle, by adding to the present tenseed, ordonly when the verb ends ine; as,

The Indicative Mood hassixtenses.

The Subjunctive has alsosixtenses.

The Imperative has onlyonetense.

The Potential hasfourtenses.

The Infinitive hastwotenses.

The CONJUGATION of a verb is the regular combination and arrangement of its several numbers, persons, moods, and tenses.

The Conjugation of an active verb, is styled theactive voice; and that of a passive verb, thepassive voice.

Verbs are calledRegular when they form their imperfect tense of the indicative mood, and their perfect participle, by adding to the present tenseed, ordonly when the verb ends ine; as,

A Regular Verb is conjugated in the following manner.

TO LOVE.—INDICATIVE MOOD.

Present Tense.

When we wish to express energy or positiveness, the auxiliarydoshould precede the verb in the present tense: thus,

Imperfect Tense.

Or by prefixingdidto the present: thus,

Perfect Tense.

Pluperfect Tense.

First Future Tense.

Second Future Tense.

NOTE. Tenses formed without auxiliaries, are calledsimpletenses; as, Ilove;Iloved;but those formed by the help of auxiliaries, are denominatedcompoundtenses; as, Ihave loved;Ihad loved, &c.

This display of the verb shows you, in the clearest light, the application of thesignsof thetenses, which signs ought to be perfectly committed to memory before you proceed any farther. By looking again at the conjugation, you will notice, thathave, placed before the perfect participle of any verb, forms the perfect tense;had, the pluperfect;shallorwill, the first future, and so on.

Now speak each of the verbs,love, hate, walk, smile, rule, andconquer, in the first person of each tense in this mood, with the pronounIbefore it; thus, indicative mood, pres. tense, first pers. sing. I love; imperf. I loved; perf. I have loved; and so on, through all the tenses. If you learn thoroughly the conjugation of the verb in the indicative mood, you will find no difficulty in conjugating it through those that follow, for in the conjugation through all the moods, there is a great similarity.

SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD.

Present Tense, or elliptical future.—Conjunctive form.

Look again at the conjugation in the indicative present, and you will observe, that the form of the verb differs from this form in the subjunctive. The verb in the present tense of this mood, does not vary its termination on account of number or person. This is called theconjunctiveform of the verb; but sometimes the verb in the subjunctive mood, present tense, is conjugated in the same manner as it is in the indicative, with this exception,if, though, unless, or some other conjunction, is prefixed; as,

Indicative form.

The following general rule will direct you when to use theconjunctiveform of the verb, and when theindicative. When a verb in the subjunctive mood, present tense, has afuturesignification, or a reference tofuturetime, the conjunctive form should be used; as, "If thouprosper, thou shouldst be thankful;" "He will maintain his principles, though helosehis estate;" that is, If thoushaltorshouldstprosper; though heshallorshouldlose, &c. But when a verb in the subjunctive mood, present tense, hasnoreference to future time, the indicative form ought to be used; as, "Unless hemeanswhat he says, he is doubly faithless." By this you perceive, that when a verb in the present tense of the subjunctive mood, has a future signification, anauxiliaryis always understood before it, for which reason, in this construction, the termination of the principal verb never varies; us, "He will not become eminent, unless heexerthimself;" that is, unless heshallexert, orshouldexert himself. This tense of the subjunctive mood ought to be called theelliptical future.

The imperfect, the perfect, the pluperfect, and the first future tenses of this mood, are conjugated, in every respect, like the same tenses of the indicative, with this exception; in the subjunctive mood, a conjunction implying doubt, &c. is prefixed to the verb. In the second future tense of this mood, the verb is conjugated thus:

Second Future Tense.

Look at the same tense in the indicative mood, and you will readily perceive the distinction between the two conjugations.

IMPERATIVE MOOD.

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