But of all the errors or inaccuracies in speaking or writing the English language, the most numerous class appear in the improper use of verbs in the subjunctive mode. Not only illiterate men, but authors of the first rank, often use the present tense for the future, the future for the present, and the past for both. "If any member _absents_ himself, he shall forfeit a penny for the use of the club, unless in case of sickness and imprisonment."----Rules of the Two Penny Club, Spect. No. 9. "If thou _neglectest_ or _dost_ unwillingly what I command, I'll rack thee with old cramps."----Temp. act 1. s. 4. In both these examples, the events mentioned in the verbs are _future_; "if any member _shall_ absent himself;" "if thou _shalt_ neglect;" therefore the auxiliary verb _shall_ should have been employed, or the sentences should have been elliptical, "if any member _absent_ himself;" "if thou _neglect_;" where _shall_ is understood and easily supplied by the reader. Numberless examples of the same kind of inaccuracy may be found in good authors. Thus in Haley's Happy Prescription, act 2. "And if my scheme _prospers_, with joy I'll confess, What a whimsical trifle produced our success." The idea is, "if my scheme _shall_ prosper;" and this is obvious by the subsequent part of the sentence, where the future is employed, "with joy _I'll_ confess." "If Punch _grows_ extravagant, I shall reprimand him very freely; if the stage _becomes_ a nursery of folly and impertinence, I shall not be afraid to animadvert upon it."----Spect. No. 35. These should have been _grow_ or _should grow_; _become_ or _should become_. "If any thing _offers_ (shall offer) from Dublin, that may serve either to satisfy or divert you, I will not fail," &c.---- Swift's Corresp. letter 2. In the following passage, the same writer is much more correct. "If any one matter in it _prove_ (that is, _shall prove_) false, what do you think will become of the paper?"----Letter 8. But the use of the future for the present is much more frequent. "If reverence, gratitude, obedience and confidence _be_ our duty."---- Priestley, let. 7 to a Phil. Unbeliever. "If he _have_ any knowlege of actual existence, he must be satisfied."----Same, letter 8.