Chapter II: Of the Tenses

TENSE means time.

Verbs have six tenses, the Present, the Imperfect, the Perfect, the Pluperfect, and the First and Second Future tenses.

The PRESENT TENSE represents an action or event as taking place at the time in which it is mentioned; as, "I _smile_; I _see_; I _am seen_."

NOTE 1. The present tense is also used in speaking of actions
continued, with occasional intermissions, to the present time; as,
"He _rides_ out every morning."

2. This tense is sometimes applied to represent the actions of
persons long since dead; as, "Seneca _reasons_ and _moralizes_ well;
An honest man _is_ the noblest work of God."

3. When the present tense is preceded by the words, _when, before,
after, as soon as_, &c. it is sometimes used to point out the
relative time of a future action; as, "_When_ he _arrives_ we shall
hear the news."

The IMPERFECT TENSE denotes a past action or event, however distant; or,

The IMPERFECT TENSE represents an action or event as past and finished, but without defining the precise time of its completion; as, "I _loved_ her for her modesty and virtue; They _were_ travelling post when he _met_ them."

In these examples, the verbs _loved_ and _met_ express past and _finished_ actions, and therefore constitute a _perfect_ tense as strictly as any form of the verb in our language; but, as they do not define the precise time of the completion of these actions, their tense may properly be denominated an _indefinite past_. By defining the present participle in conjunction with the verb, we have an _imperfect_ tense in the expression, _were travelling_. This course, however, would not be in accordance with the ordinary method of treating the participle. Hence it follows, that the terms _imperfect_ and _perfect_, as applied to this and the next succeeding tense, are not altogether significant of their true character; but if you learn to apply these tenses _correctly_, the propriety or impropriety of their names is not a consideration of very great moment.

The PERFECT TENSE denotes past time, and also conveys an allusion to the present; as, "I _have_ finished my letter."

The verb _have finished_, in this example, signifies that the action, though past, was perfectly finished at a point of time immediately preceding, or in the course of a period which comes to the present. Under this view of the subject, the term _perfect_ may be properly applied to this tense, for it specifies, not only the completion of the action, but, also, alludes to the particular period of its accomplishment.

The PLUPERFECT TENSE represents a past action or event that transpired before some other past time specified; as, "I _had finished_ my letter before my brother arrived."

You observe that the verb _had finished_, in this example, represents one _past_ action, and the arrival of my brother, another _past_ action; therefore _had finished_ is in the pluperfect tense, because the action took place prior to the taking place of the other past action specified in the same sentence.

The FIRST FUTURE TENSE denotes a future action or event; as "I _will finish_; I _shall finish_ my letter."

The SECOND FUTURE TENSE represents a future action that will be fully accomplished, at or before the time of another future action or event; as, "I _shall have finished_ my letter when my brother arrives."

This example clearly shows you the meaning and the proper use of the second future tense. The verb "shall have finished" implies a future action that will be completely finished, at or before the time of the other future event denoted by the phrase, "_when_ my brother _arrives_."

NOTE. What is sometimes called the _Inceptive_ future, is expressed
thus, "I am going _to write_;" "I am about _to write_." Future time
is also indicated by placing the infinitive present immediately
after the indicative present of the verb _to be_; thus, "I am _to
write_;" "Harrison is _to be_, or ought _to be_, commander in
chief;" "Harrison is _to command_ the army."

You may now read what is said respecting the moods and tenses several times over, and then you may learn to _conjugate_ a verb. But, before you proceed to the conjugation of verbs, you will please to commit the following paragraph on the _Auxiliary_ verbs and, also, the _signs_ of the moods and tenses; and, in conjugating, you must pay particular attention to the manner in which these signs are applied.

OF THE AUXILIARY VERBS.

AUXILIARY or HELPING VERBS are those by the help of which the English verbs are principally conjugated. _May, can, must, might, could, would, should,_ and _shall_, are always auxiliaries; _do, be, have_, and _will_, are sometimes auxiliaries, and sometimes principal verbs.

The use of the auxiliaries is shown in the following conjugation.

SIGNS OF THE MOODS.

