we shall perceive that those auxiliaries, far from interfering with this design, do, in the clearest manner, support and exemplify it. On the reason alleged by these writers, the greater part of the Indicative Mood must also be excluded; as but a small part of it is conjugated without auxiliaries. The Subjunctive too will fare no better; since it so nearly resembles the Indicative, and is formed by means of conjunctions, expressed or understood, which do not more effectually show the varied intentions of the mind, than the auxiliaries do which are used to form the Potential Mood.

Some writers have given our moods a much greater extent than we have assigned to them. They assert that the English language may be said, without any great impropriety, to have as many moods as it has auxiliary verbs; and they allege, in support of their opinion, that the compound expression which they help to form, point out those various dispositions and actions, which, in other languages, are expressed by moods. This would be to multiply the moods without advantage. It is, however, certain, that the conjugation or variation of verbs, in the English language, is effected, almost entirely, by the means of auxiliaries. We must, therefore, accommodate ourselves to this circumstance; and do that by their assistance, which has been done in the learned languages, (a few instances to the contrary excepted,) in another manner, namely, by varying the form of the verb itself. At the same time, it is necessary to set proper bounds to this business, so as not to occasion obscurity and perplexity, when we mean to be simple and perspicuous. Instead, therefore, of making a separate mood for every auxiliary verb, and introducing moods Interrogative, Optative, Promissive, Hortative, Precative, &c. we have exhibited such only as are obviously distinct; and which, whilst they are calculated to unfold and display the subject intelligibly to the learner, seem to be sufficient, and not more than sufficient, to answer all the purposes for which moods were introduced.

From Grammarians who form their ideas, and make their decisions, respecting this part of English Grammar, on the principles and construction of languages, which, in these points, do not suit the peculiar nature of our own, but differ considerably from it, we may naturally expect grammatical schemes that are not very perspicuous nor perfectly consistent, and which will tend more to perplex than inform the learner

SECTION 5. Of the Tenses.

TENSE, being the distinction of time, might seem to admit only of the present, past, and future; but to mark

more accurately, it is made to consist of six variations, viz. the PRESENT, the IMPERFECT, the PERFECT, the PLUPERFECT, and the FIRST and SECOND FUTURE TENSES.

The Present Tense represents an action or event, as passing at the time in which it is mentioned: as, "I rule; Im ruled; I think; I fear."

The present tense likewise expresses a character, quality, &c. at present existing: as, "He is an able man;" "She is an amiable woman." It is also used in speaking of actions continued, with occasional intermissions, to the present time; as, "He frequently rides ;" "He walks out every morning;" "He goes into the country every summer." We sometimes apply this tense even to persons long since dead: as, Seneca reasons and moralizes well;" "Job speaks feelingly of his afflictions."

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The present tense, preceded by the words, when, before, after, as soon as, &c. is sometimes used to point out the relative time of a future action: as, "When he arrives he will hear the news;" "He will hear the news before he arrives, or as soon as he arrives, or at farthest, soon after he arrives ;” "The more she improves, the more amiable she will be."

In animated historical narrations, this tense is sometimes substituted for the imperfect tense: as, "He enters the territory of the peaceable inhabitants; he fights and conquers, takes an immense booty, which he divides amongst his soldiers, and returns home to enjoy an empty triumph."

The Imperfect Tense represents the action or event, either as past and finished, or as remaining unfinished at a certain time past: as, I loved her for her modesty and virtue;" "They were travelling post when he met them."

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The Perfect Tense not only refers to what is past, but also conveys an allusion to the present time: as, I have finished my letter;" "I have seen the person that was recommended to me."

In the former example, it is signified that the finishing of the letter, though past, was at a period immediately, or very nearly, preceding the present time. In the latter instance, it is uncertain whether the person mentioned was seen by the speaker a long, or short time before. The meaning is, "I have seen him some time in the course of a period which includes, or comes to, the present time." When the particular time of any occurrence is specified, as prior to the present time, this tense is not used for it would be improper to say, "I have seen him yesterday;" or, "I have

nished my work last week." In these cases the imperfect necessary, as, "I saw him yesterday," "I finished my work last week." But when we speak indefinitely of any ing past, as happening or not happening in the day, year, rage, in which we mention it, the perfect must be employd: as, "I have been there this morning;" "I have travelled uch this year:" "We have escaped many dangers through "fe." In referring, however, to such a division of the day as past before the time of our speaking, we use the imperfect: as, "They came home early this morning;" "He was with 'hem at three o'clock this afternoon."

d

The perfect tense, and the imperfect tense, both denote a ning that is past; but the former denotes it in such a maner, that there is still actually remaining some part of the me to slide away, wherein we declare the thing has been One; whereas the imperfect denotes the thing or action past, in such a manner, that nothing remains of that time in which was done. If we speak of the present century, we say, Philosophers have made great discoveries in the present Century:" but if we speak of the last century, we say, "Phiosophers made great discoveries in the last century." "He has been much afflicted this year ;"" I have this week read the ing's proclamation ;" "I have heard great news this morng" in these instances, "He has been," "I have read," and heard," denote things that are past; but they occurred in year, in this week, and to-day; and still there remains a ert of this year, week, and day, whereof I speak.

