Participles wanting, except, as according to some grammarians, it has for its active participle, cunning, commonly classed among adjectives.

PRESENT TENSE.

SINGULAR.

1. I can.

2. Thou canst.

3. He can.

PLURAL.

1. We can.

2. Ye or you can.

5. They can.

NOTE.-Some of these verbs are auxiliaries only when they are connected with some principal verb expressed or understood when not so situated they are, themselves, principal verbs: as, "He has his full share of prosperity;" "they are wise and prudent;" "she wills it to be done in that manner;" "they do unwarrantable actions ;" and in this case, they have auxiliaries also: as, 66 They will have suffered enough;"" she will be grateful."

Do, (the Saxon word, Don, to act) being prefixed to another verb, serves to mark the action and time with greater energy and positiveness: as, "I do say so;" "I did see him do it." This word is used likewise, in almost all sentences that deny, or that ask a question; as, "They do not know that;" "did you not hear the order?”

Sometimes it supplies the place of another verb, thereby enabling the writer or speaker to avoid the repetition of that verb in the same, or the following sentence: as, "He relishes not the beauties of nature as you do;" "I will go with you if I can, but if I do not, you must excuse me." This verb is sometimes very improperly used, instead of some tense of the verb, to have: as, "Have you learnt your lesson this morning?" yes, I did;"" I did not try the pen yet;" "I did not see him to-day:"

Have, from the Saxon word Habban, or the Gothic Haba. This verb signifies to possess. It was used by the Anglo-Saxons and Goths for an auxiliary as it now is. It serves to imply the ending or completion of the act expressed by the

verb as, "I have gained the prize;" "I had gained the prize;" "I shall have gained the prize."

Shall, from a Saxon, or a Gothic word, which signifies a servant. This verb expresses obligation, and consequently implies duty. Before, and in the time when Chaucer wrote, it was used as a transitive verb; thus, he says, "the faith I shall to God;" which would, in the present state of the English language, be, "the faith I owe to God." It is now prefixed only to the infinite mood of other verbs. Shall, in the second and third persons, when spoken with the tone of authority, commonly implies command; while in the first person, it simply predicts an action or event: thus, "You shall return at nine o'clock;" "I shall go to London some time this year."

Will, the Saxon word willan, signifies to resolve to determine, and was used by the Saxons as an auxiliary. In the first person singular and plural, this auxiliary verb implies determination and promise, while in. the second and third persons, it merely foretels: as, "I will certainly com

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ply with your request;" we will do what you wish;" " you will learn wisdom by experience;" "they will not determine hastily."

May, from the Saxon and Gothic word Magan, signifies, capability, power, permission, and requires the infinitive mood of the verb after it without the preposition, to: as, "I may go, if I please;" "he may take it, or leave it."

:

Can, from the Saxon and Gothic word Cunnan, to know whence it signifies ability, since knowledge is power. This verb was used transitively by the Anglo-Saxons, where know is now employed.

Must (the Dutch word Mussen) signifies to be obliged or necessitated. It is used in tenses, persons, and numbers, without any variation: : as, "We must obey the law of God;" "we must be good, if we would be happy."

Let expresses permission, entreating, exhorting, commanding: as, "Let him do it if he chuse;" "let me find favour in thy sight;""let him go out of the house instantly;" "let not thy soul be dispirited within thee."

NOTE.-Though, strictly speaking, a command, or request, is always addressed to the second person, and not to the first, or third; yet as the word, let, bears the signification of intreaty, or command, when it is joined with the pronoun of the first person in the oblique case, followed by the root of a verb, the meaning is entreaty for permission: "Let me see the light of day once more;" implies, permit me to see the light, &c. When united to the pronoun of the third person in the same manner, it signifies entreaty or command delivered to the second person, in behalf of, or with respect to the third.

as,