PAST PERFECT TENSE

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CXXIII. PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

The present perfect tense represents an action or event as past, but connected with present time; as, “I have learned my lesson."

Have, the sign of the present perfect tense, originally denoted possession. It retains this meaning when used as a principal verb. As an auxiliary, it denotes completion; as, "The hunters have killed a wolf." "A man has fallen from the bridge."

When preceded by a subordinate connective of time, the present perfect tense sometimes denotes future time; as, "He will forward the goods as soon as he has received them."

CXXIV. PAST TENSE

The past tense expresses what took place in time wholly past; as, "I wrote"; "I was sailing."

The past indicative, like the present, denotes what was habitual; as, "We walked five miles every morning." It may denote an act in past time, but not completed; as, “He was driving furiously when I saw him."

The past potential denotes (1) a duty or obligation, without reference to time; as, “Judges should be merciful”: (2) a habit or custom; as, "He would be absent a week at a time": (3) ability possessed in past time; as, "He could walk yesterday": (4) present possibility or power; as, "I could write [now] if I would": (5) a future possibility; as, "If I should write to you [hereafter], you must answer immediately."

CXXV PAST PERFECT TENSE

The past perfect tense represents an act as ended or completed at or before a certain past time; as, “She had finished her task before three o'clock"; "The cars had started before we reached the depot."

The past is frequently used instead of the past perfect, to denote the completion of an act at or before a certain past time mentioned; as, "The boat left before midnight."

The past perfect subjunctive and past perfect potential deny the action or event; as, "If I had started sooner, I should have overtaken you."

CXXVI. FUTURE TENSE

The future tense expresses what will take place in future time; as, "I shall return soon"; "The lion shall eat straw like the ox."

Shall and will are the signs of the future tense. Shall expresses the action or event (1) as a duty commanded; as, "He shall pay you"; "Thou shalt not steal": (2) as a prediction; as, "I shall make a thousand dollars": (3) as future; as, "I shall leave at noon.

Will expresses the action or event (1) as something determined upon; as, “I will go: no power on earth can prevent me"; "The cause will raise up armies": (2) as future; as, "You will feel better to-morrow."

Shall, in the first person, and will, in the second and third, are usually employed to denote futurity; as, "We shall arrive there by noon"; "You will be glad to see us"; "He will be with us."

Will is used, in the first person, to denote determination; and shall, in the second and third, to denote necessity; as, "I will write to you"; "I will not do it, come what may"; "Neither he nor you shall go without me."

CXXVII. FUTURE PERFECT TENSE

The future perfect tense represents an action as finished or ended at or before a certain future time; as, "I shall have finished my task at three o'clock"; "We shall have dined before you arrive."

SIGNS OF THE TENSES: ACTIVE VOICE

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CXXVIII. TENSES IN ALL THE MODES

The indicative mode has all six tenses.

The subjunctive mode has three tenses: the present, past, and past perfect.

The potential mode has four tenses: the present, present perfect, past, and past perfect.

The imperative mode has one tense: the present.

Tense does not properly belong to the infinitive. Its forms, although usually called tenses, have no regard to time. The present tense denotes progressive or completed action or state, with reference to past, present, or future time; the present perfect, a completed action or state in an unlimited manner.

The auxiliaries, when used as such, except must, which is used in the present tense only, have two tenses: the present and the past.

CXXIX. SIGNS OF THE TENSES: ACTIVE VOICE

INDICATIVE MODE

Present:

Past:

Future:

Simple form of the verb.

When regular, add eď to the simple form.
Prefix shall or will to the simple form.

Present Perfect: Prefix have, hast, or has to the perfect participle.

Past Perfect:

Prefix had or hadst to the perfect participle.

Future Perfect: Prefix shall have or will have to the perfect participle.

SUBJUNCTIVE MODE

If, though, except, unless, etc., placed before tense forms given in the conjugation, are called signs of the subjunctive mode.

Present:
Past:

POTENTIAL MODE

Prefix may, can, or must to the simple form.

Prefix might, could, would, or should to the simple form.

Present Perfect: Prefix may, can, or must have to the perfect participle. Past Perfect: Prefix might, could, would, or should have to the

perfect participle.

IMPERATIVE MODE

Present:

Let, or a command.

Present:

INFINITIVE

Prefix to to the simple form.

Present Perfect: Prefix to have to the perfect participle.

Verbs have four forms: the common, the emphatic, the progressive, and the ancient, or solemn style.

The common form represents an act as a custom, or as completed without reference to its progress; as, “I write"; "I shall write."

The emphatic form represents an act with emphasis; as, "I do write"; "He did go"; "He declared that he did not do it."

PERSON AND NUMBER OF VERBS

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This form is made by prefixing the present and past tenses of to do to the simple form of the verb.

The progressive form is used to denote action or state in progress; as, “I am writing"; "He had been singing."

The progressive form is made by prefixing the various modes and tenses of the verb to be to the present participle of the principal verb.

The ancient form, or solemn style, is used in the Bible, in religious worship, and sometimes in poetry and burlesque; as, "Thou art the man"; "So shalt thou rest"; "Thou art a pretty fellow."

CXXXI. PERSON AND NUMBER OF VERBS

The person and number of verbs are their modifications to mark their agreement with their subjects.

A subject in the second person singular generally requires the verb, or its auxiliary, to end in t, st, or est; as, "Thou shalt not steal"; "Thou canst read"; "Thou runnest."

A subject in the third person singular generally requires the verb, or its auxiliary, to end in s, es, or eth; as, “Julia reads"; "The horse goes"; "God loveth us.

The personal terminations in the plural are the same as the first person singular, except in the verb to be.

A verb must agree with its subject in person and number.

When two or more nominatives, differing in person, are taken collectively, the verb prefers the first to the second, and the second to the third. When they are connected by or or nor, or are taken separately, it prefers the person of the nominative next to it. Courtesy requires the first place to be given to the second person, and last place to the first.