The _Indicative_ Mood is known by the _sense_, or by its having _no sign_, except in asking a question; as, "Who _loves_ you?"

The conjunctions _if, though, unless, except, whether_, and _lest_, are generally signs of the _Subjunctive_; as, "_If_ I _love; unless_ I _love_," &c.

A verb is generally known to be in, the _Imperative_ Mood by its agreeing with _thou_, or _ye_ or _you_, understood; as, _"Love_ virtue, _and follow_ her steps;" that is, love _thou_, or love _ye_ or _you_; follow _thou_, &c.

_May, can_, and _must, might, could, would_, and _should_, are signs of the _Potential_ Mood; as, "I _may_ love; I _must_ love; I _should_ love," &c.

_To_ is the sign of the _Infinitive_; as, "_To_ love, _to_ smile, _to_ hate, _to_ walk."

SIGNS OF THE TENSES.

The first form of the verb is the sign of the present tense; as, _love, smile, hate, walk_.

_Ed_--the imperfect tense of regular verbs; as, _loved, smiled, hated, walked_.

_Have_--the perfect; as, _have_ loved.

_Had_--the pluperfect; as, _had_ loved. _Shall_ or _will_--the first future; as, _shall_ love, or _will_ love; _shall_ smile, _will_ smile.

_Shall_ or _will have_--the second future; as, _shall have_ loved, or _will have_ loved.

NOTE. There are some exceptions to these signs, which you will
notice by referring to the conjugation in the potential mood.

Now, I hope you will so far consult your own ease and advantage, as to commit, perfectly, the signs of the moods and tenses before you proceed farther than to the subjunctive mood. If you do, the supposed Herculean task of learning to conjugate verbs, will be transformed into a few hours of pleasant pastime.

The Indicative Mood has _six_ tenses. The Subjunctive has also _six_ tenses. The Imperative has only _one_ tense. The Potential has _four_ tenses. The Infinitive has _two_ tenses.

CONJUGATION OF VERBS.

The CONJUGATION of a verb is the regular combination and arrangement of its several numbers, persons, moods, and tenses.

The Conjugation of an active verb, is styled the _active voice_; and that of a passive verb, the _passive voice_.

Verbs are called Regular when they form their imperfect tense of the indicative mood, and their perfect participle, by adding to the present tense _ed_, or _d_ only when the verb ends in _e_; as,

Pres. Tense. Imp. Tense. Perf. Participle I favor. I favor_ed_. favor_ed_. I love. I love_d_, love_d_.

A Regular Verb is conjugated in the following manner.

TO LOVE.--INDICATIVE MOOD.

Present Tense.

_Singular_. _Plural_. 1. _Pers_. I love, 1. We love, 2. _Pers_. Thou lovest, 2. Ye _or_ you love, 3. _Pers_. He, she, _or_ it, loveth 3. They love. _or_ loves.

When we wish to express energy or positiveness, the auxiliary _do_ should precede the verb in the present tense: thus,

_Singular_. _Plural_. 1. I do love, 1. We do love, 2. Thou dost love, 2. Ye _or_ you do love, 3. He doth _or_ does love. 3. They do love.

Imperfect Tense.

_Singular_. _Plural_. 1. I loved, 1. We loved, 2. Thou lovedst, 2. Ye _or_ you loved, 3. He loved. 3. They loved.

Or by-prefixing _did_ to the present: thus,

_Singular_. _Plural_. 1. I did love 1. We did love, 2. Thou didst love, 2. Ye _or_ you did love, 3. He did love. 3. They did love.

Perfect Tense.

_Singular_. _Plural_. 1. I have loved, 1. We have loved, 2. Thou hast loved, 2. Ye _or_ you have loved, 3. He hath _or_ has loved. 3. They have loved.

Pluperfect Tense.

_Singular_. _Plural_. 1. I had loved, 1. We had loved, 2. Thou hadst loved, 2. Ye _or_ you had loved, 3. He had loved. 3. They had loved.

First Future Tense.

_Singular_. _Plural_. 1. I shall _or_ will love, 1. We shall _or_ will love, 2. Thou shalt _or_ wilt love, 2. Ye _or_ you shall _or_ will love, 3. He shall _or_ will love, 3. They shall _or_ will love.

