LESSON XLVII.

THE FORMS OF THE VERBS DO AND BE.

DO.

INDICATIVE MODE.

PRESENT TENSE.
Singular.Plural.
1. I do,1. We do,
2. Thou doest2. You do,
or dost,
3. He does.3. They do.
PAST TENSE.
Singular.Plural.
1. I did,1. We did,
2. Thou didst,2. You did,
3. He did.3. They did.

SUBJUNCTIVE MODE.

PRESENT TENSE.
Singular.Plural.
1. (If) I do,1. (If) we do,
2. (If) thou do,2. (If) you do,
3. (If) he do.3. (If) they do.
PAST TENSE.
Singular.Plural.
1. (If) I did,1. (If) we did,
2. (If) thou did,2. (If) you did,
3. (If) he did.3. (If) they did.
Imperative Mode.Infinitives.Participles.
Do (thou or you).(To) do.Imperfect—Doing.
Doing.Perfect—Done.

The present and past tenses of do are used as auxiliaries with the present infinitive, (1) to express emphasis; as, I do study every evening. (2) To express a denial; as, I did not do it. (3) To ask questions; as, Did you see him?

When do means to perform, it is an independent verb; as, He did his part.

EXERCISE.

Name the sentences in which do is used as an independent verb, and those in which it is used as an auxiliary, and explain the use of each auxiliary:—

1.Do they not err that devise evil?—Bible.
2.All their works they do to be seen of men.—Bible.
3.Stone walls do not a prison make.—Lovelace.
4. And for that offense
Immediately we do exile him hence.—Shakespeare.
5.And everybody praised the Duke
Who this great fight did win.—Southey.
6.The evil that men do lives after them.—Shakespeare.
7.So little they rose, so little they fell,
They did not move the Inchcape Bell.—Southey.
8.If I do so, it will be of more price,
Being spoke behind your back, than to your face.—Shakespeare.

BE.

INDICATIVE MODE.

PRESENT TENSE.
Singular.Plural.
1. I am,1. We are,
2. Thou art,2. You are,
3. He is.3. They are.
PAST TENSE.
Singular.Plural.
1. I was,1. We were,
2. Thou wast,2. You were,
3. He was.3. They were.

SUBJUNCTIVE MODE.

PRESENT TENSE.
Singular.Plural.
1. (If) I be,1. (If) we be,
2. (If) thou be,2. (If) you be,
3. (If) he be.3. (If) they be
PAST TENSE.
Singular.Plural.
1. (If) I were,1. (If) we were,
2. (If) thou wert,2. (If) you were,
3. (If) he were.3. (If) they were.
Imperative Mode.Infinitives.Participles.
Be (thou or you).(To) be.Imperfect—Being.
Being.Perfect—Been.

1. The verb to be is used as an auxiliary with the perfect participle of a transitive verb, to form the passive voice; as, I am hurt.

2. The verb to be is used as an auxiliary with the present participle of a verb, to form the progressive form; as, I am writing.

3. The verb to be, without the participle of another verb, is used to express (1) existence; as, Whatever is, is right. (2) To act as a copula (connecting word); as, Sugar is sweet. Whatever is, is right.

EXERCISE I.

State the use of the verb be in each of the following sentences:—

1.“Alas,” said I, “man was made in vain!”—Addison.
2.Brevity is the soul of wit.—Shakespeare.
3.The waves were white, and red the morn,
In the noisy hour when I was born.—Procter.
4.It was a summer evening,
Old Kaspar’s work was done,
And he before his cottage door
Was sitting in the sun.—Southey.
5.It is my lady, O, it is my love!
O, that she knew she were!—Shakespeare.
6.When the heart is right there is true patriotism.—Berkeley.
7.True worth is in being, not seeming.—A. Cary.
8. We are such stuff
As dreams are made on; and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep.—Shakespeare.

EXERCISE II.

1. Write four examples of the verb be used as an independent verb.

2. Write four examples of the verb be used in making the progressive form.

3. Write four examples of the verb be used in forming the passive voice.