is indicated or pointed out, are of the indicative mood; as, 'I shall come to-morrow;' 'He writes well.' 2. Imperative means 'commanding.' Whenever the verb expresses a command (or a request), the form is of the imperative mood; as, 'Come to me;'Tell me that story.' 3. Potential signifies 'having power;' as, 'I may serve; He might work.' 4. Subjunctive means 'joined to '—that is, depending on some other assertion; as, "He will be fatigued, if he walk too fast.' ‘if he walk,' is joined to, and form he will be fatigued.' Here, the form, depends on, the 5. Infinitive means 'unlimited.' All the other moods are limited by number and person; but the infinitive is simply the name of the action, not circumscribed or confined to any person or number. The sign of the infinitive mood is 'to;' as, to love; to run, &c. Before studying other verbs, it is necessary to be acquainted with the forms of the verb 'to be,' which are very irregular. It is conjugated as follows: 1. We might be 1. I might be2 2. Thou mightest be 2. Ye might be 3. They might be The other signs are 'can' and 'must.' 3. He might be PRESENT. PAST. Plural. 1. Let us be. 2. Be ye 3. Let them be Singular. PRESENT COMPLETE. 1. I may have been 2. Thou mayest have been 3. He may have been Singular. PAST COMPLETE. 1. I might have been 2. Thou mightest have been 3. He might have been Plural. 1. We might have been 2 The other signs are 'could,' 'would,' 'should.' EXERCISE. The learner is to explain the forms of the verb 'to be,' used in the following sentences. You might have been ready. I shall be happy to see you. He had been on a visit to his uncle. If I were in your place, I should be more diligent. 'Be thou familiar, but by no means vulgar.' We shall have been here a month to-morrow. He was ten years old yesterday. They were more successful last week than they had been for some months before. Let us be thankful that we are free. They will be here immediately. You may have been too rash. If he were our leader, we should be sure to succeed. I am not sure that he will be faithful. Art thou he of whom I have heard so much? It is a disgrace to have been so long about this business. To be good is to be happy. To-morrow will be Thursday. How is your brother? I should have been here much sooner. The servant had been there some time when you arrived. He was then in the prime of life. I have been talking to my friend about this matter. I hope they will be happy. Being in great distress, he applied to me for assist ance. EXERCISE ON THE MOODS. Copy out the following sentences, marking all the verbs imp., poten., subj., infin., accordingly as they may be in one or other of these moods. He said so before. You wish to take a walk. If he study diligently, he will soon acquire knowledge. Think before you speak. He proposed to accompany |