25 Aug. 1813 D

Logic

Ch. Language-Grammar

Conjugation, Grammar

1

'. Of improper moods: or moods improperly so called.

Absoluteness and conditionality - Under the name of moods, these are the two modes of designation actually established by ancient use for the designation of time. Of the forms that occur in language, these are the only two to which the term mood can with propriety be applied, not but that in itself, for any one thing, any one term is just as applicable as any other; but that, after its having been applied to this purpose, to apply it to others so widely different and separate from it; in that it is that the impropriety consists.

Of these improper moods, the usage of language affords two examples:-

One is, that which by the Latin and Greek grammarians is so improperly termed the imperative: the optative, a term applied

by them in certain cases to another mood, would for this, it will be seen, have been the more proper adjunct, supposing the term mood properly applied.

The other is a form which may be termed the causal mood /mode/: in the Hebrew tongue it is exemplified and is termed /denominated/ hithpahel: in the Scottish dialect of the English language though there is no denomination for it it is exemplified in the form /phrase/ he caused make. So also in French, il fit faire.

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