Second Future Tense.

_Singular_. _Plural_. 1. I shall have loved, 1. We shall have loved, 2. Thou wilt have loved, 2. Ye _or_ you will have loved, 3. He will have loved, 3. They will have loved.

NOTE. Tenses formed without auxiliaries, are called _simple_ tenses;
as, I _love;_ I _loved;_ but those formed by the help of
auxiliaries, are denominated _compound_ tenses; as, I _have loved;_
I _had loved_, &c.

This display of the verb shows you, in the clearest light, the application of the _signs_ of the _tenses_, which signs ought to be perfectly committed to memory before you proceed any farther. By looking again at the conjugation, you will notice, that _have_, placed before the perfect participle of any verb, forms the perfect tense; _had_, the pluperfect; _shall_ or _will_, the first future, and so on.

Now speak each of the verbs, _love, hate, walk, smile, rule_, and _conquer_, in the first person of each tense in this mood, with the pronoun _I_ before it; thus, indicative mood, pres. tense, first pers. sing. I love; imperf. I loved; perf. I have loved; and so on, through all the tenses. If you learn thoroughly the conjugation of the verb in the indicative mood, you will find no difficulty in conjugating it through those that follow, for in the conjugation through all the moods, there is a great similarity.

SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD.

Present Tense, or elliptical future.--_Conjunctive form_.

_Singular_. _Plural_. 1. If I love, 1. If we love, 2. If thou love, 2. If ye _or_ you love, 3. If he love. 3. If they love.

Look again at the conjugation in the indicative present, and you will observe, that the form of the verb differs from this form in the subjunctive. The verb in the present tense of this mood, does not vary its termination on account of number or person. This is called the _conjunctive_ form of the verb; but sometimes the verb in the subjunctive mood, present tense, is conjugated in the same manner as it is in the indicative, with this exception, _if, though, unless_, or some other conjunction, is prefixed; as,

_Indicative form_.

_Singular_. _Plural_. 1. If I love, 1. If we love, 2. If thou lovest, 2. If ye _or_ you love, 3. If he loves, 3. If they love.

The following general rule will direct you when to use the _conjunctive_ form of the verb, and when the _indicative_. When a verb in the subjunctive mood, present tense, has a _future_ signification, or a reference to _future_ time, the conjunctive form should be used; as, "If thou _prosper_, thou shouldst be thankful;" "He will maintain his principles, though he _lose_ his estate;" that is, If thou _shalt_ or _shouldst_ prosper; though he _shall_ or _should_ lose, &c. But when a verb in the subjunctive mood, present tense, has _no_ reference to future time, the indicative form ought to be used; as, "Unless he _means_ what he says, he is doubly faithless." By this you perceive, that when a verb in the present tense of the subjunctive mood, has a future signification, an _auxiliary_ is always understood before it, for which reason, in this construction, the termination of the principal verb never varies; us, "He will not become eminent, unless he _exert_ himself;" that is, unless he _shall_ exert, or _should_ exert himself. This tense of the subjunctive mood ought to be called the _elliptical future_.

The imperfect, the perfect, the pluperfect, and the first future tenses of this mood, are conjugated, in every respect, like the same tenses of the indicative, with this exception; in the subjunctive mood, a conjunction implying doubt, &c. is prefixed to the verb. In the second future tense of this mood, the verb is conjugated thus:

Second Future Tense.

_Singular._ _Plural_.

1. If I shall have loved, 1. If we shall have loved, 2. If thou shalt have loved, 2. If you shall have loved, 3. If he shall have loved. 3. If they shall have loved.

Look at the same tense in the indicative mood, and you will readily perceive the distinction between the two conjugations.

IMPERATIVE MOOD.

_Singular._ _Plural_. 2. Love, _or_ love thou, _or_ do 2. Love, _or_ love ye _or_ you, _or_ thou love. do ye _or_ you love.

NOTE. We cannot command, exhort, &c. either in _past_ or _future_
time; therefore a verb in this mood is always in the _present_
tense.

POTENTIAL MOOD.

Present Tense.

