fectly ascertained. In the second instance, the action is represented as past, but not finished; and it may therefore, with propriety, be denominated imperfect.

It is proper to observe, on this occasion, that in such sentences as the following; "He wrote to him yesterday;" "They behaved themselves at that period very properly;" the precise time of the action is not denoted by the tense of the verb itself, but by the addition of the words yesterday, and at that period.-See the last paragraph of the Seventh Chapter of Etymology, on the subject of Adverbs.

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 seen the person that was recommended to me."

In the former example it is signified that the finishing of the letter, though past, was at a period immediately preceding the present time. In the latter instance it is uncertain whether the person mentioned was seen by the speaker a long or short time before. The meaning is, "I have seen him sometime in the course of a period which includes, or comes to, the present time." In both instances, "The finishing of the letter," and "The seeing of the person," comprehend periods, each of which extends to the time present. We have no idea of any certain portion of time intervening between the time of action and the time of speaking of it. The sentence, "I have written a letter," implies that "I have, or possess, the finished, action of writing a letter." Under these views of the subject, it appears that the term perfect may be properly applied to this tense; as the action is not only finished, but the period of its completion is specially referred to, and ascertained.

When the particular time of any occurrence is specified, as prior to the present time, this tense is not used; for it would be improper to say, "I have seen him yesterday;" or, "I have finished my work last week." In these cases the imperfect is necessary: as, "I saw him yesterday;" "I finished my work last week." But when we speak indefinitely of any thing past, as happening or not happening in the day, year, or age, in which we mention 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, however, to such a division of the day as is past before the time of our speaking, we use the

imperfect: as, "They came home early this morning;" "He was with them at three o'clock this afternoon."

The perfect tense, and the imperfect tense, both denote a thing that is past; but the former denotes it in such a manner, that there is still actually remaining some part of the time to slide away, wherein we declare that the thing has been done; whereas the imperfect denotes the thing or action past, in such a manner, that nothing remains of that time in which it was done. If we speak of the present century, we say, "Philosophers have made great discoveries in the present century:" but if we speak of the last century, we say, "Philosophers made great discoveries in the last century.' "He has been much afflicted this year;" "I have this week read the king's proclamation;" "I have heard great news this morning:" in these instances, "He has been," "I have read," and "heard," denote things that are past; but they occurred in this year, in this week, and to-day; and still there remains a part of this year, week, and day, whereof I speak.

"Cicero

In general, the perfect tense may be applied 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 remains, it cannot be used. We may say, "Cicero has written orations;" but we cannot say, has written poems;" because the orations are in being, but the poems are lost. Speaking of priests in general, we may say, "They have in all ages claimed great powers; because the general order of the priesthood still exists: but if we speak of the Druids as a particular order of priests which does not now exist, we cannot use this tense. We cannot say, "The Druid priests have claimed great powers;" but must say, "The Druid priests claimed great powers;" because that order is now totally extinct."

The perfect tense, preceded by the words, when, after, as soon as, &c. is often used to denote the relative time of a future action; as, "When I have finished my letter, I will attend to his request:" "I will attend to the business, as soon as I have finished my letter."

The Pluperfect Tense represents a thing not only as past, but also as prior to some other point of time specified in the sentence: as "I had finished my letter before he arrived."

•See Pickbourn on the English Verb: to whose ingenious Dissertation the author is indebted for several Observations and Examples respecting the Tepses of our Verbs.

The term used to designate this tense, may, in some degree at least, be justified, by observing that the time of the action or event is more than, or beyond, the time of some other action or event to which it refers, and which is in the perfect, or the imperfect tense. Thus, in the sentences, "I have seen him, but I had written to him before; "Though he had not then agreed to the proposal, he has at length consented to it; "I saw him after I had written to him;" "He decided indeed very culpably, but he had been vehemently urged to it;" the pluperfect extends not only beyond, and precedent to, the time signified in the perfect tense, but also that denoted by the imperfect.

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

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The Second Future 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.”

