because they do not imply the receiving of an action from another; but simply action whose effect is confined to the agent.

Many verbs are used both transitively and intransitively, their connexion only determining of which kind they are; as, To flatten, signifying to make level or even, is a verb transitive; but when it signifies to grow dull, or insipid, it is intransitive.

An intransitive verb, by the addition of a preposition, may become a compound transitive verb. To smile, is an intransitive verb. It cannot be followed by an objective case, or be changed into a passive verb. We cannot say, She smiled him; or He was smiled. But add the preposition on, and it becomes a compound transitive verb. We may properly say; She smiled on him; or, convert it into a passive verb and say, He was smiled on by fortune in every undertaking.

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Intransitives which merely imply being, or a state of being; as, I am, he sleeps, &c. may be called neuter verbs.

Verbs originally transitive, are also frequently compounded with a preposition or an adverb, in such a manner as to give to the verb an entire new meaning; as, To cast is to throw; but to cast up or compute an account is quite a different thing. To give is to bestow or present; but to give over is to relinquish, or abandon. Such may be denominated compound verbs, the adverb or preposition with which they are connected constituting a part of them.

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To verbs belong number, person, mood and

tense.

The number and person of verbs always correspond with the nouns or pronouns with which they agree.

In philosophical strietness, both number and person might be entirely excluded from every verb. They are in fact the properties of substantives, not a part of the verb. The terms number and person, as applied to the verb, are figurative. The properties which belong to one thing, for convenience' sake are ascribed to another. Verbs in some of their forms are used, in general, with nouns or pronouns of the plural number; such, by a figure of speech, are called plural verbs. There are other forms of the verb which always require the nouns or pronouns with which they agree, to be in the singular number; these are called singular verbs. But the distinction arises not from the nature of the verb, but altogether from the noun or pronoun with which it is associated.

Mood or mode is a particular form which the verb assumes to express different states of the mind, and different circumstances of being and action.

There are five moods of verbs; the indicative, the imperative, the potential, the subjunctive, and the infinitive.

The Indicative mood 'simply indicates or declares a thing; as, He loves, he is loved; or it asks a question; as, Does he love? Is he loved?

The Imperative mood is used for commanding, exhorting, entreating, or permitting; as, Depart thou; mind ye; let us stay; go in peace.

Though this mood derives its name from its intimation of command, it is used on occasions of a very opposite nature; even in the most humble supplications of an inferior being, to one who is infinitely his superior; as, "Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses."

The Potential mood implies possibility, liberty, power, will, or obligation; as, It may rain he may go or stay: I can ride he would walk they should learn.

The Subjunctive mood represents a thing under a condition, motive, wish, supposition, &c. and is preceded by a conjunction, expressed or understood, and attended by another verb; as, I will respect him, though he chide me: Were he good, he would be happy; that is, if he were good.

The Infinitive mood expresses a thing in a general and unlimited manner, without any distinction of number or person; as, To act, to speak, to be feared.

The Participle is a certain form of the verb, and derives its name from its participating, not only of the properties of a verb, but also those of an adjective and noun; as, Admired and applauded, he became vain: Having finished his work he submitted it : Charles has become weary with writing so long a letter.

There are three participles, the present, the perfect, and the compound perfect; as, ruling, ruled, having ruled.

The Present Participle signifies imperfect action, or action begun and not ended; as, I am writing a letter.

The Perfect or Past Participle signifies action perfected or finished; as, I have written a letter.

The Compound Perfect also signifies action that is finished; as, Having written the letter, he despatched it.

When the verb to be, in any of its variations, is joined to the participle; as, I am writing, I was writing, I might be writing, I shall be writing, &c the participle may be considered the principai verb. The verb to be is only an auxiliary, and merely directs the mood and tense. The meaning and essence of the verb is found in what is styled the participle; whence it is evident that the participle is not a distinct part of speech, but only a form of the verb."

Participles, when joined to nouns merely to qualify them, become adjectives; as, a ruling passion; a loving child.

Participles may be distinguished from adjectives, by their being capable of variations to express distinction of time; as, A parent ruling well his house, secures respect. Ruling is here a participle, because it is capable of being varied to express a different tense; as, A parent having ruled well his house, &c. But when we say, A ruling passion; or, a moving

spectacle; the words ruling and moving, although in the participial form, cannot be thus varied, and are therefore adjectives. Such words may properly be called participial adjec

tives.

Participles sometimes supply the place of nouns; as, By refusing to confess his crime, he incurred greater censure. Refusing supplies the place of a noun in the objective. The idea is, by a refusal to confess, &c. By acknowl edging his fault, he might have been restored to favour. Here acknowledging not only supplies the place of a noun in the objective case, but governs another objective. In the following sentence, the participle supplies the place of a noun in the nominative case: His riding on horseback proved of great service. Participles thus used, virtually become nouns, and may be called participial nouns, as they still retain some of the properties of the verb.

The participle going is often used figuratively, in connexion with the infinitive mood, to imply a tendency or disposition of the mind; as, I am going to speak: I am going to write: I am going to sleep. This form of expression resembles what is called the future infinitive in Latin, and some grammarians have styled it a future tense. But in sentences like these, there are evidently two verbs, as well as two distinct moods. The indicative mood, "I am going," is in the present tense, and governs the infinitive. It is a figurative expression, as used in the above examples, and has reference to

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