Under this view of the subject, the term _perfect_ may be properly
applied to this tense, for it specifies, not only the completion of the
action, but, also, alludes to the particular period of its
accomplishment.

The PLUPERFECT TENSE represents a past action or event that transpired
before some other past time specified; as, "I _had finished_ my letter
before my brother arrived."

You observe that the verb _had finished_, in this example, represents
one _past_ action, and the arrival of my brother, another _past_ action;
therefore _had finished_ is in the pluperfect tense, because the action
took place prior to the taking place of the other past action specified
in the same sentence.

The FIRST FUTURE TENSE denotes a future action or event; as "I _will
finish_; I _shall finish_ my letter."

The SECOND FUTURE TENSE represents a future action that will be fully
accomplished, at or before the time of another future action or event;
as, "I _shall have finished_ my letter when my brother arrives."

This example clearly shows you the meaning and the proper use of the
second future tense. The verb "shall have finished" implies a future
action that will be completely finished, at or before the time of the
other future event denoted by the phrase, "_when_ my brother _arrives_."

NOTE. What is sometimes called the _Inceptive_ future, is expressed
thus, "I am going _to write_;" "I am about _to write_." Future time
is also indicated by placing the infinitive present immediately
after the indicative present of the verb _to be_; thus, "I am _to
write_;" "Harrison is _to be_, or ought _to be_, commander in
chief;" "Harrison is _to command_ the army."

You may now read what is said respecting the moods and tenses several
times over, and then you may learn to _conjugate_ a verb. But, before
you proceed to the conjugation of verbs, you will please to commit the
following paragraph on the _Auxiliary_ verbs and, also, the _signs_ of
the moods and tenses; and, in conjugating, you must pay particular
attention to the manner in which these signs are applied.

OF THE AUXILIARY VERBS.

AUXILIARY or HELPING VERBS are those by the help of which the English
verbs are principally conjugated. _May, can, must, might, could, would,
should,_ and _shall_, are always auxiliaries; _do, be, have_, and
_will_, are sometimes auxiliaries, and sometimes principal verbs.

The use of the auxiliaries is shown in the following