An English Grammar Part 47

_Shorn_ is used sometimes as a participial adjective, as "a _shorn_ lamb," but not much as a participle. We usually say, "The sheep were _sheared_" instead of "The sheep were _shorn_."

Went is borrowed as the past tense of _go_ from the old verb _wend_, which is seldom used except in poetry; for example,--

If, maiden, thou would'st _wend_ with me To leave both tower and town.--SCOTT.

Exercises.

(_a_) From the table (Sec. 245), make out lists of verbs having the same vowel changes as each of the following:--

1. Fall, fell, fallen.

2. Begin, began, begun.

3. Find, found, found.

4. Give, gave, given.

5. Drive, drove, driven.

6. Throw, threw, thrown.

7. Fling, flung, flung.

8. Break, broke, broken.

9. Shake, shook, shaken.

10. Freeze, froze, frozen.

(_b_) Find sentences using ten past-tense forms of strong verbs.

(_c_) Find sentences using ten past participles of strong verbs.

[_To the Teacher_,--These exercises should be continued for several lessons, for full drill on the forms.]

DEFECTIVE STRONG VERBS.

247. There are several verbs which are lacking in one or more princ.i.p.al parts. They are as follows:--

PRESENT. PAST. | PRESENT. PAST.

| may might | [ought] ought can could | shall should [must] must | will would

248. May is used as either indicative or subjunctive, as it has two meanings. It is indicative when it expresses _permission_, or, as it sometimes does, _ability_, like the word _can_: it is subjunctive when it expresses doubt as to the reality of an action, or when it expresses wish, purpose, etc.

[Sidenote: _Indicative Use: Permission. Ability._]

If I _may_ lightly employ the Miltonic figure, "far off his coming s.h.i.+nes."--WINIER.

A stripling arm _might_ sway A ma.s.s no host could raise.--SCOTT.

His superiority none _might_ question.--CHANNING.

[Sidenote: _Subjunctive use._]

In whatever manner the separate parts of a const.i.tution _may_ be arranged, there is one general principle, etc.--PAINE.

[Sidenote: (_See also Sec. 223._)]

And from her fair and unpolluted flesh _May_ violets spring!

--SHAKESPEARE.

249. Can is used in the indicative only. The _l_ in _could_ did not belong there originally, but came through a.n.a.logy with _should_ and _would_. _Could_ may be subjunctive, as in Sec. 220.

250. Must is historically a past-tense form, from the obsolete verb _motan_, which survives in the sentence, "So _mote_ it be."

_Must_ is present or past tense, according to the infinitive used.

All _must concede_ to him a sublime power of action.--CHANNING

This, of course, _must have been_ an ocular deception.--HAWTHORNE.

251. The same remarks apply to ought, which is historically the past tense of the verb _owe_. Like _must_, it is used only in the indicative mood; as,

The just imputations on our own faith _ought_ first _to be removed_.... Have we valuable territories and important posts...which _ought_ long since _to have been surrendered_?--A.

HAMILTON.

It will be noticed that all the other defective verbs take the pure infinitive without _to_, while _ought_ always has _to_.

Shall and Will.

252. The princ.i.p.al trouble in the use of _shall_ and _will_ is the disposition, especially in the United States, to use _will_ and _would_, to the neglect of _shall_ and _should_, with p.r.o.nouns of the first person; as, "I think I _will_ go."

[Sidenote: _Uses of_ shall _and_ should.]

The following distinctions must be observed:--

(1) With the FIRST PERSON, shall and should are used,--

[Sidenote: _Futurity and questions--first person._]

(_a_) In making simple statements or predictions about future time; as,--

The time will come full soon, I _shall_ be gone.--L.C. MOULTON.

(_b_) In questions asking for orders, or implying obligation or authority resting upon the subject; as,--