She ran in haste, &c.

F. Q. iv. 7, 32.

[§ 571]. Imperatives have three peculiarities. (1.) They can only, in English, be used in the second person: (2.) They take pronouns after, instead of before, them: (3.) They often omit the pronoun altogether.

[§ 572]. For the syntax of subjunctives, see the Chapter on Conjunctions.


CHAPTER XX.

ON THE TENSES.

[§ 573]. Notwithstanding its name, the present tense in English, does not express a strictly present action. It rather expresses an habitual one. He speaks well=he is a good speaker. If a man means to say that he is in the act of speaking, he says I am speaking.