In general, the perfect tense may be applied wherever the ction is connected with the present time, by the actual existnce, either of the author, or of the work, though it may have en performed many centuries ago; but if neither the author r the work now remains, it cannot be used. We may say, Cicero has written orations:" but we cannot say, "Cicero as written poems :" because the orations are in being, but e poems are 1 st. Speaking of priests in general, we may y, "They have in all ages claimed great powers; because he general order of the priesthood still exists: but if we speak of the Druids, as any particular order of priests, which does not now exist, we cannot use this tense. We cannot say, "The Druid priests have claimed great powers;" but must say, "The Druid priests claimed great powers; ' because that order is now totally extinct. See PiCKBOURN ON the English Verb.

The Pluperfect Tense represents a thing, not only as past, but also as prior to some other point of time specified

in the sentence: as, "I had finished my letter before ǹ arrived."

The first Future Tense represents the action as yet t come, either with or without respect to the precise time: as, "The sun will rise to-morrow;" "I shall see the again."

The Second Future intimates that the action will be fully accomplished, at or before the time of another future action or event: as, "I shall have dined at one o'clock;" "The two houses will have finished their business, when the kin comes to prorogue them.”+

It is to be observed, that in the subjunctive mood, the eve being spoken of under a condition or supposition, or in th form of a wish, and therefore as doubtful and contingent, ta verb itself in the present, and the auxiliary both of the pre sent and past imperfect times, often carry with them some what of a future sense: as, "If he come to-morrow, I m speak to him;" "If he should, or would come to-morrow, might, would, could, or should speak to him." Observe al that the auxiliary should and would, in the imperfect time are used to express the present and future as well as the pas as, "It is my desire, that he should, or would, come now, to-morrow;" as well as, "It was my desire, that he should would come yesterday." So that in this mood the prec time of the verb is very much determined by the nature a drift of the sentence.

The present, past, and future tenses, may be used eith definitely or indefinitely, both with respect to time and actio When they denote customs or habits, and not individual ac they are applied indefinitely: as, "Virtue promotes hap ness;""The old Romans governed by benefits more than fear" "I shall hereafter employ my time more usefully." these examples, the words, promotes, governed, and shall en ploy, are used indefinitely, both in regard to action and tim for they are not confined to individual actions, nor to any pi cise points of present, past, or future time. When they a applied to signify particular actions, and to ascertain the pr cise points of time to which they are confined, they are us definitely; as in the following instances, "My brother writing" "He built the house last summer, but did not i habit it till yesterday." "He will write another letter t

morrow."

The different tenses also represent an action as complete

1 See an account of the simple and a tenses.

erfect, or as incomplete or imperfect. In the phrases, "I am writing," "I was writing," "I shall be writing," imperfect, unfinished actions are signified. But the following examples, "I wrote," "I have written," "I had written," "I shall have written," all denote complete perfect action.

From the preceding representation of the different tenses, it appears, that each of them has its distinct and peculiar provnce; and that though some of them may sometimes be used promiscuously, or substituted one for another, in cases where great accuracy is not required, yet there is a real and essential difference in their meaning. It is also evident, that the English language contains the six tenses which we have enumerated. Grammarians who limit the number to two, or at most to three, namely, the present, the imperfect, and the future, do not reflect that the English verb is mostly composed of principal and auxiliary; and that these several parts constitute one verb. Either the English language has no regular future tense, or its future is composed of the auxiliary and the principal verb. If the latter be admitted, then the auxiliary and principal united, constitute a tense, in one instance; and from reason and analogy, may doubtless do so, in others, in which minuter divisions of time are necessary, or useful. What reason can be assigned for not considering this case as other cases, in which a whole is regarded as composed of several parts, or of principal and adjuncts? There is nothing heterogeneous in the parts: and precedent, analogy, utility and even necessity, authorize the union.

In support of this opinion, we have the authority of eminent grammarians; in particular, that of Dr. Beattie. "Some writers," says the doctor, "will not allow any thing to be a ense, but what in one inflected word, expresses an affirmaion with time; for that those parts of the verb are not properly called tenses, which assume that appearance, by means of auxiliary words. At this rate, we should have, in English, two tenses only, the present and the past in the active verb, and in the passive no tenses at all. But this is a needless nicety; and, if adopted, would introduce confusion into the grammatical art. If amaveram be a tense, why should not amatus fueram? If I heard be a tense, I did hear, I have heard, and I shall hear, must be equally entitled to that appellation."

The proper form of a tense, in the Greek and Latin tongues, is certainly that which it has in the grammars of those languages. But in the Greek and Latin grammars, we niformly find, that some of the tenses are formed by varia