_Singular._ _Plural_.

1. I may, can, _or_ must love, 1. We may, can, or must love, 2. Thou mayst, canst, _or_ must 2. Ye _or_ you may, can, _or_ love, must love, 3. He may, can, _or_ must love. 3. They may, can, _or_ must love.

Imperfect Tense.

_Singular._ _Plural_.

1. I might, could, would, _or_ 1. We might, could, would, _or_
should love, should love,
2. Thou mightst, couldst, 2. Ye _or_ you might, could,
wouldst, _or_ shouldst love, would, _or_ should love,
3. He might, could, would, _or_ 3. They might, could, would,
should love, _or_ should love.

Perfect Tense.

_Singular._ _Plural_.

1. I may, can, _or_ must have 1. We may, can, _or_ must have
loved, loved,
2. Thou mayst, canst, _or_ must 2. Ye _or_ you may, can, _or_
have loved, must have loved,
3. He may, can, _or_ must 3. They may, can, _or_ must
have loved. have loved.

Pluperfect Tense.

_Singular._ _Plural_.

1. I might, could, would, 1. We might, could, would,
_or_ should have loved, _or_ should have loved,
2. Thou mightst, couldst, wouldst, 2. Ye _or_ you might, could,
_or_ shouldst have loved, would, _or_ should have loved,
3. He might, could, would, 3. They might, could, would,
_or_ should have loved, _or_ should have loved.

By examining carefully the conjugation of the verb through this mood, you will find it very easy; thus, you will notice, that whenever any of the auxiliaries, _may, can_, or _must_, is placed before a verb, that verb is in the potential mood, _present_ tense; _might, could, would_, or _should_, renders it in the potential mood, _imperfect_ tense; _may, can_, or _must have_, the _perfect_ tense; and _might, could, would_, or _should have_, the _pluperfect_ tense.

INFINITIVE MOOD.

Pres. Tense. To love. Perf. Tense. To have loved.

PARTICIPLES.

Present _or_ imperfect, Loving. Perfect _or_ passive, Loved. Compound, Having loved.

NOTE. The perfect participle of a regular verb, corresponds exactly
with the imperfect tense; yet the former may, at all times, be
distinguished from the latter, by the following rule: In
composition, the imperfect tense of a verb _always_ has a
nominative, either expressed or implied: the perfect participle
_never_ has.

For your encouragement, allow me to inform you, that when you shall have learned to conjugate the verb _to love_, you will be able to conjugate all the regular verbs in the English language, for they are all conjugated precisely in the same manner. By pursuing the following direction, you can, in a very short time, learn to conjugate any verb. Conjugate the verb _love_ through all the moods and tenses, in the first person singular, with the pronoun _I_ before it, and speak the Participles: thus, Indicative mood, pres. tense, first pers. sing. I _love_, imperf. tense, I _loved_; perf. tense, I _have loved_; and so on, through every mood and tense. Then conjugate it in the second pers. sing, with the pronoun _thou_ before it, through all the moods and tenses; thus, Indic. mood, pres. tense, second pers. sing, thou _lovest_; imperf. tense, thou _lovedst_; and so on, through the whole. After that, conjugate it in the third pers. sing, with _he_ before it; and then in the first pers. plural, with _we_ before it, in like manner through all the moods and tenses. Although this mode of procedure may, at first, appear to be laborious, yet, as it is necessary, I trust you will not hesitate to adopt it. My confidence in your perseverance, induces me to recommend any course which I know will tend to facilitate your progress.

When you shall have complied with my requisition, you may conjugate the following verbs in the same manner; which will enable you, hereafter, to tell the mood and tense of any verb without hesitation: _walk, hate, smile, rule, conquer, reduce, relate, melt, shun, fail_.

* * * * *

PHILOSOPHICAL NOTES.

The changes in the termination of words, in all languages, have been
formed by the _coalescence_ of words of appropriate meaning. This
subject was approached on page 49. It is again taken up for the
purpose of showing, that the moods and tenses, as well as the number
and person, of English verbs, do not solely depend on inflection.

