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English grammar

Chapter 61: LVIII. THE EMPHATIC CONJUGATION
By Lillian Kimball Stewart
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About This Book

A practical, classroom-oriented guide that presents the principles of modern English usage through clear definitions, progressive lessons, and abundant exercises. It begins with sentences, subjects, and predicates, then treats parts of speech — nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections — followed by phrases, clauses, sentence analysis, verb tense, mode and voice, agreement, and punctuation. Each topic is arranged pedagogically to build from simple to complex constructions, with drills and illustrative sentences to promote correct spoken and written habits and to develop students' ability to analyze and apply grammatical forms.

LVIII. THE EMPHATIC CONJUGATION

232. In the indicative mode, present tense, we may say, I study, which is the common form, or I am studying, which is the progressive form, or I do study, which is the emphatic form.

233. The emphatic conjugation is made by using the auxiliary verb do. It is found only in the present and past tenses of the indicative mode, and in the imperative mode.

234. Conjugation of the verb try in the emphatic form.

INDICATIVE MODE

Present Tense
I do try we do try
thou dost try you do try
he does try they do try
Past Tense
I did try we did try
thou didst try you did try
he did try they did try

IMPERATIVE MODE

do try (thou, you, or ye)

235. The two tenses of the indicative mode, emphatic form, may be made interrogative, as we learned in Lesson LI.

236. The emphatic form is used for other purposes than for emphasis. It is generally used instead of the ordinary forms when the adverb not modifies the predicate. We say, “I do not love thee, Dr. Fell,” instead of “I love thee not.” And in the imperative mode with not we say, “Do not run with the ball,” instead of “Run not with the ball.”