Present
Past
Future
(wanting)
Present
Present Perfect
Past
Present
Past
Present
Present Perfect
(wanting)
(wanting)
Subjunctive Mode
If I bite Past Perfect
If I bitten
Potential Mode
I can bite Past
(wanting) Past Perfect
Imperative (or Optative) Mode
I shall (or will) bite
Infinitive Mode
PASSIVE VOICE
Indicative Mode
I am bit Pas* Perfect
I been bit Future
I was bit Future Perfect
Subjunctive Mode
If I am bit Past Perfect
If I was bit
Potential Mode
I can be bit Past
(wanting) Past Perfect
Imperative Mode
Infinitive Mode
If I had of bit
I could bite
I could of bit
I had been bit
I will be bit
(wanting)
If I had of been
bit
I could be bit
I could of been
bit
A study of this paradigm reveals several plain tendencies. One has just been discussed: the addition of a degenerated form of have to the preterite of the auxiliary, and its use in place of the auxiliary itself. Another is the use of will instead of shall in the first person future. Shall is confined to a sort of optative, indicating much more than mere intention, and even here it is yielding to will. Yet another is the consistent use of the transferred preterite in the passive. Here the rule in correct English is followed faithfully, though the perfect participle
