And the manner of these affecting the Copula, (Be it so, or, let it be so,) is called the Imperative Mode; of which there are these three varieties very fit to be distinctly provided for. As for that other use of the Imperative Mode, when it signifies Permission; this may be sufficiently expressed by the Secondary Mode of Liberty; You may do it.
The Secondary Modes are such, as, when the Copula is affected with any of them, make the Sentence to be (as the Logicians call it) a Modal Proposition.
This happens, when the matter in discourse, namely, the being, or doing, or suffering of a thing, is considered, not simply by itself, but gradually in its causes, from which it proceeds contingently, or necessarily.
Then a thing seems to be left Contingent, when the Speaker expresses only the Possibility of it, or his own Liberty to it.
1. The Possibility of a thing depends upon the power of its cause; and may be expressed
| when | { | Absolute | } | by the Particle | { | Can, |
| { | Conditional | } | { | Could. |
2. The Liberty of a thing depends upon a freedom from all obstacles either within or without, and is usually expressed in our language
| when | { | Absolute | } | by the Particle | { | May, |
| { | Conditional | } | { | Might. |
Then a thing seems to be of Necessity, when the Speaker expresseth the resolution of his own will, or some other obligation upon him from without.
3. The Inclination of the Will is expressed,