It is to be observed that, in the subjunctive mood, the event being spoken of under a condition or supposition, or in the form of a wish, and therefore as doubtful and contingent, the verb itself in the present, and the auxiliary both of the present and past imperfect times, often carry with them somewhat of a future sense: as "If he come to-morrow, I may speak to him;" "If he should, or would come to-morrow, I might, would, could, or should speak to him." Observe also that the auxiliaries should and would, in the imperfect times, are used to express the present and future, as well as the past: as, "It is my desire that he should, or would, come now, or to-morrow; as well as "It was my desire, that he should or would come yesterday." So that, in this mood, the precise time of the verb is very much determined by the nature and drift of the sentence.

In treating of the tenses there are two things to which attention ought principally to be turned the relation which the several tenses have to one another, in respect of time; and the notice which they give of an action's being completed or not completed.

The present, past, and future tenses may be used either de

finitely 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 regard to action and time; for they are not confined to individual actions, nor to any prec se 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 tomorrow."

The different tenses also represent an action as complete or perfect, or as incomplete or imperfect. In the phrases, "I am writing," "I was writing," "I shall be writing," imperfect, unfinished actions are signified. But the following examples, "I wrote," "I have written," "I had written," "I shall have written," all denote complete, perfect action.

The distinction of the tenses into definite and indefin te, may be more intelligible to the student, by the following explanation and arrangement."*

PRESENT TENSE

Indefinite. This form of the present tense denotes action or being, in present time, without limiting it with exactness to a given point. It expresses also facts which exist generally, at all times, general truths, attributes which are permanent, habits, customary actions, and the like, without the reference to a specific time: as, "Hope springs eternal in the human breast: Virtue promotes happiness; Man is imperfect and dependent; The wicked fe when no man pursueth; Plants rise from the earth; Sometimes he works, but he often plays: Birds fly; Fishes swim." Definite. This form expresses the present time with precision; and it usually denotes action or being, which corresponds in time with another action: as, "He is meditating; I am writing, while you are waiting." am while you are

Though the author thinks he has, in the Introduction to his Grammar, offered a sufficient apology, for the use he has made of his predecessors' labours, and for omitting to insert their Bame; yet it may not be improper, on the present occasion, to observe, that the following detailed view of the tenses into definite and indefinite, is, in part taken from Webster's Grammar; and that a few positions and illustrations, amon st some of the Syntactical Notes and Observations, have also been selected from this grammarian, for the Octavo Edition of the Orammar.

IMPERFECT TENSE.

Indefinite. This form of the imperfect tense represents action past and finished, and often with the precise time undefined: as, "Alexander conquered the Persians; Scipio was as virtuous as brave.”

Definite. This form represents an action as taking place and unfinished, in some specified period of past time: as, “I was standing at the door when the procession passed."

PERFECT TENSE.

Indefinite. This form of the perfect tense represents an action completely past, and often at no great distance, but not specified as, "I have accomplished my design :" "I have read the History of England."

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Definite. This form represents an action as just finished: as, "I have been reading a history of the revolution :” "I have been studying hard to day."

PLUPERFECT TENSE.

Indefinite. This form of the pluperfect tense expresses an action which was past at or before some other past time specified as, "He had received the news before the messenger arrived."

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Definite. This form denotes an action to be just past, at or before another past time specified: as, "I had been waiting an hour, when the messenger arrived."

FIRST FUTURE TENSE.

Indefinite. This form of the first future simply gives notice of an event to happen hereafter: as, "Charles will go to London;""I think we shall have a fine season."

Definite. This form expresses an action which is to take place, and be unfinished, at a specified future time: as, “He will be preparing for a visit, at the time you arrive.”

SECOND FUTURE TENSE.

Indefinite. This form of the second future denotes an action which will be past at a future time specified: as, "They will have accomplished their purpose, at the time they proposed." Definite. This form represents an action which will be just past at a future specified time: as, The scholars will have been studying an hour, when the tutor comes to examine them."

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