Page:Graimear na Gaedhilge.djvu/118

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102

pends the case of the following noun or pronoun: i.e., whether such noun or pronoun is the subject or object of the verb.

As all Irish scholars have not accepted the Autonomous form of the verb, since it appears that formerly, at least, the verb was not Autonomous, being inflected for the plural number, it has been suggested that both names be retained for the present. In the first edition of this grammar the term “Indefinite” was given to this form, but as the name “Autonomous,” which means possessing the power of self government, is far more expressive, it has been adopted instead of “Indefinite.”

As the Autonomous form has only one inflection for each tense, this inflection is given immediately after each tense in the tables of conjugation.

MOODS AND TENSES.

253. Verbs have three moods, the Imperative, the Indicative, and the Subjunctive.

Some grammars add a fourth mood, the Conditional; and some omit the Subjunctive. The Conditional form, however, is always either Indicative or Subjunctive in meaning, and is here classed as a tense under the Indicative Mood.

The Imperative has only one tense, the Present. Its use corresponds to that of the Imperative in English.

The Indicative Mood has five tenses, the Present, the Imperfect, the Past, the Future, and the Conditional.