}

the subjunctive mood. "So much she dreaded his tyranny, that the fate of her friend she dare not lament." "He reasoned so artfully that his friends would listen, and think [that] he were not wrong."

3. The same conjunction governing both the indicative and the subjunctive moods, in the same sentence, and in the same circumstances, seems to be a great impropriety; as in these instances. "If there be but one body of legislators, it is no better than a tyranny: if there are only two, there will want a casting voice." "Ifa man have a hundred sheep, and one of them is gone astray," &c.

4. Almost all the irregularities, in the construction of any language, have arisen from the ellipsis of some words, which were originally inserted in the sentence, and made it regular; and it is probable, that this has been generally the case with respect to the conjunctive form of words, now in use; which will appear from the following examples: "We shall overtake him though he run;" that is, though he should run;"" Unless he act prudently, he will not accomplish bis purpose;" that is, "unless he shall act prudently." "If he succeed and obtain his end, he will not be the happier for it" that is, "If he should succeed, and should obtain his end.". These remarks and examples are designed to show the original of many of our present conjunctive forms of expression; and to enable the student to examine the propriety of using them, by tracing the words in question to their proper origin and ancient connexions. But it is necessary to be more particuJar on this subject, and therefore we shall add a few observations respecting it.

That part of the verb which grammarians call the present tense of the subjunctive mood, has a future signification. This is effected by varying the terminations of the second and third persons singular of the indicative; as will be evident from the following examples: "If thou prosper, thou shouldst be thankful :" "Unless he study more closely, he will never be learned." Some writers however whould express these sentiments without those variations; "If thou prosperest," &c. "Unless be studies," &c. and as there is great diversity of practice in this point, it is proper to offer the learners a few remarks, to assist them in distinguishing the right application of these different forms of expression. It may be considered as a rule, that the changes of termination are necessary, when these two circumstances concur: 1st, When the subject is of a dubious and contingent nature; and 2d, When the verb has a reference to future time. In the following sentences, both these cir

:

cumstances will be found to unite: If thou injure another thou wilt hurt thyself;"" He has a hard heart; and if he continue impenitent, he must suffer;"" He will maintain his principles, though he lose his estate;" "Whether he succeed or not, his intention is laudable," "If he be not prosperous, he will not repine;""If a man smite his servant, and he die," &c. Exodus xxi. 20. In all these examples, the things signified by the verbs are uncertain, and refer to future time. But in the instances which follow, future time is not referred to; and therefore a different construction takes place: "If thou livest virtuously, thou art happy;" "Unless he means what he says, he is doubly faithless," "If he allows the excellence of virtue, he does not regard her precepts ;""Though he seems to be simple and artless, he has deceived us;" "Whether virtue is better than rank or wealth, admits not of any dispute;" " If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayst," &c. Acts viii. 37.-There are many sentences, introduced by conjunctions, in which neither contingency nor futurity is denoted: as, Though he excels her in knowledge, she far exceeds him in virtue." "I have no doubt of his principles: but if he believes the truths of religion, he does not act according to them."

That both the circumstances of contingency and futurity are necessary, as tests of the propriety of altering the terminations, will be evident, by inspecting the following examples; which show that there are instances in which neither of the circumstances alone implies the other. In the three exam-, ples following, contingency is denoted, but not futurity. "If he thinks as he speaks, he may safely be trusted." "If he is now disposed to it, I will perform the operation." "He acts uprightly, unless he deceives me." In the following sentences, futurity is signified, but not contingency. "As soon as the sun sets, it will be cooler." "As the autumn advances, these birds will gradually emigrate."

4

It appears, from the tenor of the examples adduced, that the rules abovementioned may be extended to assert, that in cases wherein contingency and futurity do not occur, it is not proper to turn the verb from its signification of present time, nor to vary its form or termination. The verb would then be in the indicative mood, whatever conjunctions might attend it.-If these rules which seem to form the true distinction between the subjunctive and the indicative moods in this tense, were adopted and established in practice, we should have, on this point, a principle of decision simple and precise, and readily applicable to every case that might occur. It will, doubtless, sometimes happen, that, on this occasion, as well as on many other occasions, a strict adherence to grammatical rules, would render the language stiff and formal: but when

eases of this sort occur, it is better to give the expression a different turn, than to violate grammar for the sake of ease, or even of elegance. See Rule 14. Note 2. p. 193.

5. On the form of the auxiliaries in the compound tenses of the subjunctive mood, it seems proper to make a few observations. Some writers express themselves in the perfect tense as follows: "If thou have determined, we must submit:" "Unless he have consented, the writing will be void :" but we believe that few authors of critical sagacity write in this manner. The proper form seems to be," If thou hast determined; unless he has consented," &c. conformably to what we generally meet with in the Bible: "I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me." Isaiah xlv. 4, 5. "What

is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained," &c. Job xxvii. 8. See also Acts xxviii. 4.

6. In the pluperfect and future tenses, we sometimes meet with such expressions as these: "If thou had applied thyself diligently, thou wouldst have reaped the advantage ;" "Unless thou shall speak the whole truth, we cannot determine;" "If thou will undertake the business, there is little doubt of success." This mode of expressing the auxiliaries does not appear to be warranted by the general practice of correct writers. They should be hadst, shalt, and wilt: and we find them used in this form in the sacred Scriptures.

"If thou hadst known," &c. Luke xix. 47. "If thou hadst been here," &c. John xi. 21. "If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean." Matt. viii. 2. See also, 2 Sam. ii. 27. Matt. xvii. 4.

