event as perfect, that is, as having already taken place, in the time.

Thus we have six tenses, which are named as follows:

1. Present Tense

PRESENT TIME.

as, "I write."

2. Present Perfect Tense...... as, "I have written."

2. Future Perfect Tense ..... . as, "I shall have written."

FORMATION OF THE PERFECT TENSES.

Writ

I have is the present tense of the verb to have; I had is the past tense, and I shall have the future tense of to have. ten is the auxiliary perfect participle of the verb to write.

The perfect tenses are composed of the present, past, and future tenses of the verb to have and the auxiliary perfect participle of the principal verb, which in the present instance is to write. The tense of the verb to have denotes the time, and the perfect participle denotes the completion of the action. Thus,

Remarks.-1. To denote an action or state as imperfect, that is, as going on and not completed, the various tenses of the verb to be are used with the imperfect participle. Thus,

2. Some verbs, from the nature of their signification, denote the continuance of the action; as, "I know him." These have none of the imperfect forms: "I am knowing him," is not used.

PRESENT TENSE.

The Present tense expresses what takes place in present time; as, "I love; I am loved."

Remarks.-1. Any existing custom or general truth may be expressed by this tense; as, "Thomas visits me every day;" "Vice produces misery."

2. In animated narration, this tense is sometimes used to express past events; the speaker is supposed to become so much interested that the events seem to be passing before him; as,

"What sounds upon the midnight wind
Approach so rapidly behind?

It is, it is, the tramp of steeds,

Matilda hears the sound, she speeds;
Seizes upon the leader's rein."

This tense is sometimes used, in dependent clauses, to express future events, chiefly after when, as soon as, till, after, before, and after relative pronouns; as, "I shall see him when he comes," that is, shall have come; "I will go when John rises," that is, shall have risen; "You will not see clearly till daylight appears," "I shall get a letter after the mail arrives ;” "He will not get a letter before the mail arrives ;” “He will kill every one whom he meets."

܂

Remark. This tense may be used in speaking of an author long since dead, when we refer to his works which still exist; as, "Virgil imitates Homer."

How is imperfect action denoted?

Define the present tense.

What may be expressed by this tense?

Is this tense ever used to express past events?

When is it used to express future events?

How may this tense be used in speaking of an author who is dead?

PRESENT PERFECT TENSE. [PERFECT.]

The Present Perfect tense represents an action or state as perfect or finished, in present time; as, "I have walked to-day;" "John has studied this week;" "Many excellent works have been written in this century."

Note. The time is present, though the action or state is past; this tense cannot be used, if the smallest portion of time has intervened between that which is assumed as present, and that in which the event took place. Thus it would be incorrect to say, "I have seen him a moment ago."

Remarks.-1. This tense may be used when we speak of an author long since dead, when the works to which we refer are still in existence; as, "Milton has written some noble works."

Here we refer not so much to the act of writing, as to Milton's character as a writer, as shown in the works which still exist. But if the works did not remain, we should say, "Milton wrote;" and even if the work is extant, if we refer to the act of writing, we use the past tense; as, "Milton wrote Paradise Lost."

2. This tense, as well as the present, is sometimes used in dependent clauses to express a future event; as, "When he has finished his studies, he will go home," that is, when he shall have finished.

PAST TENSE. [IMPERFECT.]

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The Past tense expresses what took place in past time; as, “I wrote a letter yesterday;" "God created the world;""Cæsar was killed by Brutus."

Remarks.-1. This tense is used only when the time has completely expired; but we sometimes say, "He walked to-day," referring to a portion of the day which has expired.

2. As the present time sometimes denotes a present custom, so this tense 30metimes denotes a past custom; as,

"Thirty steeds, both fleet and wight,

Stood saddled in stable day and night,

A hundred more fed free in stall ;-
Such was the custom in Branksome Hall."

Define the present perfect tense.
How may this tense be used in speaking
of an author who is dead?

When is it used to express a future event?

Define the past tense.

When only is this tense used?

Does this tense ever denote a custom ?

PAST PERFECT TENSE.

PLUPERFECT.]

The Past Perfect tense represents an action or state as perfect or finished at some past time referred to; as, "I had written a letter when he arrived;" "The ship had sailed before he reached Boston."

FUTURE.

The Future tense expresses what will take place hereafter; as, "George will go to town, and I shall see him."

Remark. A future custom may be expressed by this tense; as, “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid." "And the lion shall eat straw like the ox."

FUTURE PERFECT TENSE.

[SECOND FUTURE.]

The Future Perfect tense represents an action or state as perfect or finished at some future time; as, "I shall have dined at one o'clock;" "I will go before I shall have seen him."

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Note. In the second example, the future time to which shall have seen belongs, is not the same as that to which will go refers; the meaning is, “I will go before the time at which I shall have seen him ;” at which (time) denoting the future time to which shall have seen refers.

PRESENT.—In the active voice, same as the simple form of the infinitive; after thou, est is annexed to the simple form; after a word in the third person, s is annexed.

In the passive voice, am, are, art, and is, with the pas sive participle.

PRESENT PERFECT.-Have, hast, and has.

Define the past perfect tense.

Define the future tense.

Does this tense ever denote a custom?
Define the future perfect tense.

PAST. In the active voice of regular verbs, ed is annexed to the simple form; after thou, edst. In the passive voice, was, wast, and were, with the passive participle.

PAST PERFECT.-Had and hadst.

FUTURE.-Shall, will, shalt, and wilt.

FUTURE PERFECT.-Shall have, will have, shalt have, and wil have.

EXAMPLES.

PRESENT, ACTIVE.-I follow, (infinitive, to follow,) thou followest, he follows, we follow.

PASSIVE.-I am followed, thou art followed, he is followed, we are followed.

PRESENT PERFECT ACTIVE.-I have followed, thou hast followed, he has followed.

PASSIVE.-I have been followed.

PAST, ACTIVE.-I followed, thou followedst, he followed.

PASSIVE.-I was followed, thou wast followed, we were followed.
PAST PERFECT, ACTIVE.-I had followed, thou hadst followed.
PASSIVE.-I had been followed.

FUTURE, ACTIVE.-I shall follow, thou wilt follow, he will follow.
PASSIVE.—I shall be followed, thou wilt be followed.

FUTURE PERFECT, ACTIVE.—I shall have followed, thou wilt have followed.
PASSIVE.-I shall have been followed.

Note. The passive voice has not the participle in ing. "I am following," is not passive.

EXERCISES.

1. In what tense is each of the following verbs?

John rides often.

Thomas has read the book.

The horse

threw his rider. The cow had eaten the corn before the horse came to the stable. The snow will melt soon. The wood will have been cut before that time. Spring will return. Important events have occurred in this century. Bonaparte was sent to Elba. I have seen many things in my life. Darius was defeated by Alexander. The rain falls in torrents. The night is dark. The shoe will soon be mended, George will then go home. Amelia loves study. I had seen it before you saw it. My work will have been completed before the time at which the bell usually rings. The robbers attacked the traveler.