LESSON XL.

TENSE.

State the time of the action in each of the following sentences, and point out the different forms of the verb:—

1.He writes a letter.
2.He wrote a letter.
3.He will write a letter.

The change which takes place in the verb to mark this change of time, is called tense.

There are three natural divisions of time—present, past, and future, so that there are three corresponding tenses—present, past, and future.

A verb that denotes an action in the present time is in the present tense; as, I speak.

A verb that denotes an action in the past time is in the past tense; as, I spoke.

A verb that denotes an action in the future time is in the future tense; as, I shall speak.

Besides these three simple tenses, there are three perfect tenses, which denote action as completed.

Point out a verb in the following sentences that denotes an action completed in present time, one that denotes an action completed in past time, and one that denotes an action completed in future time:—

1.He has written a letter.
2.He had written a letter.
3.He will have written a letter.

A verb that denotes an action as completed at the present time is in the present perfect tense; as, I have spoken.

A verb that denotes an action as having been completed before a certain past time is in the past perfect or pluperfect tense; as, I had spoken before you came.

A verb that denotes an action to be completed before a certain future time is in the future perfect tense; as, I shall have spoken before he will arrive.

The present and the past tenses are indicated by the form of the verb itself. The other tenses are formed by the aid of other verbs, called auxiliary verbs.

TENSES OF THE INDICATIVE MODE.

Present.I see.
Past.I saw.
Future.I shall see.
Present Perfect.I have seen.
Past Perfect.I had seen.
Future Perfect.I shall have seen.

Note.—Shall is used in the first person, and will in the second and third persons to denote future action. Will is used in the first person, and shall in the second and third persons to denote determination.

EXERCISE.

Select the verbs, and state the tense of each:—

1.The sailor twitched his shirt of blue,
And from within his bosom drew
The kerchief. She was wild.—Alice Cary.
2.The Christian princes felt that the scene which they had
beheld weighed heavily on their spirits.—Scott.
3.The boy stood on the burning deck,
Whence all but he had fled.—Hemans.
4.The nurse sleeps sweetly, hired to watch the sick,
Whom sleeping, she disturbs.—Cowper.
5.When kindness had his wants supplied,
And the old man was gratified,
Began to rise his minstrel pride.—Scott.
6.He was a man, take him for all in all,
I shall not look upon his like again.—Shakespeare.