ethren, pray for us." Here, the word "brethren" shows more than one are addressed. Therefore, the verb is al, and its nominative is "you" understood. "Father, forthem.” Here, the word "Father" shows that only one is essed. The verb, therefore, is singular, and its nominative thou" understood. The Tenses of the Potential and Subjunctive Moods.-The liaries might, could, would, and should, are often used as ressing the primary meaning of these words, that is, simply ibility, liberty, willingness, and obligation, without distinhing the time, or, rather, leaving the time to be determined he other words in the sentence. They may therefore be I equally, where the meaning is present, past, or future. is, "He could do it now, if he would" (Present); "He could do it yesterday, because his father would not let him" st); "He could do it to-morrow, if his father would let him" ture). (See also Appendix 17.) . Formation of the Subjunctive Mood by transposing the ninative and the Verb.-Any verb in the past tense may be dered subjunctive in meaning by putting the nominative er the verb, or between the verb and the auxiliary. This is y common with the verbs to have, to be, and to do. Thus, [ad I a book, I would study the lesson," means, If I had a k," &c. When this construction occurs with the verb to be, verb assumes the subjunctive form as well as meaning; thus, re I, wert thou, were he, &c., and not, was I, wast thou, &c. 5. Peculiar usage of the Verbs To HAVE and TO BE.-There a peculiar usage of to have and to be that needs to be noted. ere is often used in the subjunctive form without a conjuncn, and with a potential meaning, or in the sense of would ; thus, "I were an idiot, thus to speak," that is, "I would be idiot, &c." In like manner, had is used in the sense of uld have; thus, "It had been good for that man if he had ever been born," that is, "It would have been good," &c. There is another usage of had still more remarkable, and so r as I know, incapable of explanation by anything analogous the language. It is where had bears the meaning simply Could, thus “I had nother not do it ” “I had as lief not he as live to be," &c. The peculiarity in the previous paragrapos has reference to the meaning. Here it is a peculiarity of form as well as meaning, analogy requiring had been, had done, &c., not had be, had do. PARTICIPLES. 230. A PARTICIPLE is that form of the verb which partakes of the nature both of a verb and of an adjective. Nature of the Participles.-The Participles contain an affirmation in the form of a supposition, or in a kind of incomplete or suspended state. Thus, "The man having finished his letter, will carry it to the post-office." Here, the participle "having finished" contains precisely the same meaning that would have been conveyed by the expression, "when he has finished." It is the affirmation of the verb subject to some limitation, or in a state of suspense. The participles also express distinctions of time, which is another of the peculiar properties of the verb. Hence, they are, by almost common consent, considered parts of the verb. They partake also of the nature of the adjective, inasmuch as they are joined to a noun in construction, in the same manner as an adjective is. (See Appendix 18.) 231. The PARTICIPLES are three, the PRESENT, the PERFECT, and the COMPOUND PERFECT. 232. The PRESENT Participle denotes that which is now in progress; as, going, being, living, working, &c. The Present participles all end in ing. 233. The PERFECT Participle denotes that which is complete or finished; as, written, stolen, learned. 234. The COMPOUND PERFECT Participle denotes that which is finished before something else mentioned; as, having written, having stolen, having learned. 5. Verbs have variations of form, to correspond with the ber and person of their subject. These variations are ed the numbers and persons of the verb. Thus: hird Person. 36. Verbs have two numbers, SINGULAR and JRAL; and three persons, FIRST, SECOND, and IRD. 237. Verbs are divided into the following classes: ANSITIVE or INTRANSITIVE; REGULAR or IRGULAR; IMPERSONAL, DEFECTIVE, and AUXIL RY. TRANSITIVE AND INTRANSITIVE VERBS. 238. A TRANSITIVE VERB is one which requires NOTE.-A verb is to be parsed as transitive, whenever it is 240. Many verbs are used either transitively or intransiely; as, "He reads well," "He reads a book." 241. Intransitive verbs are not used in the Passive Voice: us, we may say to laugh, but not to be laughed. 242. When verbs usually intransitive are followed by certain opositions the nd proposition sometimes form a kind. |