cation and intreaty; as, "Pray do.-Forgive us our trefpaffes.-Let us read."

Let, governs the Objective case of the Pronoun;

As, "Let her come-Let us read." Not be or we. Is not let the fign by which the Imperative Mode may be known?

Yes; let is commonly called the fign of the Imperative Mode. It is likewife a Verb. See the Lift of the irregular Verbs.

What is the Potential Mode ?

The Potential Mode joins fome power; as, Liberty, Will, Duty, Ability, or Neceffity, to the fignification of the Verb, and is formed by the help of, and known by the words, or figns, may, or can, in the Prefent Tenfe; as, "I may play-thou canft read." And might, could, would, or should, in the Paft Tenfe, joined with the Infinitive Mode of the Verb; as, "He might fee-We could hear-Ye or you would fpeak-They should give."

. What is the Subjunctive Mode?

The Subjunctive Mode is fo called because it makes no compleat fenfe of itself; but is fubjoined to fome other Verb or phrafe that precedes it: Ex. She fays that I am wrong; and pretends that he does right.

The Subjunctive Mode is alfo by fome called the Conditional or Conjunctive Mode, as it takes if, though, or fome other Conjunction before it; as, If I were to write; Though he write; Take care left he fall.

Of what do Modes confift?

Of Tenses, by which is meant a distinction of time. There are properly fpeaking only three; that is, Prefent, Paft, and Future.

But to these may be added three compound Tenfes, viz. the Imperfect Tenfe, the Pluperfect Tenfe, and the fecond, or Perfect Future Tenfe.

Explain the Prefent Tenfe.

The Prefent Tenfe, as, I write, I read, I am now writing, confines the meaning of the verb to the prefent time.

It may be known by the figns,, 1ft perfon do, 2d. doft, 3d. does, or doth; as, I read or do read; but do is only used to mark the time or action with greater force; fee page 42.

Explain the Paft or Imperfect Tenfe.

The Imperfect, or imperfectly paft time, is fo called, because it imperfectly partakes both of the prefent and paft-fhew's that fomething was then doing, but not quite finished at the time of which we speak ; as, I read, or did read, or was reading, while you were at work; and may be known by the figns did and didft. The Future Tenfe.

The first, or Imperfect Future, reprefents the action as to be done in fome future time; as, I fall write, ave fhall dine, we will learn.

The Future Tenfe is known by the figns ball and will.

Explain the Compound Tenfes.

The Perfect, or Preterit Tenfe, represents the action

= as

as completely finished; as, I have read. It is known by the figns, have, has, bath or has.

The Pluperfect Tenfe doubly marks the paft, and is thence called Pluperfect.

It represents the action not only as finished, but as finifhed before a certain time to which we allude; as, for example, I had read; which expreffes an action paftan hour before my father came; which is another action paft. This Tenfe may be known by the figns bad and badft.

The Second, or Perfect Future Tenfe, expreffes a future time, and determines when the action will be finished; as, I shall have written. We shall have dined before my fifter coines.

The Second Future Tenfe is expreffed by the addi tion of have.

May not the Prefent and Perfect Tenfes be ufed in ftead of the Future Tenfes ?

The Prefent and the Perfect Tenfes are frequently ufed inftead of the Future Tenfes; as,

"When he writes, for when he shall write.”

"When he has written, for when he shall have written."

There are two Numbers in Verbs, the Singular and the Plural.

How do you know the Number and Perfon of the Verb?

By the Number and Perfon of its Agent or Nominative Cafe; for the Verb must always agree with its Agent or Subject in Number and Perfon

Give me fome examples.

I write; I love to write. I is the Agent or Nominative Cafe, and anfwers to the question who? I being the first person fingular, the Verb is so likewise.

Again, A King governs. King is the third perfon fingular, and confequently the Verb governs must be so.

Children obey. Children being the third perfon plural, the Verb is the fame. This is called Concord or Agreement: See page 15.

How many Perfons are there in Verbs?

Three, in each number; viz.

Sing. 1. I call.

2d. Thou callest.

3d. He, She, It, calls.

Plu. We call.

Ye, or You call. They call. The fecond perfon fingular Thou, is seldom used, except in poetry, or in our addreffes to God.

We generally ufe You, and the Verb must agree with the Pronoun in Number; as, for example, You were, not you waft, or you was; as, I was in town when you were.

Does the difference of Perfons occafion any change in the termination, or ending of Verbs?

Yes; the fecond perfon of the Verbs in the Singular Number, both in the Prefent and Imperfect Tenfe, is formed by adding eft, ft, or eth to the firft Perfon; as, "I call, thou call-eft; or, I place, thou plac-eft."

The third Perfon is formed by adding eth, th, es, or only s; but this change is only in the fecond and third Perfons Singular of the Prefent, and in the fecond Perfon Singular of the Imperfect: the Perfons

of

of the Plural Number are always the fame as the first

When are the terminations eft, ft, eth, th, es, and s, ufed?

St or th is added inftead of eft and eth to Verbs ending in e, as love, lov-eft, lov-eth.

Es is joined to fuch as end in /s, to form the third Perfon Singular of the Present Tenfe; as,

ift. Pafs, 3d. paff-es: in x, as ift. fix, 3d.fix-es: ino, as ift, go, 3d. go-es.

When eft or eth is added to a Verb ending in a fingle Confonant, preceded by a fingle Vowel, on which the accent is placed, that Confonant is doubled; as, ift. forget, 2d. forget-teft, 3d. forget-teth. Likewife in Verbs which confift of one Syllable, and end with a fingle Confonant; as from,

To bar.

To fit..

2d. bar-reft. ~ 2ð. fit-test,

3d, bar-reth. 3d. fit-teth. Words that end in y

To gag.

2d. gag-geft.

To rob.

2d. rob-best.

3d. gag-geth. 3d. rob-beth. after a Confonant change y

into i before the termination; as, from to cry, or to