Rudimenta prima grammatices, ex eruditissimis quibusque grammaticis excerpta

What is the present tense? That which signifies an action that is being done now: as "I love," "I love."

What is the imperfect past? That which signifies a past action, yet not absolute: as "I was loving," "I was loving."

What is the perfect past? That which signifies a past and absolute action: as "I have loved," "I have loved."

What is the pluperfect past? That which signifies a perfect thing, but with respect to the past: as "I had loved," "I had loved."

What is the future? That which signifies a thing to be done in the future: as "I will love," "I will love."

What is a mood? The diverse will or affection of the mind signified through speech.

How many moods of verbs are there? Five. Which? Indicative, Imperative, Optative, Subjunctive, and Infinitive.

What is the indicative mood? That which signifies a thing as indicated or narrated: as "I love," "I love." Sometimes as interrogated: as "Do I love?" "Do you say that I love?"

What is the imperative? That which signifies a thing as commanded or ordered: as "Love," "Love."

What is the optative? That which signifies a thing as wished for: and sometimes it is placed with an adverb of wishing, sometimes without it: as "Would that I were loved," "May God grant that I am loved."

What is the subjunctive? That which is indeed similar to the indicative in signification, but we never use it except after another verb, either expressed or implied: as "I ask that you do."

What is the infinitive? That which signifies to be, to act, or to suffer, without number or person: as "to exist," "to love," "to be loved."

How many figures of verbs are there? Two. Which? Simple, as "I read." Composite, as "I understand," "I neglect."

In how many ways are verbs composed? In five, just as with nouns. Which? First, from two entire words: as "I adore," "I draw over." Secondly, from two corrupted words: as "I affect," "I do service." Thirdly, from an entire and a corrupted word: as "I begin," "I break." Fourthly, from a corrupted and an entire word: as "I play," "I bind." Fifthly, from many: as "I cover," "I terrify."

How many persons happen to a verb? Three. First, second, third. First, which says: as "I read." Second, to whom it is said: as "you read." Third, about whom it is said: as "he reads."