of the verb; but in English, inflections
are so few that conjugation means merely the exhibition of the forms
and the different verb phrases that express the relations of voice,
mood, tense, etc.

[Sidenote: _Few forms._]

237. Verbs in modern English have only four or five forms; for
example, _walk_ has _walk_, _walks_, _walked_, _walking_, sometimes
adding the old forms _walkest_, _walkedst_, _walketh_. Such verbs as
_choose_ have five,--_choose_, _chooses_, _chose_, _choosing_,
_chosen_ (old, _choosest_, _chooseth_, _chosest_).

The verb _be_ has more forms, since it is composed of several
different roots,--_am_, _are_, _is_, _were_, _been_, etc.

238. INFLECTIONS OF THE VERB _BE_.

Indicative Mood.

PRESENT TENSE. | PAST TENSE.
|
_Singular_ _Plural_ | _Singular_ _Plural_
|
1. I am We are | 1. I was We were
2. You are You are | 2. You were You were
(thou art) | (thou wast, wert)
3. [He] is [They] are | 3. [He] was [They were]

Subjunctive Mood.

PRESENT TENSE. | PAST TENSE.
|
_Singular_ _Plural_ | _Singular_ _Plural_
|
1. I be We be | 1. I were We were
2. You (thou) be You be | 2. You were You were
| (thou wert)
3. [He] be [They] be | 3. [He] were [They] were

Imperative Mood.

PRESENT TENSE, _Singular and Plural_, Be.

[Sidenote: _Remarks on the verb_ be.]

239. This conjugation is pieced out with three different roots: (1)
_am_, _is_; (2) _was_, _were_; (3) _be_.

Instead of the plural _are_, Old English had _beoth_ and _sind_ or
_sindon_, same as the German _sind_. _Are_ is supposed to have come
from the Norse language.

The old indicative third person plural _be_ is sometimes found in
literature, though it is usually a dialect form; for example,--

Where _be_ the sentries who used to salute as the Royal chariots
drove in and out?--THACKERAY

Where _be_ the gloomy shades, and desolate mountains?--WHITTIER

[Sidenote: _Uses of_ be.]