On philosophical principles, we might, perhaps, dispense with the
_future_ tenses of the verb, by analyzing each word separately; but,
as illustrated on page 79, the combined words which form our perfect
and pluperfect tenses have an _associated_ meaning, which is
destroyed by analyzing each word separately. That arrangement,
therefore, which rejects these tenses, appears to be, not only
_unphilosophical_, but inconsistent and inaccurate.
For the satisfaction of those teachers who prefer it, and for their
adoption, too, a modernized _philosophical_ theory of the moods and
tenses is here presented. If it is not quite so convenient and
useful as the old one, they need not hesitate to adopt it. It has
the advantage of being _new_; and, moreover, it sounds _large_, and
will make the _commonalty stare_. Let it be distinctly understood,
that you teach _"philosophical grammar, founded on reason and common
sense_," and you will pass for a very learned man, and make all the
good housewives wonder at the rapid march of intellect, and the vast
improvements of the age.
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