The Moods of Verbs

The word mood comes from a Latin word which means manner. When we apply the term mood to verbs, we mean the manner in which the verb expresses the action or state of being.

There are three moods in English, the indicative mood, the imperative mood, and the subjunctive mood.

1. The indicative mood is used to make statement and ask questions. Most of the verbs that you commonly use are in the indicative mood.

The secretary typed the letter (statement of fact)
Did you hear the boy's cry of help? (question)

2. The imperative mood is used to express a command or a request. The imperative mood is found only in the present tense, second person. The subject is always the pronoun you, which is seldom expressed.

Come here at once! (command)
Freeze! (command)
Close the door. (request)
Please come in and sit down? (request)

3. The subjunctive mood is used to express a wish, doubt, uncertainty or a condition which is contrary to fact. By contrary to fact we mean something that is not true. A contrary to fact condition is usually introduced by the word if or as if. Some times careful writers and speakers also use the subjunctive in making a suggestion, in making a demand, or expressing a need.

If he were here, I would give him the keys. (He is not here)
I wish I were in San Francisco. (expresses a wish)
He talked as if I was not there. (I am there)
If this plan fails, we shall give up the project. (condition of uncertainty)
It is important that the play begin at once. (a necessity)
I don't know if we can succeed. (doubt)

The subjunctive and indicative moods do not present any problems in English. The verb has the same form to express a statement or to ask a question. You can identify the subjunctive mood easily because the subject is you, which is usually understood. The imperative mood always expresses a command or a request.

The subjunctive is used in certain parliamentary expressions, such as the following:

I move that the nominations be closed.
He moved that the report of the committee be accepted.