[Sidenote:  Indicative Use:  Permission.  Ability.]

     If I may lightly employ the Miltonic figure, “far off his
     coming shines.”—­WINIER.

     A stripling arm might sway
     A mass no host could raise.—­SCOTT.

     His superiority none might question.—­CHANNING.

[Sidenote:  Subjunctive use.]

     In whatever manner the separate parts of a constitution may be
     arranged, there is one general principle, etc.—­PAINE.

[Sidenote:  (See also Sec. 223.)]

     And from her fair and unpolluted flesh
     May violets spring! 
     —­SHAKESPEARE.

249.  Can is used in the indicative only.  The l in could did not belong there originally, but came through analogy with should and would. Could may be subjunctive, as in Sec. 220.

250.  Must is historically a past-tense form, from the obsolete verb motan, which survives in the sentence, “So mote it be.” Must is present or past tense, according to the infinitive used.

     All must concede to him a sublime power of action.—­CHANNING

     This, of course, must have been an ocular
     deception.—­HAWTHORNE.

251.  The same remarks apply to ought, which is historically the past tense of the verb owe.  Like must, it is used only in the indicative mood; as,

The just imputations on our own faith ought first to be removed....  Have we valuable territories and important posts...which ought long since to have been surrendered?—­A.  HAMILTON.

It will be noticed that all the other defective verbs take the pure infinitive without to, while ought always has to.

Shall and Will.

252.  The principal trouble in the use of shall and will is the disposition, especially in the United States, to use will and would, to the neglect of shall and should, with pronouns of the first person; as, “I think I will go.”

[Sidenote:  Uses of shall and should.]

The following distinctions must be observed:—­

(1) With the FIRST PERSON, shall and should are used,—­

[Sidenote:  Futurity and questions—­first person.]

(a) In making simple statements or predictions about future time; as,—­

     The time will come full soon, I shall be gone.—­L.C.  MOULTON.

(b) In questions asking for orders, or implying obligation or authority resting upon the subject; as,—­

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

     How shall I describe the luster which at that moment burst upon
     my vision?—­C.  BROCKDEN BROWN.