A simple sentence consists of a verb, its subject, and its object. The verb indicates the action, the subject is the noun (name of a person or thing) which does the act, the object is the noun to which the thing is done. Verbs have forms denoting person and number, for example:
Singular Plural
1st I love 1st We love 2nd You love (thou lovest) 2nd You love formal and archaic.
3rd He loves 3rd They love
Singular Plural
1st I was 1st We were 2nd You were (thou wast) 2nd You were 3rd He was 3rd They were
Verbs agree with their subjects in person and number. We all know this but we do not always remember it. Unless you are very careful, you will find yourself using a singular subject with a plural verb or the reverse. Mistakes of this sort are particularly liable to happen in the case of collective nouns, in the use of personal p.r.o.nouns as subjects, and in cases where the subject and the verb are far separated in the sentence.
Those forms of the verb which tell whether the subject is acting or is acted upon are called voices. When the subject is acting the verb is said to be in the active voice. When the subject is acted upon the verb is said to be in the pa.s.sive voice. Verbs in the pa.s.sive voice have no objects because the subject, being acted upon, is itself in the place of an object.
Those forms of the verb which tell whether the time of the action is past, present, or future, are called tenses. They are six, viz.
Present, I _print_ (_am printing_) the book.
Past or imperfect, I _printed_ the book.
Future, I _shall print_ the book.
Perfect, or present perfect, I _have printed_ the book.
Pluperfect or past perfect, I _had printed_ the book before you wrote.
Future perfect, I will notify you when I _shall have printed_ the book.
When adverbs denoting time are indicated care should be taken to see that the verb is consistent with the adverb. "I _printed_ it yesterday,"
not "I _have printed_ it yesterday;" "I _have not_ yet _printed_ it,"
not "I _did_ not _print_ it yet;" "I _have printed_ it already," not "I _printed_ it already."
Trouble is sometimes found in choosing the right forms of the verb to be used in subordinate clauses. The rule is:
Verbs in subordinate sentences and clauses must be governed by the tense of the princ.i.p.al verb.
This rule rests on the exact meaning of the forms and words used and its application can be checked by careful examination of these meanings. "He _said_ he _did_ it." "He _said_ he _would do_ it." "He _says_ he _will_ do it."
Note that when the statement in the subordinate clause is of universal application the present tense is always used whatever the tense of the princ.i.p.al verb. "The lecturer said that warm weather always softens rollers."
Those forms of the verb which tell whether the action is an actual fact, a possibility, a condition, or a command are called moods.
There are three moods, the indicative, subjunctive, and imperative.
The indicative mood indicates that the action is a fact. It is also used in asking questions.
The subjunctive mood is less used in modern than in old English. It is most commonly found in clauses beginning with _if_, though _if_ is not to be regarded as the sign of the subjunctive in any such sense as _to_ is the sign of the infinitive.
The subjunctive _were_ should be used in purely hypothetical clauses such as "If I were in your place."
The subjunctive _be_ should be used in the hypothesis or supposition of a scientific demonstration,
If the triangle A be placed on the triangle B.
The subjunctive without _if_ is often used in wishes or prayers,
G.o.d forgive him.
O, that my brother were here.
The subjunctive is sometimes used to express condition,
Had you not been a coward, you would not have run away.
The imperative mood indicates a command,
Put that on the press.
The subject of the imperative mood is only expressed when it is emphatic,
Go thou and do likewise.
Older grammarians speak of a fourth mood called potential. The present tendency among grammarians is to treat these forms separately. They are verb phrases which express ability, possibility, obligation, or necessity. They are formed by the use of the auxiliary verbs _may_, _can_, _must_, _might_, _could_, _would_, and _should_, with the infinitive without _to_.
_May_ is used (a) to show that the subject is permitted to do something, "You may go out," or (b) to indicate possibility or doubtful intention, "I may not go to work tomorrow."
_Can_ is used to show that the subject is able to do something, "I can feed a press." These two forms are often confused, with results which would be ridiculous if they were not too common to attract attention.
The confusion perhaps arises from the fact that the ability to do a thing often appears to depend on permission to do it. "May I see a proof?" means "Have I permission, or will you allow me, to see a proof?"
and is the proper way to put the question. The common question, "Can I see a proof?" is absurd. Of course you can, if you have normal eyesight.
_Must_ shows necessity or obligation.
You must obey the rules of the office.
_Ought_ which is sometimes confounded with _must_ in phrases of this sort expresses moral obligation as distinguished from necessity.
You ought to obey the rules of the office,
indicates that it is your duty to obey because it is the right thing to do even though no penalty is attached.
You must obey the rules of the office,
indicates that you will be punished if you do not obey.
Those forms of the verb which express the time of the action are called tenses. No particular difficulty attends the use of the tenses except in the case of _shall_ and _will_ and _should_ and _would_.
_Shall_ and _will_ are used as follows: In simple statements to express mere futurity, use _shall_ in the first person, _will_ in the second and third; to express volition, promise, purpose, determination, or action which the speaker means to control use _will_ in the first person, _shall_ in the second and third.