purpose of expressing some condition on which an assertion made in another proposition depends; or for the purpose of modifying in some way a proposition to which it is attached or subjoined. (11) Some languages have a form of their verbs employed for this special purpose, which is called, from the nature of its function, the conditional, conjunctive, or subjunctive mode. (12) The last is the name most commonly given to it-the subjunctive mode meaning the mode used in a subjoined proposition. (13) For example: You will not act in that manner, if you think on the consequences. (14) The first proposition here is declarative, but the assertion made in it depends upon a condition expressed in the subjoined proposition. (15) I sent the messenger that he might inform you of your danger. Here the proposition, I sent the messenger, is modified or completed by the subjoined proposition—he might inform you, &c. (16) In languages which have a subjunctive form of the verb, this form is employed in such subjoined propositions.

(17) REMARK.-We include both the declarative and the subjoined propositions under the class of assertive propositions, though a subjoined proposition very often makes no direct assertion. (18) It is always, however, of the same form, and if we remove the connecting word, (which is what in our language, with a few exceptions, alone indicates that the proposition is used for the purpose of expressing a condition or a modification,) the proposition at once becomes declarative. (19) Remove the words if and that from the subjoined propositions in the above examples, and they become at once declarative assertions.

(20) Another way or mode in which a proposition may be used, is to express a command, request, entreaty, &c. (21) A form of the verb used exclusively in such propositions, is called the imperative or commanding mode. (22) It will be remembered that we recog

some languages a form of the verb to be used in such propositions? What is this form called? (12) Which name is most commonly used? (13) Give example. (14) Repeat the explanation. (15) Give second example, and repeat explanation. (16) What mode of the verb is employed in such subjoined propositions?

(17) Repeat the remark in regard to the manner in which we have classed declarative and subjoined or complementary propositions. (18) Do these two kinds of propositions gree in form? (19) Give the illustration.

(20) Describe another mode of employing propositions. (21) What is the form of verbs employed in such propositions called? (22) Repeat the remark.

nised propositions of this kind as a distinct class under the name of imperative propositions.

We recognised also another class of propositions-interrogative propositions the form employed in asking questions. (23) This may be considered as another mode of the proposition. (24) There is no form of the verb in any language, which we know, employed exclusively for this purpose. (25) In our language the interrogative proposition is in most cases distinguished by a peculiar mode of arrangement-by placing the subject noun after the verb. (26) For example, we say assertively or declaratively, John has a book; and interrogatively, Has John a book? (27) This we may call, if we please, a mode. (28) The exceptions to this mode of expressing interrogation by inversion of the subject noun and verb, as well as some other peculiarities of this form of speech, we shall consider in their proper place. (See § 98.)

(29) The negative proposition (that is, the proposition which asserts that a predicate does not apply to a certain subject) is attended in our language sometimes with peculiarities which do not belong to affirmative propositions, such as we have hitherto adduced as examples. (30) This again might be called a mode of propositions, though the verb has no form intended exclusively to serve this purpose.*

§ 55. OF THE MODES OF ENGLISH VERBS.-The observations already made will help the learner to comprehend what is meant

*(31) Most grammarians call the verbal noun, to which we have, in accordance with long established usage, given the name infinitive, the infinitive mode of the verb. But, as we do not admit that this verbal is a verb, we cannot admit the propriety of calling it a mode of the verb. It is certainly, we admit, a mode of expressing the action of the verb-the mode of expressing it substantively—and a mode, too, that is sometimes employed to express more compactly that which is otherwise expressed by a subjoined or subjunctive proposition. This we shall see, when we come to treat of infinitives and propositions employed as modifications or complements.

(23) What is said of the interrogative proposition? (24) Have verbs an interrogative form? (25) How is interrogation or questioning generally indicated in our language? (26) Give example. (27) What may this inverted arrangement be called? (28) Repeat the remark about exceptions.

(29) What is said of negative propositions? (30) What might the negative form of ex pression be called? (31) What is said in the note of the so called infinitive mode?

by the modes of verbs. We are next to examine to what extent this modification of verbs exists in the English language.

(1) If we admit that verbs have modes, only when they indicate by a distinct form the manner in which a proposition is employed, we have very little of mode remaining in our language-very little, even when we take into account not only the radical and flexional modifications of the forms of our verbs, but also those modifications effected in the compound tenses (hereafter to be considered) by employing auxiliaries. (2) Hence some have maintained that we have now no modes in the English language—no variation whatever in our verbs indicative of the manner in which predication is made, whether declaratively, conditionally, subjunctively, or imperatively, &c.

(3) Of a conditional or subjunctive mode, differing in form from the verb when employed in the simple assertion of a fact, we have at present no remains save a past tense conditional of the verb to be. (4) The peculiarity of this conditional form extends only to the three singular persons. The plural persons correspond entirely with the same persons of the past tense used declaratively. (5) In this single instance, we have retained the subjunctive or conditional, from the Anglo-Saxon.

