"Not satisfied with using the participle in the place of the verb, Pope also uses the verb in the place of the participle: " And now the years, a numerous train, have ran, EXERCISES. In writing the following sentences, correct the irregular verb in each: He give me He set down. Some one has took my chair. He sleeped well. She has sang all the evening. He had sank before we could reach him. I have often swam the river. He didn't ought to have his salary rose. The cherries had fell off. He begun well, but did not continue as he had began. Having arose, he started out. John was chose to go. Peter come next to me. After the messenger had came, I departed. The ball was throwed away. He had mistook the road. The water is froze. I seen you run. sixpence. He had just went away. The axis of the world was broke. The camp was broke up. I was conscious that I had neither ate nor drank any thing. The book was took away. The sun had rose. The lawyer had spoke. The walls have fell. He drunk a pint. The liquor was all drank up. The cork was drawed out. I done it well. I had did the thing. The race was ran. Who has took my cane? He sown barley to-day. The man then lain down. The man had fell, and then laid in the dust. He knowed better. The hymn was sang. After laying a while, he raised up. The hat was gave to her. A bee stinged her. The door is shet. I laid down to sleep. I wished to have went home. The two armies fit bravely. Jane then give her the knife. The tree growed high. You rid too long. John come home yesterday. I beseeched him to leave me. The men clinged to the tree. I done it. The price of corn raised yesterday. The moon sat early to-night. The cloth shrinked. He sat his load down. The lawyer writ extremely well. Have you writ your letter yet? The boy swimmed bravely. He teached me faithfully. He seed me fall. She set a long time. LESSON XVIII. VERBS. THE PROPER USE OF THE SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD. This subject has been so well presented by Rev. M. Har. rison, in his work on the English Language, that the remarks and illustrations will be drawn from it. 1. We are told that the subjunctive mood is required when a contingency is implied. Now, contingency has respect to that which is past, that which is present, or that which is to come. But with respect to that which is past, and that which is present, there can be no contingency (uncertainty) of fact. In both cases, a thing either has been or has not been; either is or is not. The contingency exists nowhere but in the mind of the speaker. But when we come to the consideration of a thing that, as yet, exists not at all, but which is future, we then have a contingency of fact added to the uncertainty of the speaker's mind. In the very nature of things, then, we speak declaratively and indicatively of that which is past or present, but hypothetically of that which is contingent (may or may not happen) as a fact. For example: "Is Thomas able to repeat his grammar this morning?" "No, he is not; because he was ill last night." "If he was ill, that is enough." Has Thomas come to repeat his grammar?" "No, he has not; because his head aches." "If his head aches, that is enough." In neither of these cases is there any contingency of fact, and therefore we say, If he was ill at that time, and If his head aches at this time. But, if we pass on to a future time, we then put the case hypothetically; as, “Will Thomas come up to repeat his grammar to-morrow?" "Yes, if his head do not ache;" if he be better; that is, should it so happen; should he be better. "Did you take a walk yesterday?" "No, I did not; because it was wet." "If it was wet (not if it were), you were better at home." "Will you walk now ?" "Yes, if it does not rain." "If it rains now, will you take a walk an hour hence?" 'Yes, if in the mean time it clear up; that is, should clear up, not clears, which has reference only to a present, and now existing state. "Do you think that the roads will be dirty this morning?" 'Yes, if there has been much rain in the night." "Will you ride your horse to town next week?" 66 66 "Yes, if he have (not has) recovered of his lameness before that time." "Though he studied (past) the work for twelve months, yet he did not make 66 himself master of it." 66 Though he studies (present) twelve hours a day, yet he makes little progress." Though he study (future) twelve hours, he will not be sufficiently prepared." 66 'Were I Alexander, I would do it." "And were I Parmenio, I would do it." That is, were the state of things so altered, that I, as Alexander, should become Parmenio, then I would do it. But if, in these cases, we substitute was in place of were, the meaning of both sentences would be changed. 2. The Subjunctive Mood, then, in English, is not used with propriety, when we speak of that which is past, or of that which is present, but when the fact itself has not yet taken place, and is necessarily future. In many cases, shall and should may be prefixed to that which has a subjunctive form, when it relates to that which is future, but never when it relates to that which is past or present; as, "If I be well next week, I shall call upon him;" that is, If I shall be well, I, &c. "If they be unprepared, they will fail in the attempt;" that is, If they shall be unprepared, &c. "Our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until he have mercy upon us ;" that is, until, at some future period, he shall have mercy upon us. "No fear lest dinner cool;" that is, Lest dinner should cool. "If thy brother trespass against thee," &c. ; that is, If thy brother shall or should trespass, &c. Lest sin surprise thee;" that is, Lest sin should surprise thee." 3. It must have been observed, that verbs in the subjunctive mood are generally preceded by some word denoting a condition, an uncertainty, or a supposition; as, although, except, if, unless, &c. Sometimes the word expressing condition, &c., is omitted; as, "Had he written, he would," &c; that is, If he had written, he would, &c. "Were I provided with money, you should share it ;" that is, If I were, &c. Thus the past tense of the subjunctive often indicates present time, and is then called the Hypothetical Present. 