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'''Mood''' is a grammatical category that expresses the speaker's attitude toward the action or state of being described in a [[verb]], namely, whether it is a simple statement of fact, a hypothetical or counterfactual situation, a desire, a command, etc. [[English]] has indicative, subjunctive, and imperative moods; other languages distinguish more or fewer.
==Indicative mood==
The indicative mood indicates a simple statement of fact: "I'm here."
==Subjunctive mood==
The subjunctive mood expresses a hypothetical, counterfactual, or desired situation. A counterfactual present situation is expressed in the past subjunctive: ''If I were king...'' (which the speaker is not). A counterfactual past situation is expressed in the past perfect subjunctive: ''If I had been king...'' (which the speaker was not at the relevant time, if ever). A desired situation can be expressed in the present or future subjunctive: ''I request that he be there/should be there at noon.'' ''God save the Queen!'' The future subjunctive also expresses a possible future situation in a dependent clause: ''If I should die before I wake....''
In counterfactual statements, the independent clause is expressed in the conditional, which is sometimes considered to be a mood distinct from the subjunctive: ''If I were king, what riches I would give you.''
==Imperative mood==
The imperative mood expresses a command: ''Go!'' It typically exists only in the second person and in the first person plural. Some languages, like [[Spanish]], have a separate polite imperative based on the subjunctive.
[[Category:Grammar]]
==Indicative mood==
The indicative mood indicates a simple statement of fact: "I'm here."
==Subjunctive mood==
The subjunctive mood expresses a hypothetical, counterfactual, or desired situation. A counterfactual present situation is expressed in the past subjunctive: ''If I were king...'' (which the speaker is not). A counterfactual past situation is expressed in the past perfect subjunctive: ''If I had been king...'' (which the speaker was not at the relevant time, if ever). A desired situation can be expressed in the present or future subjunctive: ''I request that he be there/should be there at noon.'' ''God save the Queen!'' The future subjunctive also expresses a possible future situation in a dependent clause: ''If I should die before I wake....''
In counterfactual statements, the independent clause is expressed in the conditional, which is sometimes considered to be a mood distinct from the subjunctive: ''If I were king, what riches I would give you.''
==Imperative mood==
The imperative mood expresses a command: ''Go!'' It typically exists only in the second person and in the first person plural. Some languages, like [[Spanish]], have a separate polite imperative based on the subjunctive.
[[Category:Grammar]]