CHAPTER XXI.

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.

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