66 4. We also learn from the above, that the Future Subjunctive often omits the auxiliary shall, or will; as, "If he be industrious, he will succeed; that is, If he shall be industrious, &c. Though he slay me (that is, though he shall slay me), yet will I trust in him." In the common English version of the Scriptures, this elliptical form of the subjunctive future is the one generally adopted. Dr. Webster remarks, that this subjunctive form of the verb, if he be, if he have, if he say, if thou write, though he fall, &c., which was generally used by writers of the sixteenth century, was in a great measure discarded before the time of Addison. Locke, Watts, Pope, and othe authors of the first distinction, who adorned the close of the seventeenth and beginning of the eighteenth century, generally used the indicative mode to ex press condition, uncertainty, and hypothesis in the present and past tenses. Thus Locke writes: "If principles are innate." "If one considers well these men's way of speaking," &c. So Addison: exercise clears the vessels," &c. It 5. The subjunctive mood is used in expressing a wish. “Oh, that I were prepared to die." Oh, that you were wise.” 66 This past tense of the subjunctive is used also to express a supposi tion, or a wish, when you would deny the thing supposed or wished. Thus Christ says, "If my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight." Thus saying that his kingdom was not of this world. "Oh, that he were here," implying that he is not here. "If I had the book I would lend it," implying that I have it not. While the subjunctive present is now generally used as an elliptical form of the future (shall or should being omitted), yet it is sometimes "used when the time is manifestly present, and in such a way that neither shall nor should, nor any similar term, can be supplied without changing the sense, and where the present usage would require the present indicative, thus 'Though the Lord be high,' &c., 'Whether he be a sinner or not, I know not.'"-(Bullions.) EXERCISES. Write the following sentences, correcting such as may require correction, according to the above observations. Though he slays me, yet will I trust in him. With whom, if he comes shortly, I will see you. If thou returnest in peace, the Lord hath not spoken by me. If ever he has child, abortive be it. If thou seekest him, he will be found of thee. Beware lest sin surprise thee. What man, if he loses one sheep, does not, &c. If thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us. If a man was to compare the effect of a single stroke, he would be overwhelmed. "If the leg does not come off, take the turkey to yourself." "Madame," replied the man in black, "I don't care a farthing whether the leg or the wing comes off." If nobody within either moves or speaks, it is likely that they may carry the place by storm; but if a panic should seize them, it will be proper to defer the enterprise. If the hair has lost its powder, a lady has a puff; if a coat is spotted, a lady has a brush. If similitude of manners is a motive to kindness, the idler may flatter himself with universal patronage. Had he come, we could have finished it. If he practises economy, he will support himself. If thou goest, she may accompany thee. Was it necessary, I will explain. If I be rightly informed. If there exists a country which contains the means of protection. If the effects of climate are casual. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, &c. But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then, &c. And if Christ be not risen, then, &c. He must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet. If thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest, &c. Nay, Father Abraham, but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. If any member absents himself, he shall forfeit a penny. Saxony was left defenceless, and if it was conquered, might be plundered, &c. Oh, that I was at my journey's end. If I should now have money enough, your request will be granted. Was I in your place, I would not hesitate. I had rather go than stay. LESSON XIX. VERBS.-PROPER AND IMPROPER USE OF CERTAIN TENSES AND MOODS. 1. Sometimes the past tense is improperly used for the present: as, "Two young men have made a discovery that there was a God." It should be, that there is a God. 2. The present tense properly expresses a general principle, and that which is universally and always true; as, Honesty is the best policy. Man is immortal. If man is immortal, then he ought, &c. 3. The perfect is sometimes improperly used instead of the past: as, "The Lord hath given, and the Lord hath taken away." It should be the Lord gave. 4. The present tense is properly and advantageously employed in relating past events as though they were just now occurring. Vivacity and interest are thus imparted to a narrative. Thus, Moses leads his people to the Red Sea, and opens a way for them through the waters. 5. The present tense may be used of a person not living, but whose influence or works still exist. Thus we may say of Clay, |