is employed in forming the Imperative Mode may, might, could, would, should, in forming the Subjunctive. The Preposition to, placed before the Verb, makes the Infinitive Mode [7]. Have through

[7] Bishop Wilkins gives the following elegant investigation of the Modes, in his Real Character, Part III. Chap. 5.

"To shew in what manner the subject is to be joined with his Predicate, the Copula between them is affected with a Particle; which, from the use of it, is called Modus, the manner or Mode.

Now the Subject and Predicate may be joined together either Simply, or with some kind of Limitation; and accordingly these Modes are Primary, or Secondary. The Primary Modes are called by Grammarians Indicative, and Imperative.

When the matter is declared to be so, or at least when it seems in the Speaker's power to have it be so, as the bare Union of Subject and Predicate would import; then the Copula is nakedly expressed without any variation: and this manner of expressing it is called the Indicative Mode.

When it is neither declared to be so, nor seems to be immediately in the Speaker's power to have it fo then he can do no more in words, but make out the expression of his will to him that hath the thing in, his power: namely, to

manner of these affecting the Copula, (Be it so, or let it

be

through its several Modes and Times, is placed only before the Perfect Participle; and be in like

manner,

be so) is called the Imperative Mode; of which there are these three varieties, very fit to be distinctly provided for. As for that other use of the Imperative Mode, when it fignifies Permission: this may be fufficiently expressed by the Secondary Mode of Liberty; You may do it.

The Secondary Modes are such, as, when the Copula is affected with any of them, make the Sentence to be (as Logicians call it) a Modal Propofition.

This happens, when the matter in discourse, namely the being or doing, or suffering of a thing, is con fidered, not fimply by itself, but gradually in its caufes from which it proceeds either contingently, or neceffarily.

Then a thing feems to be left as Contingent, when the Speaker expresses only the Possibility of it or his own Liberty to it.

1. The Poffibility of a thing depends upon the power of its cause ; and may be expressed,

2. The Liberty of a thing depends upon a freedom from all obstacles either within or without, and is.

ufually expressed in our language,

!

Then a thing seems to be of Neceffity, when the Speaker expresseth the resolution of his own Will or some other Obligation upon him from without.

3. The

manner, before the Present and Passive Participles: the rest only before the Verb, or another Auxiliary, in its Primary form.

When an Auxiliary is joined to the Verb, the Auxiliary goes through all the Variations of Perfon and Number; and the Verb itself continues invariably the fame. When there are two of more Auxiliaries joined to the Verb, the first of them only is varied according to Perfon and Number. The Auxiliary must admits of no vaFiation.

The Paffive Verb is only the Participle Passive, (which for the most part is the fame with the Indefinite Past Time, Active, and always the fame with the Perfect Participle,) joined to the Auxiliary Verb to be, through all its Variations: as, "I am loved; I was loved; I have been loved; I shall be loved:" and so on, through all the Per-fons, the Numbers, the Times, and the Modes..

4. The Neceffity of a thing from some external

Obligation, whether Natural or Moral which we call

The

See also HERMES, Book I. Chap. viii.

The Neuter Verb is varied like the Active; but, having somewhat of the Nature of the Paffive, admits in many instances of the Paffive form, retaining still the Neuter fignification; chiefly in such Verbs, as fignify fome fort of motion, or change of place or condition: as, "I am come; I was gone; I am grown; I was fallen [8]." The Verb am, was, in this cafe precifely

[8] I doubt much of the propriety of the following examples: "The rules of our holy religion, from which we are infinitely swerved." Tillotson, Vol. I. Serm. 27. The whole obligation of that law and covenant, which God made with the Jews, was also ceafed." Ib. Vol. II. Serm. 52. "Whose number was now amounted to three hundred." Swift, Contests and Dissentions, Chap. 3. "This Mareschal, upon some discontent, was entered into a conspiracy against his master." Addison, Freeholder, No 31. " At the end of a Campaign, when half the men are deferted or killed." Addison, Tatler, No 42. Neuter Verbs are fometimes employed very improperly as Actives; "Go, flee thee away into the land of Judah." Amos, vii. 12. "I think it by no means a fit and decent thing to vie Charities, and erect the reputation of one upon the ruins of another." Atterbury, Serm. I. 2. ".So many learned men, that have spent their whole time and pains to agree the sacred with the Profane Chronology." Sir William Temple, Works, Fol. Vol. 1. p. 295.

"How would the Gods my righteous toils fucceed?"

Pope, Odyff. xiv. 447.

"If

(

precisely defines the Time of the action or event, but does not change the nature of it; the Passive form ftill expreffing, not properly a Passion, but only a state or condition of Being.

I

IRREGULAR VERBS.

N English both the Past Time Active and the Participle Perfect, or Paffive, are formed by adding to the Verb ed; or d only, when the Verb ends in e: as, “turn, turned; love, loved." The Verbs that vary from this rule, in either or in both cafes, are esteemed Irregular.

The nature of our language, the Accent and Pronunciation of it, inclines us to contract even all our Regular Verbs: thus loved, turned, are commonly pronounced in one syllable, lov'd, turn'd: and the second Person, which was originally in three syllables, lovedest, turnedest, is become a dissyllable, lovedst, turnedst: for as we generally throw the accent as far back as poffible towards the first part of the word, (in some even

"If Jove this arm succeed." Ibid. xxi. 219. And Ative Verbs are as improperly made Neuter: as " I must premise with three circumstances." Swift, Q. Anne's Last Ministry, Chap. 2. "Those that think to ingratiate with him by calumniating me." Bemity, Differt. on Phalaris, p. 519.