Present Tense, or elliptical future.--_Conjunctive form_.
_Singular_. _Plural_.
1. If I love, 1. If we love,
2. If thou love, 2. If ye _or_ you love,
3. If he love. 3. If they love.
Look again at the conjugation in the indicative present, and you will
observe, that the form of the verb differs from this form in the
subjunctive. The verb in the present tense of this mood, does not vary
its termination on account of number or person. This is called the
_conjunctive_ form of the verb; but sometimes the verb in the
subjunctive mood, present tense, is conjugated in the same manner as it
is in the indicative, with this exception, _if, though, unless_, or some
other conjunction, is prefixed; as,
_Indicative form_.
_Singular_. _Plural_.
1. If I love, 1. If we love,
2. If thou lovest, 2. If ye _or_ you love,
3. If he loves, 3. If they love.
The following general rule will direct you when to use the _conjunctive_
form of the verb, and when the _indicative_. When a verb in the
subjunctive mood, present tense, has a _future_ signification, or a
reference to _future_ time, the conjunctive form should be used; as, "If
thou _prosper_, thou shouldst be thankful;" "He will maintain his
principles, though he _lose_ his estate;" that is, If thou _shalt_ or
_shouldst_ prosper; though he _shall_ or _should_ lose, &c. But when a
verb in the subjunctive mood, present tense, has _no_ reference to
future time, the indicative form ought to be used; as, "Unless he
_means_ what he says, he is doubly faithless." By this you perceive,
that when a verb in the present tense of the subjunctive mood, has a
future signification, an _auxiliary_ is always understood before it, for
which reason, in this construction, the termination of the principal
verb never varies; us, "He will not become eminent, unless he _exert_
himself;" that is, unless he _shall_ exert, or _should_ exert himself.
This tense of the subjunctive mood ought to be called the _elliptical
future_.
The imperfect, the perfect, the pluperfect, and the first future tenses
of this mood, are conjugated, in every respect, like the same tenses of
the indicative, with this exception; in the subjunctive mood, a
conjunction implying doubt, &c. is prefixed to the verb. In the second
future tense of this mood, the verb is conjugated thus:
Second Future Tense.
_Singular._ _Plural_.
1. If I shall have loved, 1. If we shall have loved,
2. If thou shalt have loved, 2. If you shall have loved,
3. If he shall have loved. 3. If they shall have loved.
Look at the same tense in the indicative mood, and you will readily
perceive the distinction between the two conjugations.