ON MOODS.
s. 356. The Anglo-Saxon infinitive has already been considered.
s. 357. Between the second plural imperative, and the second plural
indicative, _speak ye_ and _ye speak_, there is no difference of form.
Between the second singular imperative _speak_, and the second singular
indicative, _speakest_, there is a difference in form. Still, as the
imperative form _speak_ is distinguished from the indicative form
_speakest_ by the negation of a character rather than by the possession of
one, it cannot be said that there is in English any imperative mood.
s. 358. _If he speak_, as opposed to _if he speaks_, is characterised by a
negative sign only, and consequently is no true example of a subjunctive.
_Be_, as opposed to _am_, in the sentence _if it be so_, is an uninflected
word used in a limited sense, and consequently no true example of a
subjunctive.
The only true subjunctive inflection in the English language is that of
_were_ and _wert_, as opposed to the indicative forms _was_ and _wast_.
_Indicative._ | _Subjunctive._
_Singular._ _Plural._ | _Singular._ _Plural._
1. I was. We were. | If I were. If we were.
2. Thou wast. Ye were. | If thou wert. If ye were.
3. He was. They were. | If he were. If they were.
* * * * *
{303}