Though the law is severe, we must obey it. If the law be severe, we must try to get it changed. If I am right, oh teach my heart If I am wrong, Thy grace impart Mean though I am, not wholly so, Since quickened by Thy breath. 293. The Subjunctive Mood, being the Mood of doubt, naturally comes after such words as if, though, unless, except, lest, whether, and that. It does not, however, follow that the Verb coming after these words is certain to be in the Subjunctive Mood; it may be in the Indicative Mood. me. Subjunctive Mood.-If my father were in the house he would agree with Indicative Mood.-If my father is in the house he will agree with me. In the first sentence, my father's being in the house is a matter of doubt; in the second, it is assumed that he is there. Subjunctive Mood.-Though the vase were made of steel, the careless servant would break it. Indicative Mood.-Though the vase was made of steel, the careless servant broke it. In the first sentence, we speak of a vase that might be, in the second, we speak of one that was, made of steel. Subjunctive Mood.- Whether the prisoner be innocent is uncertain. Indicative Mood.-Whether the prisoner is innocent or guilty, he deserves pity. 294. In the following sentences the Subjunctive is used for the Indicative : (1) If there were a warm place in his frosty heart, his son occupied it. In the first clause, there is a hypothetical statement of fact and the Indicative should therefore have been used. The Subjunctive would be correct if we altered the second Verb; thus: If there were a warm place in his frosty heart, his son would occupy it. (2) On hearing the title above mentioned, there is not an English reader who would not suppose that it were a critical tract. The Noun Clause is a simple statement of what the reader would suppose. The Indicative was should therefore have been used. (3) Charming also was Mr. Coffin of Portledge, though he were a little proud and stately. Though is here followed by a simple statement; was, therefore, should be substituted for were. 295. In the following sentences the Indicative is used for the Subjunctive : (1) I wish I was a baby and this was a tree-top. (2) Was I [should be were I or if I were] an absolute prince, I would appoint able judges . . Exercise 114. Correct the following sentences: Was your son called Judas, the sordid and treacherous idea so inseparable from the name would have accompanied him through life like his shadow. If he do feel sorry he will show it in his actions. No one should travel in that country unless he be prepared for dirt and discomfort. Was I in your place I would act differently. Tell him to be careful lest he breaks the rules. Though he be high he has respect unto the lowly. If he was your friend he would defend you. If the boy desire to get on he does not use the right means. Though honesty be the best policy some people do not practise it. You shall soon see whether I be master. If thou have understanding hear this. Though I be absent from you in the flesh I am present with you in the spirit. Who but must laugh if such a man there be? I do not care whether John or William come. If he were still of the same mind I will help him. If Clive were victorious at Plassey it was not through numbers. If he have satisfied me who am most concerned why should you grumble? It ought to affect him if he have been the cause of the failure. If he promises he would certainly perform. Oh that his heart was tender. His behaviour made it reasonable to suppose that he were guilty. Shall and will. 1 296. The Future Tense is used in two ways (called by Dr. Latham the Predictive and the Promissive). 297. In the Predictive form, shall is the Auxiliary of the First Person, will of the Second and Third Persons; thus : Singular. 1. I shall write. 2. Thou wilt write. 3. He will write. Plural. We shall write. You will write. They will write. 298. In the Promissive form, will is the Auxiliary of the First Person, shall of the Second and Third Persons; thus: Singular. 1. I will write. 2. Thou shalt write. 3. He shall write. Plural. We will write. You shall write. They shall write. 299. The Predictive form is used in simple assertions of futurity; as I shall have occasion to try your obedience this very evening. Our meeting will be so formal and so like a thing of business that I shall find no room for friendship or esteem. You will see a pair of large horns over the door; that's the sign. 1 In a very remarkable trial in Massachusetts-that of Abner Rogers for the murder of Charles Lincoln-much importance was attached to the use, by the prisoner, of one auxiliary or the other. The counsel appeared cleverly to appreciate the difference. A witness, Warren B. Parke, who was sent to search Rogers after the murder, gave his evidence thus: 'He (Rogers) said, "I have fixed the warden, and I'll have a rope round my neck to-night." On the strength of what he said, I took his suspenders [braces] from him.' Cross-examined: 'His words were “I will have a rope," not "I shall have a rope." I am sure that the word was will and not shall.' Mr. Parker, Counsel for the Commonwealth, in commenting on the speech, says: 'It shows a contemplation of murder and suicide, a designed voluntary escape from the penalties of the law, and a consciousness of the malignity and criminality of his actions.' The defence set up was insanity, and on that ground the prisoner was acquitted.