The coalescing syllables which form the number and person of the
Hebrew verb, are still considered pronouns; and, by those who have
investigated the subject, it is conceded, that the same plan has
been adopted in the formation of the Latin and Greek verbs, as in
the Hebrew. Some languages have carried this process to a very great
extent. Ours is remarkable for the small number of its inflections.
But they who reject the passive verb, and those moods and tenses
which are formed by employing what are called "auxiliary verbs,"
_because they are formed of two or more verbs_, do not appear to
reason soundly. It is inconsistent to admit, that walk-_eth_, and
walk-_ed_, are tenses, because each is but one word, and to reject
_have_ walked, and _will_ walk, as tenses, because each is composed
of two words. _Eth_, as previously shown, is a contraction of
_doeth_, or _haveth_, and _ed_, of _dede, dodo, doed_, or _did_;
and, therefore, walk-_eth_; i.e. walk-_doeth_, or _doeth_-walk, and
walk-_ed_; i.e. walk-_did_, or _doed_ or _did_-walk, are, when
analyzed, as strictly compound, as _will_ walk, _shall_ walk, and
_have_ walked. The only difference in the formation of these tenses,
is, that in the two former, the associated verbs have been
contracted and made to coalesce with the main verb, but in the two
latter, they still maintain their ground as separate words.

If it be said that _will walk_ is composed of two words, each of
which conveys a distinct idea, and, therefore, should be analyzed by
itself, the same argument with all its force, may be applied to
walk-_eth_, walk-_ed_, walk-_did_, or _did_ walk. The result of all
the investigations of this subject, appears to settle down into the
hackneyed truism, that the passive verbs, and the moods and tenses,
of some languages, are formed by inflections, or terminations either
prefixed or postfixed, and of other languages, by the association of
auxiliary verbs, which have not yet been contracted and made to
coalesce as _terminations_. The auxiliary, when contracted into a
_terminating syllable,_ retains its distinct and intrinsic meaning,
as much as when associated with a verb by juxtaposition:
consequently, an "auxiliary verb" may form a part of a mood or
tense, or passive verb, with as much propriety as a _terminating
syllable_. They who contend for the ancient custom of keeping the
auxiliaries distinct, and parsing them as primary verbs, are, by the
same principle, bound to extend their dissecting-knife _to every
compound word in the language_.

Having thus attempted briefly to prove the philosophical accuracy of
the theory which recognises the tenses, moods, and passive verbs,
formed by the aid of auxiliaries, I shall now offer one argument to
show that this theory, and this _only_, will subserve the purposes
of the practical grammarian.

As it is not so much the province of philology to instruct in the
exact meaning of single and separate words, as it is to teach the
student to combine and employ them properly in framing sentences,
and as those _combinations_ which go by the name of compound tenses
and passive verbs, are necessary in writing and discourse, it
follows, conclusively, that that theory which does not explain these
verbs in their _combined_ state, cannot teach the student the
correct use and application of the verbs of our language. By such an
arrangement, he cannot learn when it is proper to use the phrases,
_shall have walked, might have gone, have seen_, instead of, _shall
walk, might go_, and _saw_; because this theory has nothing to do
with the combining of verbs. If it be alleged, that the speaker or
writer's own good sense must guide him in combining these verbs,
and, therefore, that the directions of the grammarian are
unnecessary, it must be recollected, that such an argument would
bear, equally, against every principle of grammar whatever. In
short, the theory of the compound tenses, and of the passive verb,
appears to be so firmly based in the genius of our language, and so
practically important to the student, as to defy all the engines of
the paralogistic speculator, and the philosophical quibbler, to
batter it down.

But the most plausible objection to the old theory is, that it is
encumbered with much useless technicality and tedious prolixity,
which are avoided by the _simple_ process of exploding the passive
verb, and reducing the number of the moods to three, and of the
tenses to two. It is certain, however, that if we reject the _names_
of the perfect, pluperfect, and future tenses, the _names_ of the
potential and subjunctive moods, and of the passive verb, in writing
and discourse we must still employ those _verbal combinations_ which
form them; and it is equally certain, that the proper mode of
employing such combinations, is as easily taught or learned by the
old theory, which _names_ them, as by the new, which gives them _no
name_.

