is employed in forming the Imperative Mode may, might, could, would, should, in forming the Subjunctive. The Prepofition 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 fhew in what manner the fubject 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 fome kind of Limitation; and accordingly thefe Modes are Primary, or Secondary. The Primary Modes are called by Grammarians Indicative, and Imperative.

When the matter is declared to be fo, or at least when it feems in the Speaker's power to have it be fo, as the bare Union of Subject and Predicate would import; then the Copula is nakedly expreffed withOut any variation: and this manner of expreffing it is

called the Indicative Mode.

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

manner of thefe affecting the Copula, (Be it fo, or let it

be

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

manner,

be fo) is called the Imperative Mode; of which there are these three varieties, very fit to be diftinctly provided for. As for that other ufe of the Imperative Mode, when it fignifies Permiffion: this may be fufficiently expreffed by the Secondary Mode of Liberty; You may do it.

The Secondary Modes are fuch, 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 difcourfe, namely the being or doing, or fuffering of a thing, is confidered, 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 expreffes only the Poffibility of it or his own Liberty to it.

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

when

Abfolute,

{

Can;

Conditional, by the Particle Could.

2. The Liberty of a thing depends upon a freedom from all obftacles either within or without, and is. ufually expreffed in our language,

when

{Conditional,} by the Particle
} by the Particle {May;

Might.

Then a thing feems to be of Neceffity, when the Speaker expreffeth the refolution of his own Will or fome other Obligation upon him from without.

3: The

manner, before the Prefent and Paffive Participles: the reft 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 itfelf continues invariably the fame. When there are two or more Auxiliaries joined to the Verb, the first of them only is varied according to Perfon and Number. The Auxiliary must admits of no variation.

The Paffive Verb is only the Participle Paffive, (which for the moft part is the fame with the Indefinite Paft 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; 1 was loved; I have been loved; I fhall be loved:" and so on, through all the Perfons, the Numbers, the Times, and the Modes..

3. The Inclination of the Will is expreffed,, Abfolute,

if { Conditional,} by the Particle

Will;

{ Would.

4. The Neceffity of a thing from fome external Obligation, whether Natural or Moral which we call Duty, is expreffed,

if Abfolute,

Muft, ought, fhall;

Conditional,} by the Particle { Muft, ought, should.

See alfo HERMES, Book I. Chap. viii.

The

The Neuter Verb is varied like the Active; but, having fomewhat of the Nature of the Paffive, admits in many inftances of the Paffive form, retaining ftill the Neuter fignification ; chiefly in fuch 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. 66 The whole obligation of that law and covenant, which God made with the Jews, was also ceafed." Ib. Vol. II. Serm. 52. "Whofe number was now amounted to three hundred." Swift, Contests and Diffentions, Chap. 3. "This Marefchal, upon fome difcontent, was entered into a confpiracy against his mafter." Addison, Freeholder, N° 31. "At the end of a Campaign, when half the men are deferted or killed." Addison, Tatler, N° 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 facred 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.

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

IRREGULAR VERBS.

IN

N English both the Paft Time Active and the Participle Perfect, or Paffive, are formed by adding to the Verb ed; or d only, when the Verb ends in : 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 fyllable, lov'd, turn'd: and the fecond Perfon, which was originally in three fyllables, lovedeft, turnedeft, is become a diffyllable, lovedft, turnedft: for as we generally throw the accent as far back as poffible towards the first part of the word, (in fome even

"If Jove this arm fucceed."

Ibid. xxi. 219.

And Active Verbs are as improperly made Neuter: as" I must premife with three circumftances." Swift, Q. Anne's Laft Miniftry, Chap. 2. "Thofe that think to ingratiate with him by calumniating me." Bentity, Differt. on Phalaris, p. 519.