in lieu of the conditional; the past anterior, or compound of the imperfect, in lieu of the past, or compound of the conditional; the present of the indicative, in lieu of the future; and the past, or compound of the present, in lieu of the compound of the future.--EXAM Observe that, if si can be rendered by whether, the French tenses necessarily correspond to the English.-EXAMPLES: Savez-vous s'il viendra? Je ne sais s'il viendra. Do you know whether he will come? I do not know whether he will come? Je veux savoir s'il viendrait avec I want to know whether he would nous. come with us. Pourriez-vous me dire s'il a reçu Could you inform me whether he ma lettre? has received letter? my This tense,, in the present, corresponds to the present anterior, or imperfect of the indicative.-EXAMPLES: Vous sortiriez, si je l'exigeais. or if I should require it. You would go out, should I require it, In the past, it corresponds to the past anterior or compound of the imperfect of the indicative, or to the past anterior or compound of the subjunctive.-EXAMPLE: Vous lui auriez accordé cette grâce | You would have granted him this s'il l'avait ou s'il l'eût demandée. favour, if he had asked it. In the past comparative, it corresponds to the past anterior or compound of the imperfect of the indicative, or that of the subjunctive.-EXAMPLE: J'aurais eu fini long-temps avant vous, si je n'avais pas été interrompu, ou si je n'eusse pas été interrompu. I should have done long before you, had I not been interrupted. The following tenses correspond to the conditional past.—Ex THE COMPARATIVE TENSES OF THE INDICATIVE. These tenses, though seldom used, are still necessary to express, with all possible precision, the moment when an action (the existence of which is yet unknown) began. I refer you, for further information on this subject, to page 159. They are exemplified as follows: OF ADJECTIVES, NOUNS, AND VERBS, WHICH IMPOSE THE SUBJUNCTIVE FORM ON THE NEXT VERB. RULE I.-Qui, que, où, dont, serving to connect a verb with a superlative, impose the subjunctive form on the verb.-EXAMPLES: C'est le personnage le plus suffi- | He is the most conceited man I sant que j'aie jamais rencontré. C'est l'homme le plus obligeant dont j'aie jamais ouï parler. Ce sont les plus belles marchandises qui aient été envoyées. Voilà bien le meilleur vin que j'aie jamais bu. C'est le combat le plus meurtrier où cet officier ait commandé. RULE II.-Qui, que, où, dont, generally govern the subjunctive, after the words seul, unique, premier, dernier, pas un, aucun, personne, rien, peu, qui que ce soit.-EXAMPLES: C'est le seul ami qui vous soit resté fidèle. C'est le seul, l'unique souvenir qui puisse nous consoler. Cet auteur est le premier qui en fasse mention. Cette lettre est une des dernières que ce grand homme ait écrites. Il ne trouve pas un ou aucun do mestique qui veuille le servir. Je ne connais personne qui vous soit plus sincèrement attaché. Y a-t-il rien qui rende les hommes plus heureux que la vertu ? Il est peu de plaisirs qui ne soient suivis de quelques remords. A qui que ce soit que vous vous adressiez, parlez hardiment. He is the only friend that has remained faithful to you. It is the only, the sole remembrance that can console us. This author is the first that mentions it. That letter is one of the last that great man wrote. He cannot find any servant that will wait upon him. I know nobody that is more sincerely attached to you. Is there any thing which renders men more happy than virtue? There are few pleasures that are not followed by some remorse. To whomsoever you address yourself, speak boldly. RULE III. When, after si, que is used, instead of repeating si, it then imposes the subjunctive form on the verb.-EXAMPLES: S'il arrive en Angleterre, et qu'il¦ veuille y faire quelque séjour, il faudra qu'il obtienne l'agrément du gouvernement. Si vous venez dans notre pays, et que vous y demeuriez quelque temps, j'espère que nous aurons souvent le plaisir de vous voir. If he arrive in England, and wish to remain there any time, he must obtain the consent of government. If you come in our part of the country, and live there some time, I hope that we shall often have the pleasure of seeing you. RULE IV.-After all verbs which express doubt, fear, desire, uncertainty, the action of commanding, supposing; some passion, affection; or, in more general terms, that belong to the dominion of the heart or the will; QUE imposes the subjunctive form on the verb, -EXAMPLES: Je veux qu'il s'y rende sur le | I will have him repair there inchamp. Je doute qu'il y aille. Je prétends qu'ils s'y soumettent Il ne permet pas que je m'en serve. Et vous souffrez qu'il vous écrive! J'exige qu'il vous obéisse comme à moi. mediately. I doubt whether he will go there. Let us suppose that the fleet be beaten, what will become of the invaders? I insist that they submit to it without hesitation. He does not permit me to make use of it. Observe, that some of the verbs called impersonals, also govern the subjunctive mood.-EXAMPLES: Il faut qu'elle le sache un jour ou | She must become acquainted with l'autre. it one day or other. Must I go out immediately? It will be necessary for you to abide by it, or to submit to it. It is better you should be there. It would be better that you should consent to it. It becomes you to tell him your mind. It is of the utmost consequence you It is necessary that he should pre- It is doubtful whether he will It is possible that you may obtain it. Il semble (without a complement) que vous n'ayez jamais rien vu. Il est juste qu'il soit remboursé de toutes ses dépenses. Il est injuste qu'il soit puni. Il est cruel qu'il en soit la victime. Il suffit que vous lai écriviez. Il est temps qu'il le voie. Il est honteux qu'on le laisse mourir de faim. Il n'y a pas moyen qu'il y aille. Il est de la bienséance qu'on lui rende les honneurs dus à son rang. Il est plaisant qu'il l'ait deviné. Il est indécent qu'on ne l'ait pas prévenu de cela. Il est de la décence qu'il agisse ainsi. Il est expédient, bienséant, d'une nécessité absolue, ou de toute nécessité, qu'il lui fasse ses adieux. It is impossible he should be paid, It is fit that you give him warning. It seems that you have never seen any thing. It is just that he should be reimbursed in all his expenses. It is unjust that he should be punished. It is cruel that he should be a sufferer for it. It is sufficient that you write to him. It is time that he should see him. It is shameful that they should let him starve. There is no possibility for him to go there. It is seemly that they should render him the honours due to his rank, It is odd that he should have guessed it. It is unseemly that he should not have been informed of it. It is seemly that he should act thus. It is proper, fitting, of absolute necessity, that he should bid farewell to her. N.B. After verbs which express neither doubt nor fear, but which, on the contrary, announce certitude, persuasion, in a word, after all verbs which rather belong to the judgment, understanding, &c. the conjunction que imposes the indicative form on the following verb. -EXAMPLES: |