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The Chinese Language spoken at Fuh Chau.

which denotes the completion of the action; as, Muong5 khui k’ò3 lau2, the door is opened already; Muong5 kuong li5 lau2, the door is shut to.
4. Future indefinite. Nguai2 chiong p’a4, I shall strike.
5. Future definite. Nguai2 cheu7 può4 p’a4, I at once will strike.
The following form is nearly intermediate between the two preceding, namely, Nguai2 chiong può4 p’a4, I am about to strike.
II. – Subjunctive Mood. The subjunctive mood is formed from the indicative, by placing ioh8-sü2, ka2-sü2, or kò2-pe3, signifying if, or supposing that, before the nominative to the verb; as ioh8-sü2 nguai2 p’a4, if I strike, &c.
III. – Potential Mood. Nguai2 è7 p’a4, I may, or can strike. Nguai2 tüò8 p’a4, I must strike; Nguai2 kai-tong p’a4, I ought to strike; Nguai2 òi3 p’a4, I wish to strke.
IV. – Imperative Mood. Nü2 p’a4, strike thou; Nü2 k’ò3 p’a4, proceed thou to strke; Nü2 tüò8 p’a4, do you strike at once.
V. – Infinitive Mood. P’a4, to strike; Ing kai p’a4, it is proper to strike; Lè2 p’a4, to be striking; P’a8 lau2, to have struck; Chiong può4 p’a4, about to strike.
VI. – Participles. Lè2 p’a4, striking; P’a4 lau2, struck, or, having struck.

Passive Voice.

In the spoken language of Fuh Chau there is no proper passive form of verbs. Kieng3, to see, or experience, placed before the verb, and after the auxiliary, if there is one, is sometimes used to form the passive voice, but is seldom heard in conversation, and more properly belongs to the written language. It is even doubtful whether this form is understood by any except the educated, who have learned it in books. Seu7, to receive, or suffer, is more frequently used before the verb to denote action endured by the noun which proceeds the verb. Both these forms may be used without naming the person or thing by which the action is performed. When either of these words is used before an active verb to give it a passive signification, it becomes the principle verb, and the words denoting the action or suffering received or endured, become verbal nouns in the accusative case.

There is another form sometimes used, namely, Nguai2 k’ëüh4 I p’a4, I permitted him to strike; that is, I was struck by him. In some few cases this form has acquired by usage, something like a passive signification; as, Nguai2 k’ëüh42-tia p’a4, I suffered the officer to strike; that is, I have been beaten by the officer. In this form it is always necessary to mention the person or thing by which the action has