7. The second person singular of the imperfect tense in the subjunctive mood, is also very frequently varied in its termination: as, "If thou loved him truly, thou wouldst obey him ;" "Though thou did conform, thou hast gained nothing by it." This variation, however, appears to be improper. Our present version of the Scriptures, which we again refer to, as a good grammatical authority in points of this nature, decides against it. "If thou knewest the gift," &c. John iv. 10. "If thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory?" &c. 1 Cor. iv. 7. See also Dan. v. 22. But it is proper to remark, that the form of the verb to be, when used subjunctively in the imperfect tense, is indeed very considerably and properly varied from that which it has in the imperfect of the indicative mood: as the learner will perceive by turning to the conjugation of that verb.*

*See observations on the manner of conjugating the subjunctive mood, at pages 80, 81; 93-95.

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8. It may not be superfluous, also to observe, that the auxiliaries of the potential mood, when applied to the subjunctive, do not change the termination of the second person singular. We properly say, “If thou mayst or canst go ;"" Though thou mightst live" "Unless thou couldst read "If thou wouldst learn;" and not, "If thou may or can go; ;"&c. It is sufficient on this point, to adduce the authorities of Johnson and Lowth: "If thou shouldst go;" Johnson. "If thou mayst, mightst, or couldst love;" Lowth. Some authors think, that when that expresses the motive or end, the termination of these auxiliaries should be varied as, "I advise thee, that thou may beware;" "He checked thee, that thou should not presume but there does not appear to be any ground for this exception. If the expression of "condition. doubt, contingency," &c. does not warrant a change in the form of these auxiliaries, why should they have it, when a motive or end is expressed? The translators of the Scriptures do not appear to have made the distinction contended for. "Thou buildest the wall, that thou mayst be their king." Neh. vi. 6. "There is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayst be feared " Psalms cxxx. 4.

From the preceding observations under this rule, it appears, that with respect to what is termed the present tense of any verb, when the circumstances of contingency and futurity concur, it is proper to vary the terminations of the second and third persons singular: that without the concurrence of those circumstances, the terminations should not be altered; and that the verb and the auxiliaries of the three past tenses, and the auxiliaries of the first future, undergo no alterations whatever except the imperfect of the verb to be, which, in cases denoting contingency, is varied in all the persons of the singular number. See p. 80. The third Note.

After perusing what has been advanced on this subject, it will be natural for the student to inquire, what is the extent of the subjunctive mood? Some grammarians think it extends only to what is called the present tense of verbs generally, under the circumstances of contingency and futurity; and to the imperfect tense of the verb to be, when it denotes contingency, &c. because in these tenses only, the form of the verb admits of variation; and they suppose that it is variation merely which constitutes the distinction of moods. It is the opinion of other grammarians, (in which opinion we concur,) that, besides the two cases just mentioned, all verbs in the three past, and the two future tenses, are in the subjunctive mood, when they denote contingency or uncertainty, though they have not any change of termination; and that, when contingency is not signified, the verb, through all these five tenses, belongs to the indicative mood, whatever conjunc

tion may attend it. They think, that the definition and nature of the subjunctive mood, have no reference to change of termination, but that they refer merely to the manner of the being, action, or passion, signified by the verb; and that the subjunctive mood may as properly exist without a variation of the verb, as the infinitive mood, which has no terminations different from those of the indicative. The decision of this point may not, by some grammarians, be thought of much consequence. But the rules which ascertain the propriety of varying, or not varying, the terminations of the verb, will certainly be deemed important. These rules may be well observed, without a uniformity of sentiment respecting the nature and limits of the subjunctive mood. For further remarks on the subject, see pages 66-68, 75-77, 94, 95, 99 -102.*

9. Some conjunctions have their corresponding conjunc tions belonging to them, so that, in the subsequent member of the sentence, the latter answers to the former: as,

1. THOUGH, YET, NEVERTHELESS : as, 66
rich, yet for our sakes he became poor.

Though he was

2. WHETHER OR: as, “Whether he will go or not, I can

not tell."

compass it."

I will either send it, or bring it my

"Neither thou nor I am able to

5. AS-AS: expressing a comparison of equality; as, “She is as amiable as her sister."

*We have stated, for the student's information, the different opinions of grammarians respecting the English Subjunctive Mood: First, that which supposes there is no such mood in our language; Secondly, that which extends it no farther than the variation of the verb extend; Thirdly, that which we have adopted, and explained at large; and which, in general, corresponds with the views of the most approved writers on English Grammar. We may add a Fourth opinion; which appears to possess, at least, much plausibility. This opinion admits the arrangement we have given, with one variation, namely, that of assigning to the first tense of the subjunctive, two forms: 1st, that which simply denotes contingency: as, "If he desires it, I will perform the operation;" that is, If he now desires it;" 2dly, that which denotes both contingency and futurity: as, "If he desire it, I will perform the operation;" that is, "If he should hereafter desire it." The last theory of the subjunctive mood, claims the merit of rendering the whole system of the moods consistent and regular; of being more conformable than any other, to the definition of the subjunctive; and of not referring to the indicative mood, forms of expression, which ill accord with its simpli ity and nature. Perhaps this theory will bear a strict examination. Some critics assert, that as the phrase, If he desire it," has a future signification, it should be considered and arranged as a future tense. But as all our grammarians concur

in classing this form of expression under the present tense; as it nearly resembles the form of this tense, and appears to be closely connected with it; and as no possible inconvenience can arise from adhering to general usage, when the subject is well explained; we think that the present arrangement is perfectly justifiable. There is certainly no more impropriety in arranging phrases of this nature under the present tense, than there is in classing the following modes of expression with that tense. "Before he decides he should examine with care:" When he arrives, he will hear the news:" amiable she will be." These forms of expression clearly refer to future time, and yet, "The more she improves the more Even by our critics themselves, they are acknowledged to be properly placed in the prevent

tense,