On philosophical principles, we might, perhaps, dispense with the
_future_ tenses of the verb, by analyzing each word separately; but,
as illustrated on page 79, the combined words which form our perfect
and pluperfect tenses have an _associated_ meaning, which is
destroyed by analyzing each word separately. That arrangement,
therefore, which rejects these tenses, appears to be, not only
_unphilosophical_, but inconsistent and inaccurate.

For the satisfaction of those teachers who prefer it, and for their
adoption, too, a modernized _philosophical_ theory of the moods and
tenses is here presented. If it is not quite so convenient and
useful as the old one, they need not hesitate to adopt it. It has
the advantage of being _new_; and, moreover, it sounds _large_, and
will make the _commonalty stare_. Let it be distinctly understood,
that you teach _"philosophical grammar, founded on reason and common
sense_," and you will pass for a very learned man, and make all the
good housewives wonder at the rapid march of intellect, and the vast
improvements of the age.

MOOD.

Verbs have three moods, the indicative, (embracing what is commonly
included under the _indicative_, the _subjunctive_, and the
_potential_,) the imperative, and the infinitive.--For definitions,
refer to the body of the work.

TENSE OR TIME.

Verbs have only two tenses, the present and the past. A verb
expressing action commenced and not completed, is in the present
tense; as, "Religion _soars_: it _has_ gained many victories: it
_will_ [to] _carry_ its votaries to the blissful regions."

When a verb expresses finished action, it is in the past tense; as,
"This page (the Bible) God _hung_ out of heaven, and _retired_."

A verb in the imperative and infinitive moods, is always in the
_present_ tense, high authorities to the contrary notwithstanding.
The _command_ must _necessarily_ be given in time present, although
its _fulfilment_ must be future. John, what are you doing? Learning
my task. Why do you learn it? Because my preceptor _commanded_ me to
do so. When _did_ he command you? _Yesterday_.--Not _now_, of
course.

That it is inconsistent with the nature of things for a command to
be given in _future_ time, and that the _fulfilment_ of the command,
though future, has nothing to do with the tense or time of the
command itself, are truths so plain as to put to the blush the gross
absurdity of those who identify the time of the fulfilment with
that of the command.

* * * * *

EXERCISES IN PARSING.

You _may read_ the book which I _have printed_. _May_, an irregular
active verb, signifying "to have and to exercise might or strength,"
indic. mood, pres. tense, second pers. plur. agreeing with its nom.
_you. Read_, an irregular verb active, infinitive mood, pres. tense,
with the sign _to_ understood, referring to _you_ as its agent.
_Have_, an active verb, signifying to _possess_, indic. present, and
having for its object, book understood after "which." _Printed_, a
perf. participle, referring to book understood.

Johnson, and Blair, and Lowth, _would have been laughed at, had_
they _essayed_ to _thrust_ any thing like our modernized
philosophical grammar down the throats of their contemporaries.

_Would_, an active verb, signifying "to exercise volition," in the
past tense of the indicative. _Have_, a verb, in the infinitive,
_to_ understood. _Been_, a perfect part. of to _be_, referring to
Johnson, Blair, and Lowth. _Laughed at_, perf. part, of to _laugh
at_, referring to the same as _been. Had_, active verb, in the past
tense of the indicative, agreeing with its nom. _they. Essayed_,
perf. part, referring to they.
Call this "_philosophical_ parsing, on reasoning principles,
according to the original laws of nature and of thought," and the
_pill_ will be swallowed, by pedants and their dupes, with the
greatest ease imaginable.

* * * * *

LECTURE XII.

OF IRREGULAR VERBS.

Irregular verbs are those that do not form their imperfect tense and perfect participle by the addition of _d_ or _ed_ to the present tense; as,

_Pres. Tense. Imperf. Tense. Perf. or Pass. Part._ I write I wrote written I begin I began begun I go I went gone

The following is a list of the _irregular_ verbs. Those marked with an R are sometimes conjugated _regularly_.

