a tendency of the mind to do what is expressed by the following infinitive, i. e. to speak, to write, or to sleep. To go, in the literal use of the term, relates to the movements of the body, or of some visible substance; but by a figure of speech, it is, in these familiar expressions, applied to the operations or volitions of the mind. And considered in this light, it is as evidently a present tense, as the expression I expect, or I intend, to do a thing. There is indeed a reference to futurity, but this is no more than is true in many other cases, when a verb in the present tense is immediately followed by another in the infinitive mood.

Tense, or time, is made to consist of six variations; viz; the present, the imperfect the perfect, the pluperfect, and the first and second future.

The Present tense represents the action or event as passing at the time in which it is mentioned; as, I rule: I am ruled: I think : I fear.

It is also used in speaking of actions continued, with occasional intermissions, to the present time; as, He frequently rides He walks out every morning He goes into the country every summer. We sometimes apply this tense even to persons long since dead; as, Seneca reasons and moralises well: Job speaks feelingly of his afflictions.

The present tense, preceded by the words when, before, after, as soon as, &c. is sometimes used to point out the relative time of a

future action; as, When he arrives he will hear the news; He will hear the news before he arrives, or as soon as he arrives, or, at the farthest, soon after he arrives. The more she improves, the more amiable she will be.

In animated historical narrations, this tense is sometimes substituted for the imperfect tense; as, "He enters the territory of the peaceable inhabitants; he fights and conquers, takes an immense booty, which he divides amongst his soldiers, and returns home to enjoy an empty triumph."

The Imperfect tense represents the action tr event either as past and finished, or as remaining unfinished at a certain time past; as, I loved her for her modesty and virtue: They were travelling post when he met them.

The Perfect tense not only refers to what is past, but also conveys an allusion to the present time; as, I have finished my letter: I have een the person that was recommended to

m.

Ihe former example, it is signified that the fining of the letter, though past, was at a period mediately, or very nearly, preced ing the prent time. In the latter instance, it is uncertain whether the person mentioned was seen by the spearer a long or short time before. The meaning is, I have seen him some time in the course of a period which includes, or comes to, the present tine. When the particular time of any occurrence is specified as prior to the present time, this tense is not

ed; for it would he improper to say, I have seen him yesterday; or, I have finished my work last week In these cases the imperfect is necessa ry; as, I saw him yesterday I finished my work last week. But when we speak indefinitely of any thing past, as happenning, or not happenning in the day, year, or age, in which we mentioned it, the perfect must be employed; as, I have been there this morning I have travelled much this year: We have escaped many dangers through life. In referring, how ever, to such a division of the day as is pas before the time of our speaking, we must us: the imperfect; as, They came home thi morning He was with them this afternoon.

:

In general, the perfect tense may be appl ed wherever the action is connected with the present time, by the actual existence either of the author or of the work, though it may have been performed many centuries ago; but if neither the author nor the work now remain' it cannot be used. We may say, Cicero as written orations; but we cannot say acero has written poems; because the orat? in being, but the poems are lost. *

ons are

The Pluperfect tense represers a thing not only as past, but also as prior o some other point of time specified in the sentence; as, I had finished my letter bore he arrived.

The First Future ense represents the action as yet to come, either with or without respect to the precise time when; as, The sun will rise to-morrow: I shall see them again.

es

The Second Future tense intimates that the action will be fully accomplished at or before the time of another future action or event; as, I shall have dined at one o'clock: The two houses will have finished their business, when the king comes to prorogue them.

The present, past, and future tenses, may be used either definitely or indefinitely, both with respect to time and action. When they denote customs or habits, and not individual acts, they are applied indefinitely; as, Virtue promotes happiness: The old Romans governed by benefits more than by fear I shall hereafter employ my time more usefully. In these examples, the words promotes, governed, and shall employ, are used indefinitely, both in I regard to action and time; for they are not confined to individual actions, nor to any precise points of present, past, or future time. When they are applied to signify particular actions, and to ascertain the precise points of time to which they are confined, they are used definitely; as in the following instances: My brother is writing; He built the house last summer, but did not inhabit it till yesterday; He will write another letter to-morrow.

The conjugation of the verbs To Be and To Have.

The conjugation of a verb is the regular combination and arrangement of its several numbers, persons, moods, and tenses.

The verb TO BE is conjugated as follows:

1. We were.

1. I was.

2. Thou wast, or you were. 2. Ye or you were.

3. He was.

3. They werc.

Perfect Tense.

Singular.

Plural.

1. I have been.

1. We have been.

2. Thou hast heen, or you 2. Ye or you have

3. He hath or has been. 3. They have been..

2. Thou hadst been, or you 2. Ye or you had been.

had been.

3. They had been.

3. He had been.