When the particular time of an occurrence is specified, as prior to the present time, the perfect tense should not be used. Thus, it would be improper to say, "I have written yesterday :" it should be, "I wrote yesterday." 4. The Pluperfect Tense represents a thing, not only as past, but also as prior to some other point of time specified in the sentence. "I had finished my letter before he ar Ex. rived." 5. The First Future Tense represents the action or event as yet to come. Ex. "He will They will be here to-morrow." come again." 66 6. The Second Future Tense intimates that the action or event will be fully past, at or before the time of an other future action or event, to which it refers. Ex. "I shall have dined at one o'clock." "We shall have been there, and returned before he arrives." 2. OF CONJUGATION. The Conjugation of a verb, is the regular combination and arrangement of its several persons, numbers, moods and tenses. The verbs which are prefixed to, and readily combine with others, are called Auxiliaries; because they are helpers of the principal verb. DD English verbs are principally varied by prefixing Auxiliaries. Simple variations are those which are made without prefixing Auxiliaries. Compound variations are formed by prefixing Auxiliaries. The following is a list of Auxiliaries, with their simple variations. Do, dost, does, doth, doest,† doing :† Present. Am, art, is, are, be, being : Present. Have, hast, has, hath, having : Past. Had, hadst. Do.* Present. Be.* Past. Will.*1 Past. Would, wouldst. *[Do, be, have, and will, with the chief of their variations, are sometimes principal verbs. + Doest, doing, and done, should be used only as principal verbs. Will, when used as a principal verb, has the following variations; viz. Present, will, willest, wills; Past, willed, willedst.] Verbs generally form their imperfect tense of the indicative mood, and their perfect participle, by the addition of d or ed to the verb. These are called Regular verbs, and others Irregular verbs. The whole number of English verbs is about 4300. The number of Irregular verbs is about 177. A regular transitive verb is conjugated in the following manner. [Shall, in the first person, simply foretells: In the second and third persons it promises, commands, or threatens : as, "Thou shalt have "Ye shall go. "He shall answer for it." it." 99 Will, in the first person, expresses resolution or promising: as, "I will strive to learn :" In the second and third persons it only foretells; as, "Thou wilt repent of that folly."] Per. Singular. 1. I may love the Truth. 2. Thou mayst love the Truth. Plural. 1. We may love the Truth. Singular. 1. I can love it. 2. Thou canst love it. 2. You can love it. 3. He can love it. 3. They can love it. |