113. Signification of the Auxiliaries. 1. The salaries, deriving much of their force from thei original signifcativas, give their own shades of meaning to the tens form into which they enter. 2 BL from the Saxen beon,” to be fixed, to exist, denotes existenc As an alary, it is the erga, used 80, 5) to join an attribute to, an Garett its existence in the subject; as, "The heat is oppressive.” Do, from the Saxon "don." to do, denotes action. As an auxiliar it is used chiefy to give intensity of meaning to the action of the princi Fal verb. This it does especially in affirmative sentences, and, to som degree, in negative. But in interrogative sentences, it is little mor than a sign of interrogation; as, “I do try,” “I did go;” "He did nt speak;” ~ Do you hear it !” 4. HAVE, from the Saxon "habban,” to have, denotes possession, an as an auxiliary retains its original meaning in the idea of completion as if an act was not fully possessed by its subject until completed. I seems to have acquired this meaning thus:—In “I have treasures con cealed," hare denotes possession, and is separated from "concealed; in "I have concealed treasures,” it still denotes possession, but i brought into connection with “concealed;” whereas, in “I have con cealed the treasures," it is brought into intimate relation with "con cealed," which passes from a passive to an active signification, and her we have the idea of possession or completion of the act. 5. SHALL and WILL. Shall, from the Saxon "scealan," to be obliges has the primary meaning of obligation, and implies an agency, usuall personal, by which it is enforced. This agency may be the determinatic of the actor, but is most commonly that of another. Will, from th Saxon "willan," to determine, denotes determination, resolution, or purpos springing directly from the agent himself. But that which one is unde obligation to do, and which, it is determined, he shall do, is not no done. Hence, both shall and will imply futurity. Thus, "You sha write," denotes a present obligation to perform a future act; it implie that I, the speaker, have so resolved. So, when I say emphatically, shall write," both the obligation and the resolution pertain to the agent But when I say it without emphasis, I simply predict a future event. 6. Hence, shall and will have. 64 (a.) A complex signification, when a future event is made to depend upo the determination, resolution, or volition of a personal agent (either the acto or another); as, "He shall go" (I so resolve). "I will go" (I myself so re solve. 66 Meaning of the auxiliaries-" Be," "Do," "Have," "Shall," and "Will." Complex signification of "Shall and "Will." (b.) A simple signification, denoting mere futurity, when a future event is holly or chiefly independent of volition or resolution; as, "It will rain” hatever you or may resolve); "I shall be overtaken" (independent of my 11). In this case the speaker merely predicts or expresses an opinion. The st tenses should and would are used with the same or nearly the same sigfications. 66 7. Two parties (the speaker sometimes being a third), are necessarily volved in both these cases; the one who resolves or predicts, and the le who acts. Two cases may arise. (1.) Both parties may be repreented by the same person; as, “I resolve or determine that I will write ;" simply, "I will write." “I predict or believe that I shall write;" or mply, "I shall write." "You resolve that you will write." "You beeve or predict that you shall write." (2.) Both parties may be repreented, one by one person, and the other by another; as, "I resolve that ou shall write;" or simply, "You shall write." "I predict that you will rite;" or simply, "You will write." "You resolve that I shall write." You predict that I shall (not will) write.” "He resolves that you shall rite." "He predicts that you will write." In interrogative sentences, he same principles prevail, but the will or opinion of the second person 3 referred to; as, "Shall he write?" that is, "Is it your will or resoluion that he shall write?" "Will it rain ?" that is, "Is it your opinion r prediction that it will rain ?" A careful inspection of these and similar examples will justify the ollowing rules: 8. RULE I. When the person who resolves or predicts is not mentioned, the peaker or FIRST person is always understood in affirmative, and the hearer or SECOND in interrogative sentences; as, You shall go." (I will it.) Shall he go?" (Do you will it?) "It will rain.” (I predict it.) Will it rain?" (Do you predict it?") 9. RULE II. WILL should be used when the resolution and the action are attributed to the SAME person, and SHALL when they are attributed to DIFFERENT persons; "I will go." (I myself resolve.) "Will you go?" (Do you yourself resolve?) "He "He will go." (He himself resolves.) shall go." (I resolve.) 10. RULE III. SHALL should be used when the prediction and the action are both attributed to the SAME person, or in any case, provided the action be attributed to the FIRST person; and WILL should be used when the prediction and the action (except in the case of the first person), are attributed to DIFFERENT persons; as, "You will be promoted." (I predict it.) "I shall teach, or be a teacher." (I, he, you, or they, predict it.) "Will he Simple signification of "Shall" and "Will." Parties involved. Rules I. II., III. G "Will it rain?" (Do you think so.) teach?" (Do you predict it?) "It will rain." (I think so.) NOTE.-Shall is used in animated discourse, contrary to the last part of Rule III., when the speaker offers an implied pledge that his prediction shall be fulfilled; as, When the precepts of the Gospel shall have been thoroughly inwrought into the lives of men, then shall war be known only in history.” 