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THE IMPERFECT PAST TENSE:

1st,

2d, 3d Pers. -ais, -ait;

formed by the Pres.-Part.-Stem+the Endings1- Sing. -ais,

1 The same for all conjugations.

Plur. -ions, -iez, -aient.

The Imperfect is used to denote (a) an action habitually or repeatedly done; or (b) an action already in progress when another action began.

is one of the Principal

Parts ($39)-Endings:

Singular.
(CONJ.) 1st, 2d, 3d;

I. -ai, -as, -a;

Plural.

3d Pers.

1st, 2d, -âmes, -âtes, -èrent. II. -is, -is, -it; -îmes, -îtes, -irent. IV. -us, -us, -ut; -ûmes, -ûtes, -urent.

The Preterite is used to denote actions absolutely past, without reference to their duration, repetition, or to any accessory circumstances (see § 10).

FIRST CONJUGATION.

Je parl-ai de vous hier.

Tu parl-as du président.

Il
Nous parl-âmes de la guerre.
Vous parl-âtes de la paix.
Ils

parl-a de l'accident.

parl-èrent de leurs affaires.

I

spoke of you yesterday. Thou spokest of the president. He spoke of the accident.

We spoke of the war.
You spoke of the peace.
They spoke of their affairs.

CONJUGATION.

FOURTH CONJUGATION (the final e of the Infinitive is dropped).

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THE CONDITIONAL PRESENT

1st,

2d,

3d Pers.

formed from the Infinitive + the endings1- Sing. -ais, 1 The same for all Conjugations.

Plur. -ions,

(a) The Conditional is used to denote an action the accomplishment of which depends on a condition either expressed in a dependent Clause, or understood. N.B.-The Verb denoting the condition must not be used in the Conditional Mood.

FIRST CONJUGATION.

Je parler-ais anglais, si je le savais.
Tu parler-ais français, si tu le savais.
Il parler-ait grec, s'il le savait.

N. parler-ions latin, si n. le savions.
V. parler-iez italien, si v. le saviez.

I should speak English,
You would speak French,
He would speak Greek,
We would speak Latin,
You would speak Italian,

Ils parler-aient espagnol s'ils le savaient. They would speak Spanish,

(b) The Conditional is also used as a kind of Future Imperfect; i.e. to denote a future contingency viewed from the Past (whilst the Future Pres. denotes a future contingency viewed from the Present).

N.B.-Only in the sense of whether can si be used with the Future or

Conditional.

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formed from the Present-Participle-Stem + endings1

1 The same for all Conjugations.

THE PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE:

1st Rule of the Subjunctive.—When the Verb in the Principal Sentence expresses a wish, command, necesssity, consent, etc., the Verb in the Dependent Clause must be in the Subjunctive Mood.

2d Rule of the Subjunctive.—When the Verb in the Principal Sentence is impersonal, and does not express a fact, the Verb in the Dependent Clause must be in the Subjunctive Mood.

3d Rule of the Subjunctive.-When the Verb in the Principal Sentence expresses an affection of the mind (emotion), as joy, sorrow, fear, shame, surprise, etc., the Verb in the Dependent Clause must be in the Subjunctive.

When the Verb of the Principal Sentence is in the Preterite, Imperfect or Conditional, the Verb in the Dependent Clause is generally put in the Imperfect or Preterite.