It has also, especially when combined with a subjunctive mood, a future power—I beat you (=I will beat you) if you don't leave off.
[§ 574]. The English præterite is the equivalent, not to the Greek perfect but the Greek aorist. I beat=ἔτυψα not τέτυφα. The true perfect is expressed, in English, by the auxiliary have + the past participle.
CHAPTER XXI.
SYNTAX OF THE PERSONS OF VERBS.
[§ 575]. For the impersonal verbs see Part IV. Chapter 27.
[§ 576]. The concord of persons.—A difficulty that occurs frequently in the Latin language is rare in English. In expressions like ego et ille followed by a verb, there arises a question as to the person in which that verb should be used. Is it to be in the first person in order to agree with ego, or in the third in order to agree with ille? For the sake of laying down a rule upon these and similar points, the classical grammarians arrange the persons (as they do the genders) according to their dignity, making the verb (or adjective if it be a question of gender) agree with the most worthy. In respect to persons, the first is more worthy than the second, and the second more worthy than the third. Hence, the Latins said—
Ego et Balbus sustulimus manus.
Tu et Balbus sustulistis manus.