I purpose, therefore, in exhibiting the conjugation of the English verb, to give the simple tenses, as the only ones belonging to our language; and then show how, by the aid of other words combined with these, we contrive to express the requisite modifications, and various accessary ideas.
| Indicative Present. | Preter. | Part. Perf. |
| Write | Wrote | Written. |
| Present Tense. | |||
| S. | I write | Thou writest | He writes or writeth |
| P. | We write | Ye or you write | They write. |
This tense is by some grammarians called the present indefinite; while by others it is considered as either definite or indefinite. When it expresses an action now present, it is termed the present definite, as,
“I write this after a severe illness.”—Pope’s Letters.
“Saul, why persecutest thou me?”—Bible.
“This day begins the woe, others must end.”—Shakspeare.
If the proposition expressed be general, or true at all times, this tense is then termed the present indefinite; as, “The wicked flee, when no man pursueth.”
“Through tatter’d clothes small vices do appear;