from the following consideration. In the phrase I walked, we have only the verb itself, with the termination expressive of completed action; but in I have walked, we have the same word joined to have ; and as have implies possession, the phrase thus analyzed, means that the speaker possesses the thing or action expressed by walked. In the pluperfect tense, had is used with that part of the verb which denotes completed action, and is to be explained in a similar manner; thus, I had walked, imports that I did possess what is expressed by walked. Have denotes continuance, and had completion, and as that which is completed is necessarily antecedent to that which continues, had walked has been named the pluperfect tense, and is used to signify that the action or event was completed before another action or event which is also completed. Our senses or our consciousness, inform us of what is present, and our memory reminds us of what is past; and we are so constituted that we can conjecture what is future. Hence there is in all languages an attempt to express this future action or state of existence. In English we have no future tense; but by various combinations of words we form what is deemed an equivalent. An examination of these combinations, will afford an additional proof of the very. indefinite manner in which time is expressed, if it is at all expressed, by the various forms of the verb. We have two forms of expression to which we give the name of future; thus we say, I shall or will walk, or I shall or will have walked. By some grammarians these are called the first and second future tenses; but by others, more properly, the future indefinite, and the future perfect. Of the former we have an example in the following words; I shall walk, or I will walk. Shall, is never used in English, otherwise than as an auxiliary; its meaning is nearly equivalent to order, or command. Will, is used both as an auxiliary and as a verb by itself. Its nearest synonyme is determine, or resolve. Both words express a particular state of mind, a determination, or a volition; and as an act must be determined, or willed, before it is done, when a word expressive of determination or volition is prefixed to the name of any particular act, the two together may imply, that the act in question has not yet commenced, and, by consequence, that it is future. Though there seems to be little difference between the expressions I command myself to walk, and I determine to walk, yet custom has, from an early period, appropriated shall and will to different pur poses. The following rule respecting their use appears in one of our earliest grammars, published a century ago under the auspices, but, some say, written by, Sir Richard Steele. In the first person simply shall foretels; In the expression I shall have walked, or I will have walked, we have an example of what is called the second future, or the future perfect; to which may be applied the same mode of analysis that has been employed in other instances. Shall, or will, expresses a state of mind; have possession, walked an action in a completed state; so that the phrase is equivalent to I determine to possess walked, (that, is the completed act expressed by that word,) without any other regard to time than what is implied in the one thing's following the other, as already explained. Of Moods. IN most languages verbs have a difference of termination, which is not intended to signify time, but rather the manner in which the being, action, or passion, is represented. To this peculiarity has been assigned the name of mode, or mood. These moods are, the indicative, the imperative, the potential, the subjunctive, and the infinitive. The paucity of termination in an English verb scarcely admits of this distinction. In the expression of our thoughts, we do, indeed, put together various words, and to this combination our grammarians have given the name of mood; but this term, as signifying a different form of the verb, is only to be found in one instance, and there the difference is confined to the second and third persons singular. Thus, when a thing is considered as certain, or affirmed positively, these persons of the verb have a termination, by which they are distinguished from the first, as, when we say, I walk, thou walkest, he walks; but when the thing is stated conditionally, all the persons of the verb are alike, and the condition is expressed by a conjunction, as, if I walk, if thou walk, if he walk. The former is called the indicative, because it simply affirms; the latter, the subjunctive, because it requires to be joined to another verb expressive of an action or event, that will necessarily follow the performance of that which is represented as conditional. In such sentences as the following, the verb is said to be in the imperative mood, because the thing expressed by it is commanded, enjoined, or recom mended to be done by the person addressed. Resolve, resolve, and to be men aspire: Exert that noblest privilege alone, Here to mankind indulged; control desire; Let godlike Reason, from her sovereign throne, Speak the commanding word-I will!-and it is done. THOMSON'S Cast. of Ind. In these and similar instances, it is obvious that no change takes place in the verb; and the change in meaning from affirmation to command, is entirely owing to a change in the position of the words. Ye resolve, and resolve ye, are the same words; but, from the association to which our minds are accustomed, we consider the former phrase as affirming, the latter as commanding. When the power or liberty of performing an action is intended to be expressed, we are obliged to have recourse to such words as may, can, might, could, &c.; which, being joined to the radical form of the verb, or in connection with have to the past participle, form the various tenses of what is called the potential mood. I may write, I can write, I might write, I could write, I may have written, I can have written, I might have written, I could have written, are examples of this mood. |