7. The second person singular of the the subjunctive mood, is also very fred termination: as, "If thou loved him obey him;""Though thou did confor nothing by it." This variation, howeve proper. Our present version of the S again refer to as a good grammatical this nature, decides against it. "If th &c John iv. 10. "If thou didst recei glory?" &c. 1 Cor. iv. 7. See also I proper to remark, that the form of the ed subjunctively in the imperfect tens siderably and properly varied from tha imperfect of the indicative mood: as ceive by turning to the conjugation of

8. It may not be superfluous, also auxiliaries of the potential mood, whe junctive, do not change the termin person singular. We properly say, canst go "Though thou mightst couldst read;"If thou wouldst lear may or can go," &c. It is sufficient, the authorities of Johnson and Low go;" Johnson. "If thou mayat, mig Lowth. Some authors think, that wi motive or end, the termination of th be varied: as, "I advise thee, that "He checked thee, that thou shoul there does not appear to be any gro If the expression of "condition, dou does not warrant a change in the for why should they have it, when a mo ed? The translators of the Scripture made the distinction contended for wall that thou mayst be their king," forgiveness with thee, that thou mo

ལ.་ A proper to vary the terminations o

he second and third person singular: that without the con Currence of those circumstances, the terminations should not be altered; and that the verb and the auxiliaries of the hree past tenses, and the auxiliaries of the first future, un ergo no alteration whatever except the imperfect of the werb to be, which, in cases denoting contingency, is varied In all the persons of the singular number. See page 90

the Note.

After perusing what has been advanced on this subject it will be natural for the student to inquire, what is the ex tent of the subjunctive mood? Some grammarians think it extends only to what is called the present tense of verbs generally, under the circumstances of contingency and fu turity; and to the imperfect tense of the verb to be, when it denotes contingency, &c.; because in these tenses only, the form of the verb admits of variation; and they suppose that it is variation merely which constitutes the distinction of moods. It is the opinion of other grammarians, (in which opinion we concur,) that, besides the two cases just mentioned, all verbs in the three past, and the two future tenses, are in the subjunctive mood, when they denote contingency or uncertainty, though they have not any change of termination; and that, when contingency is not signified, the verb, through all these five tenses, belongs to the indicative mood, whatever conjunction may attend it. They think, that the definition and nature of the subjunctive mood, have no reference to change of termination, but that they refer merely to the manner of the being, action, or passion, signified by the verb; and that the subjunctive mood may as properly exist without a variation of the verb, as the infinitive mood, which has no terminations different from those of the indicative. The decision of this point may not, by some grammarians, be thought of much consequence. But the rules which ascertain the propriety of varying, or not varying, the terminations of the verb, will certainly be deemed important These rules may be well observed, without uniformity of sentiment respecting the nature and limits of the subjunctive mood. For further remarks

P

belonging to them, either expressed of 1st, Though yet, nevertheless: as rich, yet for our sakes he became po erful, he was meek."

2d, Whether-or: as, "Whether cannot tell."

3d, Either-or: as, "I will eithe myself."

4th, Neither-nor: as, "Neither compass it."

5th, As-as: expressing a compar "She is as amiable as her sister; and 6th, Asso: expressing a comp As the stars, so shall thy. seed be." 7th, As-so: expressing a compa "As the one dieth, so dieth the other read."

8th, So-as: with a verb expres quality as, "To see thy glory, 80 the sanctuary."

9th, So-as with a negative and comparison of quantity: as, Pomp general as Cæsar, nor so great a mar

We have stated for the student's opinions of grammarians, respecting the 1 First, that which supposes there is no su Secondly, that which extends it no farthe verb extend: Thirdly, that which we ha at large; and which, in general corresp most approved writers on English Gra Fourth opinion; which appears to posses ty This opinion admits the arrangemen variation, namely, that of assigning to th tive, two forms: 1st, that which simply "If he desires it, I will perform the ope desires it:" 2dly, that which denotes bot as, "If he desire it, I will perform the should hereafter desire it." This last mood, claims the merit of rendering the consistent and regular; of being more to the definition of the subjunctive, an dicative mood forms of expression, whic eity and nature. Perhaps this theory wi

early equal propriety.

Lot sufficiently vigorous, nor decisive, assented to the measare." In this sentence, or would perhaps have been better: put, in general, nor seems to repeat the negation in the former part of the sentence, and therefore gives more emphais to the expression.

10. Conjunctions are often improperly used, both singly and in pairs. The following are examples of this impropriety. "The relations are so uncertain, as that they require a great deal of examination:" it should be," that they require," &c. "There was no man so sanguine, who did not apprehend some ill consequences :" it ought to be, "So sanguine as not to apprehend," &c. or, "no man, how sanguine soever, who did not," &c. "To trust in him is no more but to acknowledge his power." "This is no other but the gate of paradise In both these instances, but should be than. We should sufficiently weigh the objects of our hope; whether they are such as we may reasonably expect from them what we propose," &c. It ought to be, "that we may reasonably," &c. "The duke had not behaved with that loyalty as he ought to have done;" "with which he ought." "In the order as they lie in his preface:" it should be," in order as they lie;" or, " in the order in which they lie." "Such sharp replies that cost him his life; "as cost him," &c. "If he were truly that scarecrow, as he is now commonly painted;" "Such a scarecrow," &c. "I wish I could do that justice to his memory, to oblige the painters," &c.: "do such justice as to oblige,"

&c.

There is a peculiar neatness in a sentence beginning with the conjunctive form of a verb. "Were there no difference, there would be no choice."

A double conjunctive, in two corresponding clauses of a sentence, is sometimes made use of: as, "Had he done this, he had escaped;" "Had the limitations on the prerogative been, in his time, quite fixed and certain, his integrity had made him regard as sacred, the boundaries of the constitution" The sentence in the common form would have read thus: "If the limitations on the prerogative had been, His integrity would have made him regard," &c.

which is equivalent to, "Let them who when used by itself, this particle is conjunction, or perhaps as an adverb Our language wants a conjunctio: s'yle, equivalent to notwithstanding. that, seem to be too low. "The word every one, but, for all that, the subject m

In regard that, is solemn and antiqu do much better in the following sente otherwise, in regard that the French that of every other language."

The word except is far preferable to mitted of no effectual cure other than eft is also to be preferied to all but. but the stranger."

In the two following phrases, the properly omitted; "Which no body sanguine to hope." "I must, however

The conjunction that is often prope derstood; as, "I beg you would com do it not;" instead of "that you wo But in the following, and many simi junction were much better inserted: memory of their virtues remain to pos yet it is just that the memory," &c.

RULE XX.

When the qualities of differe pared, the latter noun or prono by the conjunction than or as, b verb, or is governed by the verb expressed or understood: as, than I;" that is, "than I am him more than me ;" i. e. 66 m me." "The sentiment is well to, but much better by Solomo is, than by him."*

See the fenh, or any subsequent ed x-the Note.