If the penalties of rebellion hung over an unsuccessful contest; if America was yet in the cradle of her political existence; if her population little exceeded two millions; if she was without government, without fleets or armies, arsenals or magazines, without military knowledge,—­still her citizens had a just and elevated sense of her rights.—­A.  HAMILTON.

(3) By asking a question to find out some fact; as,—­

     Is private credit the friend and patron of industry?—­HAMILTON.

     With respect to novels what shall I say?—­N.  WEBSTER.

[Sidenote:  Definition.]

216 .The indicative mood is that form of a verb which represents a thing as a fact, or inquires about some fact.

SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD.

[Sidenote:  Meaning of the word.]

217. Subjunctive means subjoined, or joined as dependent or subordinate to something else.

[Sidenote:  This meaning is misleading.]

If its original meaning be closely adhered to, we must expect every dependent clause to have its verb in the subjunctive mood, and every clause not dependent to have its verb in some other mood.

But this is not the case.  In the quotation from Hamilton (Sec. 215, 2) several subjoined clauses introduced by if have the indicative mood, and also independent clauses are often found having the verb in the subjunctive mood.

[Sidenote:  Cautions.]

Three cautions will be laid down which must be observed by a student who wishes to understand and use the English subjunctive:—­

(1) You cannot tell it always by the form of the word.  The main difference is, that the subjunctive has no _-s_ as the ending of the present tense, third person singular; as, “If he come.”

(2) The fact that its clause is dependent or is introduced by certain words will not be a safe rule to guide you.

(3) The meaning of the verb itself must be keenly studied.

[Sidenote:  Definition.]

218.  The subjunctive mood is that form or use of the verb which expresses action or being, not as a fact, but as merely conceived of in the mind.

Subjunctive in Independent Clauses.

I. Expressing a Wish.

219.  The following are examples of this use:—­

     Heaven rest her soul!—­MOORE.

     God grant you find one face there You loved when all was
     young.—­KINGSLEY.

     Now tremble dimples on your cheek, Sweet be your lips to
     taste and speak.—­BEDDOES.

     Long die thy happy days before thy death.—­SHAKESPEARE.

II.  A Contingent Declaration or Question.

220.  This really amounts to the conclusion, or principal clause, in a sentence, of which the condition is omitted.