COMPOUND TENSES.

141. In making a statement about the performance of an action, we want words to express—

1. The time of the performance; whether at the Present time, or in Past time, or in Future time. 2. The state of the action at the time specified; whether the operation is, was, or will be momentary, continuous, or completed.

142. We require, then, Nine Forms to express the nine distinct statements that arise from the combinations of the notions of time of performance and state of the action;

143. The Latin language expresses six, the Greek seven, of these forms by single words. In English we have to denote seven by compound forms. In the con

struction of these seven forms we seek the assistance of Verbs which are for that reason called Auxiliary Verbs, be, have, shall, and will.

144. Passing on from statements of fact to the expression of commands, intentions, hopes, and thoughtsmany of which a language rich in inflexions, as the Greek, can denote by single words-we can denote most of them only by compound forms, containing such

Auxiliary Verbs as let, may, and can; might, could, would, and should.

Further, in the Passive Voice we denote the forms of the Verb entirely by the aid of Auxiliary Verbs; as, I am loved, I shall be loved, and the like.

SHALL. S. Shall, shalt, shall. S. Should, shouldst, should.

P. Shall.

WILL. S. Will, wilt, will.

P. Will.

CAN.

S. Can, canst, can.
P. Can.

MAY.

P. Should.

S. Would, wouldst, would.
P. Would.

S. Could, couldst, could.
P. Could.

S. May, mayst, may. S. Might, mightst, might.

The Subjunctive tenses of the other Verbs are the same in form as the corresponding tenses of the Indicative. Some grammarians object to the forms. hadst, shouldst, etc., for the second person of the Past Subjunctive, and give had, should, etc., as the correct forms. See § 133.

Shakespeare has a passage in which thou should is distinctly used as a Subjunctive form :—

A messenger from Henry, our dread liege,
To know the reason of these arms in peace;
Or why thou, being a subject as I am,
Against thy oath and true allegiance sworn,
Should raise so great a power without his leave.
H. 6. B.; 5, 1, 17.

We use also the Infinitives be and have.

146. NOTES ON THE AUXILIARY VERBS.

BE. The form beest for the second person of the Indicative Present is found in our best writers :

If thou beest he: but O, how fallen, how chang'd!-Milton. The form be is found in the English Bible for all three persons of the plural of the Indicative Present :

We be twelve brethren.-Gen. xlii. 32.

Ye be righteous.—2 Kings x. 9.

They be idle.-Exod. v. 8.

HAVE. We use this Verb to form the Perfect Infinitive to have loved and the Perfect Participle having loved.

The expression I had rather is a mistake for I would rather, but it is frequently found in the best writers; thus— I had rather be a kitten, and cry mew,

Than one of these same metre ballad-mongers.

H. 4. A.; 3, 1, 129.

I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth,
Than it should do offence to Michael Cassio.

Oth. 2, 3, 221.

I had rather be a country servant-maid,

Than a great queen.-Rich. 3.; 1, 3, 107.

SHALL.-This Verb is from an Old English Verb meaning I am bound, I owe, giving a notion of compulsion from some external source.

WILL.-This Verb is from an Old English Verb meaning I desire, giving a notion of intention on the part of the Agent.

Notice the abbreviations I'll for I will and I'ld for I would:

And there I'll rest, as, after much turmoil,

A blessed soul doth in Elysium.-Gent. 2, 7, 37.

If I did think, sir, I were well awake,

I'ld strive to tell thee.-Temp. 5, 230.

CAN. This Verb is from an Old English Verb meaning I know, I am able, from which are derived our words con and ken.

The lin could is an error. It was probably inserted by

some writer who thought the form ought to be like would and should.

MAY.-This Verb is from an Old English Verb meaning I am able, used of physical power, whereas can is from a Verb used of intellectual power.

SHALL AND WILL.

147. In the employment of these words to form a Future tense, we must distinguish the unemphatic from the emphatic use.

In ordinary conversation, when shall and will are merely used as signs to mark future events, custom (or, as some say, courtesy) has decided that shall is to be used for the first person, and will for the second and third persons; thus we say—

I shall go to London to-morrow.

You will be too late for the train.

The Queen will leave Windsor to-day.

But, even in the discourse of common life, when the intention marked by the word will, or the compulsion implied in the word shall, is to be made prominent in even a slight degree, will is used with the first person, and shall with the second and third persons :—

Falstaff. You must excuse me, Master Robert Shallow. Shallow. I will not excuse you: you shall not be excused excuses shall not be admitted.-H. 4. B.; 5, I, 3.

148. Next, in the emphatic language of poetry and the higher prose, will denotes free intention.

Shall denotes strong compulsion, earnest admonition,