How to Speak and Write Correctly | Page 6

transitive or intransitive.
A verb is said to be regular when it forms the past tense by adding ed to the present or d
if the verb ends in e. When its past tense does not end in ed it is said to be irregular.
A transitive verb is one the action of which passes over to or affects some object; as "I
struck the table." Here the action of striking affected the object table, hence struck is a
transitive verb.
An intransitive verb is one in which the action remains with the subject; as _"I walk,"_
_"I sit,"_ _"I run."_
Many intransitive verbs, however, can be used transitively; thus, "I walk the horse;" walk
is here transitive.
Verbs are inflected by number, person, tense and mood.
Number and person as applied to the verb really belong to the subject; they are used with
the verb to denote whether the assertion is made regarding one or more than one and
whether it is made in reference to the person speaking, the person spoken to or the person
or thing spoken about.
TENSE
In their tenses verbs follow the divisions of time. They have present tense, past tense and
future tense with their variations to express the exact time of action as to an event
happening, having happened or yet to happen.
MOOD
There are four simple moods,--the Infinitive, the Indicative, the Imperative and the
Subjunctive.
The Mood of a verb denotes the mode or manner in which it is used. Thus if it is used in
its widest sense without reference to person or number, time or place, it is in the Infinitive
Mood; as "To run." Here we are not told who does the running, when it is done, where it
is done or anything about it.
When a verb is used to indicate or declare or ask a simple question or make any direct
statement, it is in the Indicative Mood. "The boy loves his book." Here a direct statement
is made concerning the boy. "Have you a pin?" Here a simple question is asked which

calls for an answer.
When the verb is used to express a command or entreaty it is in the Imperative Mood as,
"Go away." "Give me a penny."
When the verb is used to express doubt, supposition or uncertainty or when some future
action depends upon a contingency, it is in the subjunctive mood; as, "If I come, he shall
remain."
Many grammarians include a fifth mood called the potential to express power, possibility,
liberty, necessity, will or duty. It is formed by means of the auxiliaries may, can, ought
and must, but in all cases it can be resolved into the indicative or subjunctive. Thus, in "I
may write if I choose," "may write" is by some classified as in the potential mood, but in
reality the phrase I may write is an indicative one while the second clause, if I choose, is
the expression of a condition upon which, not my liberty to write, depends, but my actual
writing.
Verbs have two participles, the present or imperfect, sometimes called the active ending
in ing and the past or perfect, often called the passive, ending in ed or d.
The infinitive expresses the sense of the verb in a substantive form, the participles in an
adjective form; as "To rise early is healthful." "An early rising man." "The newly risen
sun."
The participle in ing is frequently used as a substantive and consequently is equivalent to
an infinitive; thus, "To rise early is healthful" and "Rising early is healthful" are the same.
The principal parts of a verb are the Present Indicative, Past Indicative and Past Participle;
as:
Love Loved Loved
Sometimes one or more of these parts are wanting, and then the verb is said to be
defective.
Present Past Passive Participle
Can Could (Wanting) May Might " Shall Should " Will Would " Ought Ought "
Verbs may also be divided into principal and auxiliary. A principal verb is that without
which a sentence or clause can contain no assertion or affirmation. An auxiliary is a verb
joined to the root or participles of a principal verb to express time and manner with
greater precision than can be done by the tenses and moods in their simple form. Thus,
the sentence, "I am writing an exercise; when I shall have finished it I shall read it to the
class." has no meaning without the principal verbs writing, _finished read_; but the
meaning is rendered more definite, especially with regard to time, by the auxiliary verbs
am, have, shall.

There are nine auxiliary or helping verbs, viz., Be, have, do, shall, will, may, can, ought,
and must. They are called helping verbs, because it is by their aid the compound tenses
are