Difference between revisions of "Mood (grammar)"
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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. | |
| − | The | + | ==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]] | |
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Revision as of 01:16, August 10, 2010
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.