Page:An elementary grammar of the Japanese language.djvu/25

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
Conjugation of Verbs.
11

an action; as, Watakusi wa sore ga miyemusu, or Watakusi wa sore wo miru koto ga dekimasu, I can see it or that.

  1. The Subjunctive Mood represents a thing under a condition, and is preceded by a conjunction (mosi), and followed by another conjunction (nara or naraba); as, Moshi anata ga ikimasu nara, If you go. Sometimes the word mosi is omitted; as, Anata ga ikimasu nara, If you go.
  2. The Imperative Mood commands or entreats, as, Miyo or Mite-kudasare, See, or Pray see.
  3. The Infinitive Mood expresses an action without regard to persons or numbers; as, Miru koto, To see.

Of Tenses.

Verbs have three tenses—the Present, the Past, and the Future.

  1. The Present Tense expresses what is going on at present; as, Watakusi ga yomimasu, I read, or am reading.
  2. The Past Tense represents an action as finished; as, Watakusi wa kono shomotu wo yomimasita, I have read, or I read this book.
  3. The Future Tense represents an action which is yet to be done; as, Watakusi wa yomimasho, I shall read.

Conjugation of Verbs.

Verbs are divided into three classes. These are distin-