GENERAL THEORY

ON THE USE OF MOODS AND TENSES.

Infinitive Mood.

1. The Infinitive Mood may be either-the subject of a sentence, the latter of two verbs, or governed by any preposition except en (in), which governs the Present Participle.

2. The Infinitive, and not the Present Participle (as in English), is used after the following prepositions

Après, de, par, pour, sans.

After, of or from, by, for, without.

8. The English Past Participle, used passively with to be, becomes Infinitive in French, and to be is expressed by the preposition à.

Indicative Mood.

4. PRESENT.-The three forms (I speak, I am speaking, I do speak) used in English for the Present Indicative, are expressed in French by a single form—that is, by the verb itself.

5. NOTE. This rule applies also to the Imperfect (I spoke, I was speaking, I did speak).

6. REMARK.-The Present of the Indicative is sometimes used instead of the Future, when speaking of actions which are to be done at a time very proximate or near.

7. IMPERFECT.-The Imperfect is used-1. To express an action simultaneous with some other; 2. to express an action habitual at a specified period; 3. after the conjunction si (if), denoting condition or supposition; 4. to express actions, inclinations, qualifications, character, condition, or situation of persons and things, at a particular past time, whether it be specified or not.

8. PRETERPERFECT -The Preterperfect is used to present the act as done or completed at a time specified and entirely past.

9. NOTE.-The Preterperfect is used even when the expression of time is understood.

10. PAST INDEFINITE.-The Past Indefinite is invariably used when we express a thing as having taken place, without specifying when.

11. NOTE. The time may be specified, but, then, the thing must have happened at a time not entirely past; for instance, this day, this week, this month, this year.

12. REMARK.-The Definite and Indefinite past tenses are often used for each other in familiar conversation, especially in speaking of the common events of life, though the time may be specified and have entirely elapsed.

13. OBSERVATION.-If the time specified is not entirely elapsed, remember to use the Past Indefinite.

14. PAST ANTERIOR.-The Past Anterior is generally required after aussitôt que, dès que (as soon as), or quand, lorsque (when), in speaking of a thing which happened immediately before an event that is past.

15. NOTE. If the action is anterior to another which occurred at a time still going on (for instance, this day, this week, this month, this year), the French use the peculiar form of past tense expressed by j'ai eu (I have had), and the Past Participle of the verb expressing the action.

16. PLUPERFECT.-The Pluperfect is used-1. After aussitôt que, dès que, quand, lorsque, in mentioning a thing habitual or repeated, but which happened at a period prior to an event that is past. 2. After the conjunction'si (instead of the Conditional Pust).

17. FUTURE ABSOLUTE AND ANTERIOR.-The French represent the Future by a single word, and therefore express neither will nor shall.

18. NOTE.-If will or shall implies determination, it is expressed by vouloir (to be willing).

Conditional Mood.

19. The CONDITIONAL affirms, with a condition.

Imperative Mood.

20. The IMPERATIVE commands, exhorts, requests, &c.

Subjunctive Mood.

21. The SUBJUNCTIVE is used-1. After a verb or expression implying wish, fear, doubt, necessity, command, joy, or sorrow. 2. After the relative pronouns qui, que, dont, lequel, laquelle, où, when they are preceded by an adjective in the superlative degree, or by the words le seul, l'unique (the only one), le premier (the first), le dernier (the last), and similar expressions, when implying an idea of wish, doubt, or ignorance.

22. NOTE.-Use the Indicative Mood after the superlative and the words above, if the affirmation is certain or posi ive.