CHAPTER XVIII

E. NON-STANDARD USES OF VERB FORMS.

     509.   Non-standard forms of the verb are very common. It is a prominent word, inflected more than any other part of speech, and hence leads one who is careless to make many conspicuous blunders.
     510.   Some of the worst gaffes come from a non-standard use of the principal parts.
     For example:   Having as principal parts, inf. do, past did, p.part. done, we should say in stating a past fact, “He did the work,” not “He done the work”; but in making a present perfect phrase we should say, “He has done the work,” not “He has did the work.”
     511.   Principal Parts Confused.   I.   Avoid the use of the past participle where the past tense is required.
  II.   Avoid the use of the past tense in making a verb phrase which requires the past participle.

EXERCISE 305.

EXERCISE 306.

     512.   Some verbs have somewhat similar forms that are liable to be confounded. Especial care must be taken in using them.
     513.   Verbs confused.   Do not use one verb for another of similar form but of different meaning.

EXERCISE 307.

     514.   Improper Forms.   Avoid using any improper verb forms; as, “drawed” for “drew” [§ 92.]

EXERCISE 308.

     515.   Whether to use SHALL or WILL. Technically the two auxiliaries used chiefly to refer to future time have otherwise somewhat different meanings.
     516.   I.   Simply to fortell that something is going to happen (predictive), use shall with “I” or “we,” and will with other subjects. Thus: —
We shall fail.   I shall return in the spring.
You, he, they, etc., will find vacationing there tiresome.
     517.   II.   To express a promise (promissory or volative) or a determination (determinative) on the part of the speaker (subjective), it is reasonable to use will with “I” and “we,” and shall with other subjects. Thus: —
He will help you.   I will send the money. [volative]
She shall not go alone.   They shall vacate the house immediately. [determinative]

EXERCISE 309.

     518.   III.   In questions it makes sense to use the same auxiliary that would be used in the reply. Thus: —
     If we wish to exact a promise, like “I will wait” or “We will go,” we would ask, “Will you wait or go?“ But if we wish the other person to predict a future action (predictive) by saying, “I shall go,” we would ask, “Shall you go?”
Note that this rule does not apply to yes-no questions. Hence, we say, —
“Shall I find you there? [predictive]   not   “Will I find you there?” [volative! normally improper because speaker ought to know own desires.]
“Shall we come early? [obligative]   not   “Will we come early?” [predictive! normally improper because speaker ought to know own plans.]
     519.   Should and would follow the same rules as “shall” and “will.” Thus: —
I should not need your help, and, if I did, I would not ask it.
I asked him whether he should go or stay (“Shall you go or stay?”), and he said he should stay (“I shall stay”).
He said that he would go (“I will go”).
He feared lest he should fall (“I shall fall”).
     519a.   The use of should and would according to § 519 is problematic. There are other moods of these past tense forms that can interfere with the decision about which to use. Thus: —
I should not need your help. [obligative] If I did, I would not ask it. [subjunctive]
I asked him whether he should go or stay. [obligative] [predictive is stilted] He said he should stay. [obligative]
He said that he would go. [subjunctive or backshifted volative]
He feared lest he should fall. [subjunctive after lest]

EXERCISE 310.

     520.   Subjunctive forms are peculiar only —
     (1)   In always omitting the endings -s, -st, -eth, of the corresponding indicative;
     (2)   In that BE is used in place of am, art, is, or are, and WERE in place of was, wast, or wert.
     521.   Present Subjunctive forms are now used chiefly in clauses expressing a supposition or a condition to be decided in the future. As in —
If he ask a pardon, shall you grant it?
If he go, he will not be missed.
In such clauses, indicative forms are also used by good writers and speakers.
     522.   Past Subjunctive forms should be used in clauses expressing a supposition or a wish contrary to fact. As in —
If he were ready (but he is not), he could go.
I wish I were well (but I am not).
     ( a )   Indicative forms should be used to express what is assumed as a fact.
If he intends to go, he should go now.
Though he is far from well, he is industrious.
If he was poor, he was honest.

EXERCISE 311.

Non-standard Use of the s-form of Verbs.

     523.   We have learned that the s-form of verbs is never used except in the present tenses of the indicative mood, with subjects that in meaning are of the third person and of the singular number.
     524.   General Rule.   A third singular subject, and no other, requires the s-form of the verb.      It will be understood that this rule can apply only to the present indicative tense.
     525.   Was.   Use was with “I” or a third singular subject, but not with “you” or any plural subject.

EXERCISE 312.

     526.   It is the meaning rather than the form of a subject that affects the form of the verb. For example, in the sentence —
The Three Clerks was written by Anthony Trollope,
the subject is singular in meaning, for it names a single literary work.
     527.   1. Collective nouns are generally singular in meaning. Thus: —
The jury renders its verdict.     Our regiment loses its colonel.
     Here we refer to the collection as a whole or unit, and the s-form of the verb is required.
     2. Sometimes, however, we refer to actions of the individuals in the collection. Thus: —
The jury have returned to their homes.
Our regiment hold different opinions of him.
     Here the meaning is plural, and the s-form of the verb would be inaccurate.
     528.   Collective Subjects require the s-form of the verb only in referring to the collection as a unit.

EXERCISE 313.

Connected Subjects.

     529.   Singular expressions joined by and are generally taken together as a plural subject. Thus: —
He and I are going.     Industry and perseverance win success.
Making laws and enforcing them are very difficult.
     530.   Subjects joined by AND.   Use the s-form of the verb with singular subjects connected by and — only
(1)   When they name the same person or thing; or
(2)   When they are preceded by each, every, many a or no.
For example: —
(1) My friend and helper has deserted me.
(2) A wheel and axel transmits power.
(3) Each lady and gentleman has received a copy.
(4) Every city and town was visited.
     531.   Subjects joined by OR or NOR.   Use the s-form of the verb with third singular subjects connected by or or nor. Thus: —
One or the other visits London annually.
Neither money nor influence was needed.

EXERCISE 314.

     532.   When subjects connected by or or nor differ in person or number, the one nearest the verb generally controls its form. Thus: —
Neither she nor I am invited.     Either you or he knows it.
Are you or he going?     Neither he nor his children were saved.
     Expressions like these should generally be avoided. Thus: —
She is not invited, nor am I.
     533.   Of two subjects connected by as well as the first one controls the form of the verb that is expressed, and the second one that of a verb understood. Thus: —
The captain, as well as the crew, was lost.
The crew, as well as the captain, were sick.
     534.   Of two subjects, one affirmative and the other negative, the affirmative one controls the form of the verb expressed, and the negative one that of a verb understood. Thus: —
     Not I but he is the one to go.     Not he but I am going.     The warriors, but not the chief, were present.     Not only this habit, but all similar ones are pernicious.
     535.   As a relative pronoun has no form for number or person, the sense of he antecednt controls the form of the verb. Thus: —
“I that speak unto you am he.”     “O Thou who changest not!
“Our Father who art in heaven,…”

EXERCISE 315.

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