CHAPTER XXIII.
ON THE AUXILIARY VERBS.
[§ 578]. The auxiliary verbs, in English, play a most important part in the syntax of the language. They may be classified upon a variety of principles. The following, however, are all that need here be applied.
A. Classification of auxiliaries according to their inflectional or non-inflectional powers.—Inflectional auxiliaries are those that may either replace or be replaced by an inflection. Thus—I am struck=the Latin ferior, and the Greek τύπτομαι. These auxiliaries are in the same relation to verbs that prepositions are to nouns. The inflectional auxiliaries are,—
1. Have; equivalent to an inflection in the way of tense—I have bitten=mo-mordi.
2. Shall; ditto. I shall call=voc-abo.
3. Will; ditto. I will call=voc-abo.
4. May; equivalent to an inflection in the way of mood. I am come that I may see=venio ut vid-eam.