BOAS] HANDBOOK OF AMERICAlSr INDIAN LANGUAGES 841 



its use, it occurs with an adverb tai'ydna, which conveys the desid- 

 erative sense of would that ! oh, if ! 



tai'ydna 'pyo/t^l oh, if he would only come! 

 The subjunctive is also used to express the possibility of an action. 



pe'musdH^ he might pass by on foot 



tetepu'sdyA^n^ thou shouldst walk around in a circle 



The same subjunctive is employed to express two kinds of condi- 

 tions. In the one, where the condition is assumed as possible, the 

 subjunctive stands in the protasis; while the future indicative of an 

 independent verb is in the conclusion. The tense of the subjunctive 

 is implied, and is that of the future. 



wi-u-jn'tdhd^w^ pyd'miga^'k^ he vfiW be pleased if it should come 



In the other, where the condition is assumed as contrary to fact, 

 both clauses stand in the subjunctive. The tense of both clauses is 

 implied; that of the protasis is past, and that of the conclusion is 

 present. 



upi'tdhd'^t^ pyd'miga''lc'' he would be pleased if it had come 



The forms of this subjunctive are connected with past action. 

 The idea of relative time is gathered more from implication of the 

 context than from the actual expression of some distinctive element 

 calling for past time. Some of the uses to which this subjunctive is 

 put are the following: 



It is used to express an unattained desire. It occurs with taiydna. 

 tai'ydna M'wdte^'^l oh, if he only had turned and come back! 



It is used as a potential. 



ta'lcAmusd'yAne^' " thou mightest have gone by a short way in 

 your walk across country 



It frequently has the force of an indicative, and, when so used, the 

 verb makes use of the tense particles a and wl. [See my note to 

 § 29. — T. M.] But the action is always represented with reference 

 to an event in the past. 



I'ni te'peliw^ d'^pemdmute^'" it v/as-on that night when he fled 

 for his life (pem- [§ 16]; -dmu- [see -d- § 19]) 



In this connection it often occurs with an adverb, Ice'ydTiA^'p"', 

 which has such meanings as it was true; it was a fact; why, as 



A MATTER OF FACT. 



§35 



