A Grammar of the English Tongue - ESL Teachers Board

A Grammar of the English Tongue 32Self is added to possessives, as myself, yourselves; and sometimes topersonal pronouns, as himself, itself, themselves. It then, like own,expresses emphasis and opposition, as I did this myself, that is, not another;or it forms a reciprocal pronoun, as We hurt ourselves by vain rage.Himself, itself, themselves, are supposed by Wallis to be put by corruption,for his self, it self, their selves; so that self is always a substantive. Thisseems justly observed, for we say, He came himself; Himself shall do this;where himself cannot be an accusative.* * * * *Of the VERB.English verbs are active, as I love; or neuter, as I languish. The neuters areformed like the actives.Most verbs signifying action may likewise signify condition or habit, andbecome neuters; as I love, I am in love; I strike, I am now striking.Verbs have only two tenses inflected in their terminations, the present, andsimple preterit; the other tenses are compounded of the auxiliary verbs,have, shall, will, let, may, can, and the infinitive of the active or neuterverb.The passive voice is formed by joining the participle preterit to thesubstantive verb, as I am loved.To have. Indicative Mood.Present Tense.Sing. I have, thou hast, he hath or has, Plur. We have, ye have, they have.Has is a termination connoted from hath, but now more frequently usedboth in verse and prose.