— SIR E. W. HEAD, 'Shall' and' Will,' p. 17. 300. The Promissive form shows determination on the part of the speaker. It is therefore used in expressing commands, threats, promises, prophecies, and the like; as Revenge from some baleful corner shall level a tale of dishonour at thee which no innocence of heart nor integrity of conduct shall set right. The fortunes of thy house shall totter; thy character, which led the way to them, shall bleed on every side of it. Cruelty and cowardice. shall strike together at thy infirmities and thy mistakes. 301. In subordinate clauses, after when, if, though, and other words, shall is used for the three Persons; as When he shall appear we shall be like him. As long as mankind shall continue to bestow more liberal applause on their destroyers than on their benefactors, the thirst for military glory will ever be the vice of the most exalted characters. 302. Would and should follow the rules of shall and will when employed in parallel circumstances: I should, you would, he would express contingent futurity; I would, you would, he would signify past or recorded determination of the subject; I should, you should, he should express that the subject is controlled by some other power.'-BAIN, A Higher English Grammar, p. 174. Examples. 1. I should' rest if I were tired. You would rest if you were tired. He would rest if he were tired. 2. I would You would go home in spite of all opposition. I 3. He decided that you should be promoted. he A pupil in a quiet boarding-school in Pennsylvania displayed some time since no small degree of industry in collecting autographs of distinguished writers. Mr. J. R. Lowell was one of the number addressed. The address to him was, substantially, 'I would be very much obliged for your autograph.' The response contained a lesson that many besides the ambitious pupil have not learned: 'Pray do not say hereafter, "I would be obliged." If you would be obliged, be obliged and be done with it. Say, "I should be obliged," and oblige yours truly James Russell Lowell,' Exercise 115. (a) Write sentences illustrating the various uses of shall and will and of should and would, as explained in Pars. 299-302. Correct the following sentences : I am able to devote as much time and attention to other subjects as I will be under the necessity of doing next winter. Compel me to retire and I should be fallen indeed; I would feel myself blighted in the eyes of all my acquaintance; I would never more lift up my face in society; I would bury myself in the oblivion of shame and solitude; I would hide me from the world; I would be overpowered by the feelings of my own disgrace; the torments of self-reflection would pursue me. A countryman, telling us what he had seen, remarked that if the conflagration went on as it had begun we would have, as our next season's employment, the Old Town Hall of Edinburgh to rebuild. Let the British government continue the protection of last year and we will be all right. In a very short time we will probably find ourselves on a new footing. The time is coming when we will have to dig deeper in search of both coals and metallic ores. I feel assured that I will not have the misfortune to find conflicting opinions held by one so enlightened as your Excellency. He ought to have known we would be ruined. They say I will find such portraits in all the cottages of the peasants through the village. The National Assembly dare not avenge them as they should lose the favour of the intoxicated people. Participial Phrases. 303. The use of Participles in forming compound Tenses is too simple to need exposition, but the use of Participles in forming qualifying phrases needs some attention. 304. Participial Phrases employed with discretion are aids to the attainment of vigour and clearness. When there are several Verbs in a sentence, the attention of the reader is divided between them as each one is predicative, and there may at first be some doubt which is the principal Predicate; but when Participles are substituted for some of the Verbs, attention is concentrated on the Verbs that remain. Note how the following sentences would be weakened by the absence of the Participles: |