alytical practical grammar - Toronto Public Library

ETYMOLOG Y-VERBS-MOODI>. 71
388. The conditionality or contingency, &c., expressed by this mood. is
usually intimated by such conjunctions as if, Iltou91t, lesl, IlllleiJs, 80, &c.,
prefixed, which, however, make no part of the verb.
389. The same thing is sometimes expressed without the conjunction,
by merely putting the verb or auxiliary before the subject or nominative;
as, "Had I," for" If I had"_u Wel'e Ite." for "If he were"-u Had lIB
gone:'-for .. If Ite !tad gone "-" lVould he but reform," for .; If he would
but reform," &c.
390. Some grammarians consider the subjuDctive present only us an
abbreviated form of the future indicative, or the past potential, and that,
the supplfffient may always be made; thu~." If he s/udN." &c.• thnt is.
"if he shall (or .~/w1tld) studN," &c.-'· Though he [.,hould] conw," &c.
This view is plamible. and may apply to the prl'8ent teuse of the ~ub·
junctive in most cases; but it will not apply to the past subjuDctive of
the verb to be, either as a principal or an auxiliary. For though we
might say, " If I should be," for" If I be," yet we cannot say, "If I
~hould were;" and there are some cases in which the present subjunctive
form seems to be indispensable; &S," Sec thou do it llOt"-" If he do but
try, he will succeed." Still,-
391. The subjunctive mood, in its distinctive form, is now falling
greatly into disuse. ;fhe tendency appears to be to lay it aside, and to
use the indicative or potential in i!s stead, wherever it can be done.
According to rule, the Bubjunctive form is used only when it hus a future
reference; a~, .. If he come [viz., at a future time] he will be welcome."
The same idea is expressed by saying. "If he comes" (406), .. If he shall
come "-or, " If he should come "-and Olle or other of these expressions
is now genernlly preferred to the subjunctive. Formerly, in cases of
supposition, the present subjunctive was used, whether it had a future
refer9nce or not; liS, .. Though God be high, yet hath he respect to the
lowly."
In all such expressions, ace cording to present usage, the present
indicative would be used; thus, .. Though God is high," &c.
392. The IMPERATIVE mood commands, exhorts, entreats,
or permits; as, "Do this "-" Remember thy
Creator "-" Hear, 0 my people "-" Go thy way" (596).
393. The INFINITIVE mood expresses the meaning of
the verb in a general manner, without any distinction
of person or number; a5, to love.
394. The infinitve is often used us a verbal noun (8M, 867) is the
nominative case, as the subject of a verb; as, " To play is pleasant." Or,
in the objective, as the object of a transitive verb in the active voice, or
of a preposition; 8S, .. Boys love to pl(/y "-" He is about to go" -" What
went ye out for to see?"
395. The infinitive mood generally has no subject; yet the act, being,
or stq.te, expressed by it, is referabl~ to some word conneete~ with it.
Thus, in the above examples, to play 18 referable to boys; to go 18 the act
of he, &c.-See Appendix VI. p. 250.