LESSON XLI.
Point out the different forms of the verb that are used with the different subjects:—
| Singular. | Plural. | |||
| First Person. | I write. | We write. | ||
| Second Person. | Thou writest. | You write. | ||
| Third Person. | He writes. | They write. |
The different forms that a verb takes to agree with the person and number of its subject are called person and number forms.
Observe that there is no change in the action expressed by the verb; it has merely adapted itself to the person and number of its subject.
The third person singular has, in the present indicative, the ending s or es, and the old form eth; as, He walks; He goes; He dreameth.
The second person singular has the ending est or st in both the present and the past tenses; as, Thou lovest; Thou lovedst.
The first person singular and the plural forms for all the persons have no endings to mark person and number, with but one exception, the verb to be; as, I am; We are; I was; We were.
EXERCISE.
Write out the present tense forms, indicative mode, of the following verbs, using the personal pronouns for subjects:—
| live, | find, | come, | teach, | talk, | ||
| go, | run, | play, | make, | do. |