What Are Grammatical Moods in English?

Grammatical Mood in English is a feature of verbs used to describe the mood of the sentence.

Defining Grammatical Mood in English

English language with the help of verbs can be used to express different views, perspectives or moods. Verbs in Moods are used to show how the action is perceived or should be viewed.

Types

There are primarily 3 Grammatical Moods in English.

1. Indicative Mood
2. Imperative Mood
3. Subjunctive Mood

Indicative Mood

The indicative mood expresses a fact or gives a statement that is 100% the truth. It indicates positive beliefs is the mood that expresses reality.

Examples –
1. Suppose you see your friend, Stacy eating an apple. So you say “Stacy is eating an apple.” this is a fact as it is happening right now as you’re stating it.

2.” All dogs are mammals.” This sentence also comes under indicative mood as it is a universally known fact that dogs are mammals.

Here are a few more examples –

1. It is raining right now.
2. There is a solar eclipse tomorrow.
3. The earth is flat.
4. Raghav’s last name is Chaudhary.
5. Sheila is at the bakery right now.

Simple, perfect and progressive tenses are used to express the indicative mood.

Imperative Mood

The imperative mood gives orders or commands someone. It is supported by an authoritative tone. These statements can either be positive or negative.

Examples –

1. Open the door right now!
2. You need to finish it by tomorrow.
3. When you get home from school, do the dishes.
4. Keep the change.
5. Do it right now!
6. At Wednesday, pick up your sister from the airport.

Subjunctive Mood

The subjunctive mood is used to express hypothetical situations, wishes, suggestions etc. The subjunctive form of a verb is made from the 3rd person present singular, without the -s (or -es) ending. With these verbs, the same forms are used whether or not the context is the present or the past.

Note — the verb ‘to be’ is an exception.

Examples –

1. If I were a boy, I’d be happier.
2. If I were at the party, I would’ve met him.
3. They demanded the party leader justify the party actions no matter how immoral they were.
4. She suggested her to run as fast as she could if she were to come in contact with the joker.
5. Jigar’s professor recommended that he live in New York this summer.