ing examples, "I wrote," "I have written," "I had written," "I shall have written," all denote complete perfect action.

From the preceding representation of the different tenses, it appears, that each of them has its distinct and peculiar province; and that though some of them may sometimes be used promiscuously, or substituted one for another, in cases where great accuracy is not required, yet there is a real and essential difference in their meaning. It is also evident, that the English language contains the six tenses which we have enumerated. Grammarians who limit the number to two or three, do not reflect that the English verb is mostly composed of principal and auxiliary; and that these several parts constitute one verb. Either the English language has no future tense, (a position too absurd to need refutation,) or that future tense is composed of the auxiiiary and the principal verb. If the latter be true, as it indisputably is, then auxiliary and principal united, constitute a tense, in one instance; and, from reason and analogy, may doubtless do so, in others, in which minuter divisions of time are necessary, or useful. What reason can be assigned for not considering this case, as other cases, in which a whole is regarded as composed of several parts, or of principal and adjuncts? There is nothing heterogeneous in the parts: and precedent, analogy, utility, and even necessity, authorise the union.

In support of this opinion, we have the authority of eminent grammarians; in particular, that of Dr. Beattie. "Some writers," says the doctor, "will not allow any thing to be a tense, but what, in one inflected word, expresses an affirmation with time; for that those parts of the verb are not properly called tenses, which assume that appearance, by means of auxiliary words. At this rate, we should have, in English, two tenses only, the present and the past in the active verb, and in the passive no tenses at all. But this is a needless nicety; and, if adopted, would introduce confusion into the grammatical art. If amaveram be a tense, why should not amatus fueram? If I heard be a tense, I did hear, I have heard, and I shall hear, must be equally intitled to that appellation."

The proper form of a tense, in the Greek and Latin tongues, is certainly that which it has in the grammars of those languages. But in the Greek and Latin grammars, we uniformly find, that some of the tenses are formed by variations of the principal verb; and others, by the addition of helping verbs. It is, therefore, indisputable, that the principal verb or the participle, and an anxiliary, constitute a regular tense in the Greek and Latin languages. This point being established, we may, doubtless, apply it to English verbs; and extend the principle as far as convenience, and the idiom of our language require.

If it should be said, that, on the same ground that a participle and auxiliary are allowed to form a tense, and the verb conjugated accordingly, the English noun cught to be declined with articles and prepositions; we must object to the inference. Such a mode of declension cannot apply to our language. This we think has already been proved. It is also confessedly inapplicable to the learned languages. Where then is the grammatical inconsistency, or the want of conformity to the principles of analogy, in making some tenses of the English verb to consist of principal and auxiliary; and all the cases of English nouns, in their termination? The argument from analogy, instead of militating against us appears to confirm and establish our position. See the subject further discussed in the ninth section of this chapter.

We shall close these remarks on the tenses, with a few observations extracted from the ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA. They are worth the student's attention, as a part of them applies, not only to our explanation of the tenses, but to many other parts of the work. "Harris has enumerated no fewer than twelve tenses. Of this enumeration we can by no means approve : for, without entering into a minute examination of it, nothing can be more obvious, than that his inceptive present, "I am going to write.” is a future tense; and his completive present, "I haye written," a past tense. But, as was before observed of the

* See page 54.

H

classification of words, we cannot help being of opinion, that to take the tenses as they are commonly received, and endeavour to ascertain their nature and their differences, is a much more useful exercise, as well as more proper for a work of this kind, than to raise, as might easily be raised, new theories on this subject."

SEст. 6. The conjugation of the auxiliary verbs TO HAVE and TO BE.

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.

The auxiliary and active verb TO HAVE, is conjugated in the following manner.

Hath is now used only in poetry, and on very serious subjects

Te is nearly obsolete.

3. He shall or will have had. 3. They shall or will have hack

The imperative mood is not strictly entitled to three perThe command is always addressed to the second

sons.

+ Some Grammarians distinguish the three past tenses, by the names of the first preterit, the second preterit, the third preterit; and the first and second future tenses, by the terms, future imperfect, and futrue perfect.

person, not to the first or third. For when we say, “Let me have," "Let him, or let them have," the meaning and construction are, do thou, or do ye, let me, him, or them have. In philosophical strictness, both number and person might be entirely excluded from every verb. They are, in fact, the properties of substantives, not a part of the essence of a verb. Even the name of the imperative mood, does not always correspond to its nature for it sometimes petitions as well as commands. But with respect to all these points, the practice of our grammarians is so uniformly fixed, and so analagous to the languages, ancient and modern, which our youth have to study, that it would be an unwarrantable degree of innovation, to deviate from the established terms and arrangements. See the advertisement at the end of the Introduction, page 8; and the quotation from the Encyclopædia Britannica, Pages 85, 86.

2. Thou mayst or canst have. 2. Ye or you may or can have. 3. He may or can have. 3. They may or can have.