This mood is thus called, because it expresses affirmation; that is, serves to assert what is, was, or shall be done. Ex. J'écris une lettre ; Il chante une chanson ; Nous avons fini; Il viendra ce soir; I write a letter. he sings a song. we have done. he will come this evening. when he has dined. OF THE IMPERATIVE MOOD. The name which has been given to this mood is derived from a Latin word that signifies to command; and the imperative is in fact but a manner of denoting in the verbs the action of commanding, entreating, praying, exhorting, and sometimes forbidding. Ex. Aimez Dieu; Servez-le fidèlement ; love God. serve him faithfully. This mood has no first person in the singular, because it is impossible for a man to give command to himself; and if it has the first person plural, it is because we speak as much to others, as to ourselves, when we say, EVITONS tout ce qui pourrait let us avoid every thing that offenser les autres; might offend others. The second person singular and the first and second person plural admit of no pronouns before them; but the third, in both numbers, is always preceded by the pronoun il or elle, &c. and the conjunction que. Qu'ils parlent; Ex. let them speak. OF THE SUBJUNCTIVE. The subjunctive mood may be defined, a manner of expressing the different tenses of the verb without any affirmation. In fact, the subjunctive never affirms; it is always preceded by, and subject to, a conjunction; and if it should be in a sentence containing an affirmation, that affirmation can only be expressed by the verb that precedes the subjunctive, the latter being used only to modify that affirmation. In the subsequent sentence, Je travaille afin que vous vous reposiez; I work that you may rest, the affirmation is only expressed by je travaille, I work; and what follows only expresses the end which I propose by working, viz. to procure you some rest. Again, Je désire que vous fassiez votre I wish that you may do your devoir: duty. I affirm that I wish; but it is clear that there is no affirm ation in the words, that you may do your duty; since I do not say that you do, that you have done, that you will do your duty; but only that I wish you may do it. My wish is not doubtful, but it is very doubtful whether you will or may do your duty; and therefore I make use of the subjunctive, which is the mood always employed to express doubt and indecision *. OF TENSES. There are, strictly speaking, but three tenses in verbs; viz. Le passé; the past. the future. *This is again a point on which the two languages, the French and the English, vastly differ. In the French language the tenses are divided in the following manner; there are six in the INFINITIVE MOOD. There are ten tenses in the INDICATIVE MOOD; five of which are simple and five compound. N.B. The IMPERATIVE admits of no tense but the pre sent. The SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD has four tenses; two are simple and two compound. *Or compound of the Present. Before proceeding any farther with the conjugations, it is necessary to explain the different uses of the above tenses, as one of the most important articles in a language, the precision of which partly depends on the difference existing between one tense and another, with regard to the meaning of the sentence. TENSES OF THE INDICATIVE MOOD. SIMPLE TENSES, Present. 1. This tense is used when the state, action, or impression, expressed by the verb, is existing, doing, or happening, at the very time we are speaking. Ex. I am well. Your sister is ill. we are walking. you do write. they are playing, &c. 2. The present is also used when speaking of actions or things which we habitually do, are accustomed to do, or can do. Ex. 3. When speaking of actions which are to be done in a very short time, we may use this tense, instead of the future. Ex. 4. This tense is also constantly used in French instead of the preterite definite or preterite indefinite, especially in orations and in poetry, in speaking of a past action, in order to make the thing, as it were, present to the mind of the hearers or readers. Ex. Les armées étaient en présence; on en vint aux mains. Aussitôt une nuée de traits obscurcit l'atmosphère et couvre les combattans; on n'entend plus que les cris des mourans ; the armies were in sight; the engagement began. Immediately a cloud of arrows darkened the air and covered the combatants; nothing was heard but the cries of the dying. 4 (bis). This tense is used instead of the future, when the verb is preceded by si, if, expressing a condition. Ex. S'il vient, je partirai; if he come, I shall go. But if si means whether, the future is used: je ne sais si nous irons, I don't know whether we shall go. Imperfect. 5. This tense is used to express an action as being done at the time that another, which is past, took place. Ex. Mon frère apprenait sa leçon my brother was learning his quand vous arrivátes ; lesson when you arrived. In the above sentence, the act of learning, though past when I am speaking, was present at the moment your arrival took place; therefore, this tense is but imperfectly past, and imperfectly present. |