_Pres. Tense. Imperf. Tense. Perf. or Pass. Part._ Abide abode abode Am was been Arise arose arisen Awake awoke, R. awaked Bear, _to bring forth_ bare born Bear, _to carry_ bore borne Beat beat beaten, beat Begin began begun Bend bent bent Bereave bereft, R. bereft, R. Beseech besought besought Bid bade, bid bidden, bid Bind bound bound Bite bit bitten, bit Bleed bled bled Blow blew blown Break broke broken Breed bred bred Bring brought brought Build built built Burst burst, R. burst, R. Buy bought bought Cast cast cast Catch caught, R. caught, R. Chide chid chidden, chid Choose chose chosen Cleave, _to adhere_ clave, R. cleaved Cleave, _to split_ cleft cleft, _or_ clove cloven Cling clung clung Clothe clothed clad, R. Come came come Cost cost cost Crow crew, R. crowed Creep crept crept Cut cut cut Dare, _to venture_ durst dared Dare, _to challenge_ REGULAR Deal dealt, R. dealt, R. Dig dug, R. dug, R. Do did done Draw drew drawn Drive drove driven Drink drank drunk, drank[6] Dwell dwelt, R. dwelt, R. Eat eat, ate eaten Fall fell fallen Feed fed fed Feel felt felt Fight fought fought Find found found Flee fled fled Fling flung flung Fly flew flown Forget forgot forgotten Forsake forsook forsaken Freeze froze frozen Get got got[7] Gild gilt, R. gilt, R. Gird girt, R. girt, R. Give gave given Go went gone Grave graved graven, R. Grind ground ground Grow grew grown Have had had Hang hung, R. hung, R. Hear heard heard Hew hewed hewn, R. Hide hid hidden, hid Hit hit hit Hold held held Hurt hurt hurt Keep kept kept Knit knit, R. knit, R. Know knew known Lade laded laden Lay laid laid Lead led led Leave left left Lend lent lent Let let let Lie, _to lie down_ lay lain Load loaded laden, R. Lose lost lost Make made made Meet met met Mow mowed mown, R. Pay paid paid Put put put Read read read Rend rent rent Rid rid rid Ride rode rode, ridden[8] Ring rung, rang rung Rise rose risen Rive rived riven Run ran run Saw sawed sawn, R. Say said said See saw seen Seek sought sought Sell sold sold Send sent sent Set set set Shake shook shaken Shape shaped shaped, shapen Shave shaved shaven, R. Shear sheared shorn Shed shed shed Shine shone, R. shone, R. Show showed shown Shoe shod shod Shoot shot shot Shrink shrunk shrunk Shred shred shred Shut shut shut Sing sung, sang[9] sung Sink sunk, sank[9] sunk Sit sat set Slay slew slain Sleep slept slept Slide slid slidden Sling slung slung Slink slunk slunk Slit slit, R. slit Smite smote smitten Sow sowed sown, R. Speak spoke spoken Speed sped sped Spend spent spent Spill spilt, R. spilt, R. Spin spun spun Spit spit, spat spit, spitten [10] Split split split Spread spread spread Spring sprung, sprang sprung Stand stood stood Steal stole stolen Stick stuck stuck Sting stung stung Stink stunk stunk Stride strode, strid stridden Strike struck struck _or_ stricken String strung strung Strive strove striven Strow strowed strown, _or_ _or_ strowed _or_ strew strewed strewed Sweat swet, R. swet, R. Swear swore sworn Swell swelled swollen, R. Swim swum, swam swum Swing swung swung Take took taken Teach taught taught Tear tore torn Tell told told Think thought thought Thrive throve, R. thriven Throw threw thrown Thrust thrust thrust Tread trod trodden Wax waxed waxen, R. Wear wore worn Weave wove woven Wet wet wet, R. Weep wept wept Win won won Wind wound wound Work wrought, wrought, worked worked Wring wrung wrung Write wrote written

[6] The men were drunk; i.e. inebriated. The toasts were drank.

[7] Gotten is nearly obsolete. Its compound forgotten, is still in good use.

[8] Ridden is nearly obsolete.

[9] Sang and sank should not be used in familiar style.

[10] Spitten is nearly obsolete.

