In what light, then, are we to consider the phrase to plant, termed an infinitive, or to what class of words is it reducible? Previously to my answering this question, it is necessary to remind the reader, that a verb joined to a noun forms a sentence; that affirmation is essential to the character of a verb; and that, for this reason, and this only, it has been pre-eminently distinguished by the name of verb, or the word. Destroy this characteristic, and it is immediately confounded with the adjective, or the participle. It is its power of predication only, which constitutes it a distinct part of speech, and discriminates it from every other. Vir sapit, and vir est sapiens, are equivalent expressions. Cancel the assertion, and the verb is lost. The expression becomes vir sapiens, “a wise man.” This opinion, I am persuaded, requires only to be examined to be universally adopted. If this be the case, the infinitive which affirms nothing, cannot, without impropriety, be deemed a verb. It expresses merely an action, passion, or state abstractedly. Hence many grammarians have justly considered it as no part of the verb; and, in the languages of Greece and Rome, the infinitive was employed like a common substantive, having frequently an adjective joined with it, and subject to the government of verbs and prepositions. This opinion has been lately controverted by a writer of considerable eminence as a Latin scholar. But, after examining the matter with attention, I take upon me to affirm, that not a single example can be produced wherein the infinitive, as used by the Greeks and Romans, might not be supplied by the substitution of a noun. Wherefore, admitting the established principle, voces valent significatione, there cannot exist a doubt that the infinitive, which may in all cases be supplied by a noun, has itself the real character of a noun. And, if the essence of a verb consist in predication, and not, as some think, in implying time in conjunction with an attribute, which is the characteristic of a participle, then the infinitive, as it can predicate nothing, and joined to a substantive makes no sentence, cannot therefore be deemed a verb. When I say, legere est facile, “to read is easy,” it is obvious that there is only one sentence in each of these expressions. But if legere (to read) were a verb as well as est (is), then there would be two verbs and also two affirmations, for affirmation is inseparable from a verb. I remark also, that the verbal noun lectio (reading) substituted for legere (to read) would precisely express the same sentiment. For these reasons I concur decidedly with those grammarians who are so far from considering the infinitive as a distinct mood, that they entirely exclude it from the appellation of verb[48].

It may be asked, what then is it to be called? In answer to this query, I observe, that it matters little what designation be assigned to it, provided its character and office be fully understood. The ancient Latin grammarians, as Priscian informs us, termed it properly enough, nomen verbi, “the noun or name of the verb.” To proscribe terms, which have been long familiar to us, and, by immemorial possession, have gained an establishment, is always a difficult, and frequently an ungracious task. I shall therefore retain its usual name, having sufficiently guarded the reader against a misconception of its character.

Now, in our language, the infinitive has not even the distinction arising from termination, to entitle it to be ranked in the number of moods; its form being the same with that of the present tense, and probably, both in its termination and its prefix, originally identical. For, if the doctrine just proposed be correct, the word do was put before each. To this rule the English language furnishes only one exception, namely, the verb of existence, in which the present indicative is am, whereas the infinitive is to be. This, however, can scarcely be deemed an exception, when it is considered, that the present indicative of this verb was originally be as well as am; though the former be now in a state of obsolescence, or rather entirely obsolete. At the same time, as this is the only verb in which the infinitive differs in form from the present of the indicative, I have judged it necessary to note the exception, and assign the infinitive.

Present part.Being
Past part.Been[49].
TO DO.
Indicative Mood.
Present.
Sing.I doThou doest or dostHe doeth, doth or does
Plur.We doYe or you doThey do.
Preterperfect.
Sing.I didThou didstHe, she, or it did[50]
Plur.We didYe or you didThey did.
Participles.
PresentDoing
PastDone.
TO HAVE.
Indicative Mood.
Present.
Sing.I haveThou hastHe hath or has
Plur.We haveYe or you haveThey have.
Preterperfect.
Sing.I hadThou hadstHe had
Plur.We hadYe or you hadThey had.
Participles.
PresentHaving
PastHad.
Liberty is expressed by the verb
MAY.
Indicative Mood.
Present.
Sing.I mayThou mayestHe may
Plur.We mayYe or you mayThey may[51].
Preterperfect.
Sing.I mightThou mightestHe might
Plur.We mightYe or you mightThey might.