514. A DEFECTIVE verb is one in which some of the parts are wanting. The following list comprises, the most important. They are irregular, and chiefly auxiliary:— 515. Ought, originally the past tense of owe, is now used to signify present duty, and must, to denote present obligation or necessity. When they refer to past time, a change is made in the infinitive with which they are joined; thus, Present-" These things ye ought to do;" Past--" These things ye ought to have done." (426 and 430.) 516. Will, as an auxiliary, has wilt, and shall has shalt, in the second person singular. They are both without inflection in the third person singular. Will, as a principal verb, is regular. 517. Wis, wist, which signifies, to know, to imagine, is now obso lete. Wit, of the same meaning and origin, is now used only in the infinitive, in the phrase, "to wit," that is, namely. 518. Beware (properly be and ware, or wary) is now used only in the imperative, and sometimes after an auxiliary; as, "Beware of him"-"We should beware." 519. Quoth, to say, to speak, is used only in ludicrous language; its nominative always comes after the verb, and it has no variation for person, number, or tense; as, “Quoth he"—" Quoth they," &c. To defective verbs also properly belong IMPERSONAL VERBS. 520. Impersonal verbs are those which assert the existence of some action or state, but refer it to no particular subject. They are always in the third person singular, and in English are preceded by the pronoun it; as, "It rains, -"It hails"-"It behooves," &c. 521. To this class of words belong the expressions, methinks, methought; meseems, meseemed; sometimes used for, "It seems to me" "It appears to me," &c. 522. The pronoun it preceding the impersonal verb as its subject, is the substitute of some unknown and general, or well-known cause, the action of which is expressed by the verb, but which can not, or need not, itself be named (246–5). EXERCISES. 1. Conjugate the following irregular verbs (485 and 513), stating why they are called irregular; also, which are transitive and which are intransitive and why (320-1): Take, drive, creep, begin, abide, buy, bring, arise, catch, bereave, am, burst, draw, drink, fly, flee, fall, get, give, go, feel, forsake, grow, have hear, hide, keep, know, lose, pay, ride, ring, shake, run, seek, sell, see, sit, slay, slide, smite, speak, stand, tell, win, write, weave, tear. 2. Take the first three transitive verbs of the preceding list; conjugate and nflect them through all their moods and tenses in the active, and in the passive voice. EXERCISES ON THE PRECEDING PARTS OF SPEECH. 1. In the following exercises, parse the several words; viz., the nouns as directed (182)-articles as (194)-adjectives as (225)-pronouns as (253)—and verbs as (491 and 496). [The words in Italics are prepositions, and the nouns or pronouns following them are in the objective case. e.] The wind shakes the trees. The apples fell to the ground. God created all things. The heavens are the work of his hands. Alexander the Great conquered many countries. The sun shines. The fields are covered with grain. The The rivers run into the sea. crops are excellent. A good man shows pity to the poor (201). The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth. Time flies. All things come to an end. A bad man can not be happy. all men. Truth is mighty. Redeem time. Do good to 2. Form a list of ten nouns; say something respecting each; and parse the sentences so formed, as above. ADVERBS. 523. An ADVERB is a word joined to a verb, an adjective, or another adverb, to modify it, or to denote some circumstance respecting it; as, "Ann speaks distinctly; she is remarkably diligent, and reads very correctly.” 524. An adverb is generally equivalent to a modifying phrase, or adjunct of the word to which it is joined. Thus, in the preceding example, "distinctly" means, in a distinct manner; "remarkably," in a remarkable degree. So, "now" means, at this time; "then," at that time, &c. Hence, adverbs and adverbial adjuncts are often used indiscriminately in modifying verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. 525. On the same principle that an adverb modifies another adverb, it sometimes also modifies an adjunct, a phrase, or a sentence; as, "I met your brother FAR from home"—" He will be here soon after mid-day"—"We shall go IMMEDI ATELY after the mail arrives." |