11. MAY, CAN, and MUST. May, from the Saxon "magan," to be strong, expressed the primary idea of power, and implied a personal agency from without employed to remove all hindrance. Hence the idea of permission. Can, is from the Saxon "cunnan," to know, that is, an intellectual power within one's self. Hence the idea of ability. Mus is from the Saxon "motan," to be able, that is, to be impelled by a power coming-not from any personal agency without, as in case of may, nor within, as in case of can-but from the nature, constitution, or fitness of things. Hence, the idea of necessity, and, in a moral point of view, obligation. (1.) It will be seen that may, can, and must, agree in the idea of power; hence, the term potential,-but they differ in the source of it. As auxiliaries, they retain much of their original meaning. May expresses, in general, permission; as, 66 You may visit the country." May it 12. May sometimes denotes possibility, and implies doubt; as, “It may rain." "He may have written;" sometimes a petition; as, please you." 13. Might and could also express in past time the same general meaning as in the present; as, "I know I may or can go." "I knew I might or could go." 14. Might, could, should, and would are used in conditional sentences, might in one clause answering to could in the other, when power, ability, or inclination is implied; as, "He might sing, if he could or would." So, "He could sing, if he would." He would sing, if he could." Some times the conditional clause is omitted. "He might write." "He could write." "He would write." In all these examples a present possibility, liberty, &c., is referred to. When past time is referred to, we use the past perfect tense; as, "He might have written, if he would (have written). 114. Exercise. 1. In the following sentences, do SHALL and WILL resolve or predict?— I will go to the party. You shall not leave the room. It will be a sad day for him. He shall do as I tell him. Eugene will come to see me. I shall go to see my sister. I shall see him to-morrow. In the Signification and uses of "May," "Can," "Must," "Might," "Could," "Would," and "Should." y that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die. Thou wilt show me e path of life. He will be elected. Perhaps I shall find my book. will fear no evil. I will dwell in the house of my God for ever. Shall go to ride? Will Florence do it? In spite of all your objections, I ill do it. The sun will shine. The clock will strike. Shall you go › the lecture? When will the time come? Will the earl do well? 2. Correct the following examples by giving and explaining the right use f SHALL and WILL: I will receive a letter when my brother comes. If they make the hanges, I do not think I will like them. Will we have a good time, if I e go? Perhaps you shall find the purse. I will be unhappy if you do .ot come. I will be afraid if it is dark. Surely goodness and mercy hall follow me, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. esolve that he will return with me. I will be obliged to you. I will be punished. What sorrow will I have to endure! The moon shall give her light. Will I write? He is resolved that Mary will go. If we examine the subject, we will perceive the error. I will suffer from poverty; nobody shall help me. will I leave you? When shall you go with me? Where 3. Study the following Models for Analysis, and explain the auxiliaries :— We are marching . . . . Are is an auxiliary verb, denotes present time, I do write He will sing. and asserts a thing as actual; marching is a present participle, denoting a progressive act; hence are marching is the present tense, indicative mode, progressive form. Do is an auxiliary verb, denotes the present tense, asserts a thing as actual, and imparts emphasis; write denotes the act used indefinitely; hence do write is the present indicative, emphatic form. Will is an auxiliary verb, denotes future time (simply predicts), and asserts a thing as actual; sing denotes the act used indefinitely; hence will sing is in the future tense, indicative mode. Has is an auxiliary verb, denotes present time, is a sign of completed action, and asserts a thing as actual; conquered is the past participle of conquer, denoting a completed or perfect act; hence has conquered is the present perfect, indicative. I had been writing . . . Had is an auxiliary verb, denotes past time, is He has conquered ... sign of completion, and with been asserts a thing as actual; been is the past participle of the auxiliary to be, and is used to denote completion; Models for analysis. writing is the present participle of write, formed by adding ing (25, 3), and denotes a progressive act; hence had been writing is the past perfect progressive, indicative. They will have fought. Will is an auxiliary verb; it denotes future time (simply predicts), and asserts a thing as actual; have is a sign of completion; hence will have is the sign of future completion; fought is the past | participle of fight; it denotes completion: hence will have fought is the future perfect tense, indicative. I may read ..... If he is detained ・・・ ・ May is an auxiliary verb; it denotes present time. asserts a thing as imagined or thought of (not as actual), and gives permission; read denotes an indefinite act; hence may read is the present potential, common form. Is is an auxiliary verb, denotes present time, and of itself asserts a thing as actual, but under the influence of if, asserts a thing as doubtful and conditional; detained is a passive participle, denoting the reception of an act; hence is detained is the present passive, subjunctive. 4. In the same manner analyze the following examples :— The tempest has passed. The sun was rising. I shall be satisfied. The sailor would have been discharged, if he had not given a satisfactory excuse. The boys were anxious to go. Leslie hoped to have finished the work before the storm approached. Go to the prison. Write an answer. The letter may have been delayed. If you should write a correct lesson, you would be commended. 5. Write three examples of the emphatic indicative past; three of the progressive past perfect; four of the progressive potential past perfect; also any other which your teacher may give. 6. Tell the MODE, TENSE, and FORM of each of the following verbs :— Shepherd, lead on. Sweet is the breath of morn. These are thy works. He will be coming. Silence filled the courts of heaven. Thus far shalt thou go. He leads them forth through golden portals. Truth, crushed to earth, shall rise again. Do thou in secret pray. If thy brother die, he shall live again. By that time he will have been reaping his wheat. They must go to rest. He has been studying his lesson. The sun will have set when I reach home. He sunk to repose where the red heaths are blended. Models for analysis. |