Mood/Mode in English Grammar
Hum-1103 Technical English
Mood/Mode
⚫Grammatical mood refers to the quality or form of a
verb in a sentence. It denotes the tone of a verb in a
sentence so the intention of the writer or speaker is
clear.
There are three basic verb moods:
⚫1. imperative
⚫2. indicative
⚫3. subjunctive
1. Indicative Mood
⚫A sentence with an indicative mood expresses a
factual statement, at least from the perspective of the
speaker. Most sentences are written in the indicative
mood, sharing facts or details that we perceive to be
correct. In these sentences, the verb will express
some sort of action, as a statement of fact.
Example
⚫Marie laughs whenever she sees him.
⚫Their new puppy walks quickly.
⚫Charlie read that book in less than a day.
⚫He enjoyed his dinner.
⚫She travels to Ireland frequently.
2. Imperative Mood
⚫A sentence with an imperative mood makes a
request or a command. These sentences don’t make
mild suggestions. Rather, they issue a direct
command, telling someone what to do.
⚫In these sentences, the verb will express a direct call
to action. Sometimes the subject “you” will be
understood, as in the first example. Other times, it’ll
be clear who the subject is.
Example
⚫[You] Move that book.
⚫Make sure Irene calls the store tomorrow.
⚫When you get home from school, walk the dog.
⚫At five o’clock, peel the potatoes for dinner.
⚫When you arrive at the airport, walk to Gate 52.
3. Subjunctive Mood
⚫A sentence with a subjunctive mood expresses a
condition that is doubtful, hypothetical, wishful, or
not factual. The subjunctive verb in these sentences
will show action, but it may not be based on reality.
⚫Sentences in the subjunctive mood often include the
phrase "If I were." The verb tends to express a doubt,
wish, request, demand, proposal, or hypothetical
situation.
Example
⚫If I were in your position, I’d never leave.
⚫Jane wishes her sons were faster at getting ready in
the morning.
⚫The teacher requires all students be present for
Thursday's event.
⚫Dr. Chandy suggested that Jerry run three times a
week.
⚫She demanded Sean work the night shift.
When to use the subjunctive
⚫ 1. In that-clauses
⚫ Nowadays it is probably most frequent
in that-clauses with verbs such as
demand, insist, pray, recommend, suggest,
and semantically related
nouns/adjectives, e.g. essential, important,
insistence, proposal, etc.
⚫ She declined a seat beside Charles on
the sofa. She insisted that Jane sit there.
⚫ It was suggested that he wait until the
next morning.
⚫ It is important that they be aware of the
provisions of the Act.
⚫ Note: In most such cases it can be replaced
by should + infinitive or by the indicative
form of the verb:
⚫ She declined a seat beside Charles on the
sofa. She insisted that Jane sat there.
⚫ It was suggested that he should wait until
the next morning.
⚫ It is important that they are aware of the
provisions of the Act.
2. As if…, as though…, if…
⚫ After if (or as if, as though, unless) in hypotheses
or comparisons:
⚫ If that were so, things would be very different.
⚫ It was as if Sally were disturbed in some way.
⚫ His voice strained as though he were walking on
a wire above a pit of sharks.
⚫ The indicative may also be used, i.e. was instead
of were, in all the examples above, but the
subjunctive arguably conveys the hypothetical
sense more forcefully.
3. If I were you…
⚫ Usage seems to be changing in phrases such as
if I were you, if it were up to me, etc. People often
say if I was you and if it was up to me, but the
subjunctive is preferable in writing, especially any
formal or academic prose. The phrase as it were,
however, cannot be modified:
4. Set phrases
⚫ Having to ask permission, as it were, to see her
friends
⚫ Suddenly, as it were overnight, the weather
became hot and sultry.
4. Set Phrases
⚫ For categories 1–3 using the subjunctive is optional.
However, there are many set phrases which contain a
hidden subjunctive as part of the phrase:
• come what may Far be it from me to…
• God save the Queen! Heaven forbid!
• Perish the thought! so be it
• Thy kingdom come, thy will be done...
• suffice it to say... woe betide...
⚫ Possibly, it is failure to recognize that suffice it to
say is subjunctive, with it as the grammatical subject,
that leads many people to say suffice to say.
5. At the head of a clause
⚫ This kind of construction, with the subject after the
verb, is more typically found in writing than in
speech, where it might be considered rather
formal.
⚫ Were I to get drunk, it would help me drown my
anguish.
⚫ Unlike rival international fairs, be they in London,
New York or Maastricht, the Biennale has
enormous popular appeal.
⚫ Reference:
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