The Theory and Structure of Language. 103 



gest but two primary ideas, as the verb to be, but that it suggests 

 three primary ideas like other verbs maybe understood, if we use the 

 synonimous term to exist instead of to be. Thus " I exist" suggests 

 first the abstract idea of existence, not including the mode of exist- 

 ence, whether at rest, or in action, or in suffering; secondly it adds 

 to that abstracted idea of existence its real state, or actual resting, 

 acting, or suffering, existence; and thirdly the idea of the present 

 time: thus the infinitive mood to be, and the participle, being, suggest 

 both the abstract idea of existence, and the actual state of it, but not 

 the time. 



The verb to be is also used irregularly to designate the parts of time 

 and actual existence; and is then applied to either the active or passive 

 participles of other verbs, and called an auxiliary verb; Avhile the mode 

 of existence, whether at rest, or in action, or being acted upon, is ex- 

 pressed by the participle, as " I am loving" is nearly the same as " I 

 love," amo; and " I am loved," amatus sum, is nearly the same as 

 amor. This mode of application of the verb to be is used in French as 

 well as in English, and in the passive voice of the Latin, and perhaps 

 in many other languages; and is by its perpetual use in conversation 

 rendered irregular in them all, as J am, thou art, he is, would not 

 seem to belong to the infinitive mood to be, anymore than *um, fui, 

 sunr, fuerunt, appear to belong to esse. 



The verb to have affords another instance of irregular application; 

 the word means in its regular sense to possess, and then suggests three 

 ideas like the above verb of existence : first the abstracted idea of 

 the thing spoken of, or possession; secondly, the actrial existence 

 of possession, and lastly the time, as I have or possess. This verb 

 to have like the verb to be is also used irregularly to denote parts 

 of past time, and is then joined to the passive participles alone, as I 

 have eaten; or it is accompanied with the passive participle of the 

 verb to be, and then with the active participle of another verb> as I 

 have been eating. 



There is another word will used in the same irregular manner to 

 denote the parts of future time, which is derived from the verb to will; 

 which in its regular use signifies to exert our volition. There are 

 other words used to express other circumstances attending upon verbs, 