In familiar writing and discourse, the following, and some other verbs, are often improperly terminated by _t_ instead of _ed_; as, "learnt, spelt, spilt, stopt, latcht." They should be, "learned, spelled, spilled, stopped, latched."

You may now conjugate the following irregular verbs, in a manner similar to the conjugation of regular verbs: _arise, begin, bind, do, go, grow, run, lend, teach, write_. Thus, to _arise_--Indicative mood, pres. tense, first person, sing. I arise; imperf. tense, I arose; perf. tense, I have arisen, and so on, through all the moods, and all the tenses of each mood; and then speak the participles: thus, pres. arising, perf. arisen, comp. having arisen. In the next place, conjugate the same verb in the second person sing. through all the moods and tenses; and then in the third person sing. and in the first pers. plural. After that, you may proceed in the same manner with the words _begin, bind_, &c.

Now read the eleventh and twelfth lectures _four_ or _five_ times over, and learn the order of parsing a verb. You will then be prepared to parse the following verbs in full; and I presume, all the other parts of speech. Whenever you parse, you must refer to the Compendium for definitions and rules, if you cannot repeat them without, I will now parse a verb, and describe all its properties by applying the definitions and rules according to the systematic order.

"We _could_ not _accomplish_ the business."

_Could accomplish_ is a verb, a word which signifies to do--active, it expresses action--transitive, the action passes over from the nom. "we" to the object "business"--regular, it will form its imperfect tense of the indic. mood and perf. part, in _ed_--potential mood, it implies possibility or power--imperfect tense, it denotes past time however distant--first pers. plural, because the nom. "we" is with which it agrees, agreeably to RULE 4. _A verb must agree_, &c. Conjugated--Indic. mood, present tense, first pers. sing. I accomplish; imperfect tense, I accomplished; perfect, I have accomplished; pluperfect, I had accomplished; and so on.--Speak it in the person of each tense through all the moods, and conjugate, in the same manner, every verb you parse.

EXERCISES IN PARSING.

_These exercises contain a complete variety of Moods and Tenses_.

I learn my lesson well. Charles, thou learnest thy lesson badly. John, do you write a good hand? Those ladies wrote a beautiful letter, but they did not despatch it. Have you seen the gentleman to whom I gave the book? He has gone. They had received the news before the messenger arrived. When will those persons return? My friend shall receive his reward. He will have visited me three times, if he come to-morrow.

If Eliza study diligently, she will improve. If Charles studies he does not improve. Unless that man shall have accomplished his work, by midsummer, he will receive no wages. Orlando, obey my precepts, unless you wish to injure yourself. Remember what is told you. The physician may administer the medicine, but Providence only can bless it. I told, him that he might go, but he would not. He might have gone last week, had he conducted himself properly; (that is, _if he had conducted_, &c.) Boys, prepare to recite your lessons. Young ladies, let me hear you repeat what you have learned. Study, diligently, whatever task may be allotted to you. To correct the spirit of discontent, let us consider how little we deserve. To die for one's country, is glorious. How can we become wise? To seek God is wisdom. What is true greatness? Active benevolence. A good man is a great man.

NOTE 1. _Man_, following _great_, and _what_, in the last two
examples, are nom. after _is_: RULE 21. _To seek God_, and _to die
for one's country_, are members of sentences, each put as the nom.
case to _is_ respectively: RULE 24. The verb _to correct_ is the
infinitive mood absolute: NOTE under RULE 23. _May be allotted_ is a
passive verb, agreeing with _which_, the relative part of _whatever.
That_, the first part of whatever, is an adj. pronoun, agreeing with
_task_; and _task_ is governed by _study._ _Hear_, following _let_,
and _repeat_, following _hear_, are in the infinitive mood without
the sign _to_, according to RULE 25. _To recite_ is governed by
_prepare_: RULE 23. _Is told_, is a passive verb, agreeing with
_which_, the relative part of _whatever_; and _you_, following, is
governed by _to_ understood: NOTE 1, under RULE 32.

2. In parsing a pronoun, if the noun for which it stands is not
expressed, you must say it represents some person or thing
understood.

LECTURE XIII.

OF THE AUXILIARY, PASSIVE, AND DEFECTIVE VERBS.