OBS. 10.—­In J. B. Chandler’s grammars, are taken nearly the same views of the “Subjunctive or Conditional Mood,” that have just been noticed.  “This mood,” we are told, “is only the indicative or potential mood, with the word if placed before the nominative case.”—­Gram. of 1821, p. 48; Gram. of 1847, p. 73.  Yet, of even this, the author has said, in the former edition, “It would, perhaps, be better to abolish the use of the subjunctive mood entirely. Its use is a continual source of dispute among grammarians, and of perplexity to scholars.”—­Page 33.  The suppositive verb were,—­(as, “Were I a king,”—­“If I were a king,”—­) which this author formerly rejected, preferring was, is now, after six and twenty years, replaced in his own examples; and yet he still attempts to disgrace it, by falsely representing it as being only “the indicative plural” very grossly misapplied!  See Chandler’s Common School Gram., p. 77.

OBS. 11.—­The Imperative mood is so called because it is chiefly used in commanding.  It is that brief form of the verb, by which we directly urge upon others our claims and wishes.  But the nature of this urging varies according to the relation of the parties.  We command inferiors; exhort equals; entreat superiors; permit whom we will;—­and all by this same imperative form of the verb.  In answer to a request, the imperative implies nothing more than permission.  The will of a superior may also be urged imperatively by the indicative, future.  This form is particularly common in solemn prohibitions; as, “Thou shalt not kill. * * * Thou shalt not steal.”—­Exodus, xx, 13 and 15.  Of the ten commandments, eight are negative, and all these are indicative in form.  The other two are in the imperative mood:  “Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy. Honour thy father and thy mother.”—­Ib. But the imperative form may also be negative:  as, “Touch not; taste not; handle not.”—­Colossians, ii, 21.

TENSES.

Tenses are those modifications of the verb, which distinguish time.  There are six tenses; the Present, the Imperfect, the Perfect, the Pluperfect, the First-future, and the Second-future.

The Present tense is that which expresses what now exists, or is taking place:  as, “I hear a noise; somebody is coming.”

The Imperfect tense is that which expresses what took place, or was occurring, in time fully past:  as, “I saw him yesterday, and hailed him as he was passing.”

The Perfect tense is that which expresses what has taken place, within some period of time not yet fully past:  as, “I have seen him to-day; something must have detained him.”