(6) Most grammarians recognise in our language a present subjunctive distinct from the present (or what we call the indefinite tense) indicative, or declarative. (7) This subjunctive indefinite differs from the declarative indefinite only in suppressing the terminations st and s in the second and third persons singular, and using the simple unmodified root for all the persons singular and plural. (8) For example, "Though He SLAY me, yet will I trust in Him." Here the verb "slay" is employed without the usual modification (eth or s) of the third person used declaratively. "Though He slay me," is only a conditional proposition, expressing not a fact, but a supposition, and serves to complete the other proposition, "yet will I trust in Him." (9) The unmodified root be, is used for all

55. (1) Repeat the substance of the remark. (2) What have some grammarians maintained in reference to modes in the English language?

(3) What remains have we of a conditional mode? (4) How far does the peculiarity of this form extend? (5) Repeat remark.

(6) What do most grammarians recognise in our language? (7) In what does this subjunctive indefinite differ from the declarative indefinite? (S) Give the example, and ex planation. (9) Repeat remark in reference to the subjunctive of to be.

the persons singular and plural of the indefinite subjunctive of the verb to be, instead of the variety of forms employed for these persons in the declarative mode.

We believe that this unmodified form of the second and third persons singular is now seldom used (and perhaps should never be used), except as an elliptical expression with a manifest suppression of some auxiliary, such as shall or should. Some have called it a future tense contingent. We think the so called subjunctive present in such cases, when our analysis is carried to its legitimate limits, will be found an infinitive, having the verb, which it is intended to complete, suppressed. The example, for instance, above introduced, when fully expressed, would read thus: "Though He SHALL slay me,” or "Though He SHOULD slay me," &c. On the improper use of this unmodified form-this so called subjunctive mode—there is much said, and to good purpose, in the Introduction to Webster's Dictionary, pp. 52–54. Ed. Springfield, 1848.

If we were to adopt fully the course indicated by the remarks now made, we should recognise no conditional or subjunctive mode in the language, save the fragments of a subjunctive or conditional past tense of the verb to be But as what has been called the present subjunctive form occurs often, especially in our early writers, we shall give it a place in our tabular arrangements of the verbs; calling it the subjunctive indefinite, or future contingent. We shall also exhibit the mode of expressing a command, called the imperative mode; and the peculiarities of interrogative and negative propositions, without insisting on calling these forms modes of the verb.

(10) In expressing commands, &c., we employ the root of the verb without any modification. (11) This is called the imperative mode. We have only one person, the second singular and plural (in common use) in this mode, since we generally command or entreat only those to whom our discourse is addressed; and we have no variation for tense. (12) In the imperative form of a proposition we generally omit the subject noun, since this subject noun is always the pronoun you, and the party to whom we address the command, &c., is sufficiently indicated by circumstances independent of articulate language. When the subject noun is expressed (as sometimes it is in the more ancient style), it is placed after the verb: as "Follow thou me;" "Tarry ye."

(10) What form of the verb do we employ in expressing commands? (11) What is this form of the verb when thus employed called? (12) What is said of the omission of the subject noun in imperative propositions, and when the subject noun is expressed, where is it placed?

In some languages there are distinct forms of the verb for the third persons, both singular and plural, of the imperative mode; and in many of our grammars the combinations of words usually employed to translate these third persons imperative of other languages, are exhibited, as English third persons imperative. First persons formed in the same manner as these (so called) third persons are also supplied. In grammars which adopt this plan, the whole imperative mode is thus presented:

Singular.

1st person, Let me call,

2d person, Call, or call thou,
3d person, Let him call.

Plural.
Let us call,
Call, or call ye or you,
Let them call.

Our later grammarians generally retain only the second persons, and analyze the forms given above as first and third persons, as consisting of the second person imperative of the verb let, completed by the infinitive of another verb-for instance, in the example above, the infinitive of the verb call.

There is a form of the third persons singular and plural, and of the first person plural (we have found no well sanctioned example of the first person singular), sometimes found in prose, and freely employed by the poets, which is exactly similar to the second persons imperative. It consists like them of the root of the verb with the subject noun usually placed after it. We subjoin examples, borrowed partly from the grammar of Mr. G. Brown. It would be easy to multiply these. "Blessed be he that blesseth thee." "Thy kingdom come."

"Fall he that must beneath his rival's arms,

And live the rest secure of future harms."-POPE.

"For me, when I forget the darling theme,

66

Be my tongue mute, my fancy paint no more,

And, dead to joy, forget my heart to beat !"-THOMSON.

Be these my theme."-IDEM.

"Be thine despair and sceptred care."—GRAY.

"My soul turn from them-turn we to survey."-GOLDSMITH.

Though these ancient or poetical forms seldom occur, we assign them a place in the conjugations below, that when the learner happens to meet with any of them he may find no difficulty in disposing of them satisfactorily. We join the other grammarians in discarding the forms made with the verb let; and in treating let in such cases as the real verb, and of the second person, instead of the first or third. (See § 99.)

§ 56. (1) We shall now exhibit the regular arrangement of the numbers and persons of a few verbs, through the several modes and the simple tenses. (2) This kind of arrangement is called the Con

$56. (1) Tell what is now proposed. (2) What is such an arrangement as is proposed