Moods
Explore advanced uses of grammatical moods in various contexts. Comprehensive explanations, exercises, and a quiz.
What Do We Mean by Moods?
'Mood' (also known as modality) is used to describe a special state or form of the verb. They show the writer's or speaker's attitude toward or intention for the action expressed by the verb.
Moods: Types
Based on whether verbs express facts, commands, questions, emotions, desires, or conditions, they are categorized into various groups.
Declarative Mood
Declarative mood describes the type of sentence that makes a statement or declaration or provides information about something. Sentences in declarative mood typically begin with a subject followed by a verb, and verb complements, if necessary. However, sometimes the normal word order might be altered for emphasis or stylistic purposes.
Declarative sentences can be affirmative or negative. For example:
She lives in Torino.
Simon doesn't eat sea food.
Imperative Mood
The imperative mood is used to give orders, commands, or instructions. This mood is formed using the main verb in the imperative form, which is typically the bare infinitive (i.e., the infinitive without 'to') used at the beginning of a sentence.
Imperative verbs are categorized into two groups based on whether the command is to do or not to do the action:
Affirmative imperative
Negative imperative
To form a negative command in the imperative mood, the auxiliary verb 'do' is followed by the negative marker 'not' before the bare infinitive.
Don't talk to me!
A negative imperative
Repeat after me!
An affirmative imperative
The imperative mood usually does not include a subject at the beginning, but the subject is implied to be the pronoun 'you' that might sometimes be explicitly stated.
(You) slow down!
(You) submit your homework, now!
Interrogative Mood
'The interrogative mood' is used to ask questions. In other words, an interrogative sentence is a sentence that seeks information or clarification. There are two main types of interrogative sentences in English:
Questions are marked by inversion of the subject and auxiliary, although there are some exceptions to this general rule. Another distinguishing characteristic of interrogatives is the use of a question mark at the end of sentences. Take a look at some examples:
Are you coming?
What is your name?
Exclamatory Mood
The exclamatory mood describes a strong emotion such as excitement, admiration, fear, anger, or any other intense feeling. Exclamatory mood is marked by the use of exclamation mark at the end of the sentence. Any verb can be used in exclamatory sentences but many of these sentences are distinguished by the use of 'what' or 'how' at the beginning.
She actually has lost the keys!
What a mess this has turned into!
Subjunctive Mood
The subjunctive mood is used to describe situations that are hypothetical, contrary to fact, or uncertain, unlike the declarative mood. It is often used to express wishes, opinions, obligations, suggestions, and other non-factual scenarios. The key feature of the subjunctive mood is that it is used to refer to events that may not have occurred yet or are unlikely to occur.
I wish I were rich.
In this example, the speaker is talking about something that they desire but do not have.
She suggested we take a break.
Here, the subjunctive is used to offer a suggestion.
The subjunctive mood is always expressed by a dependent clause and is marked by special verb forms. In present subjunctive clauses, the verb is always in its base form, while in the past subjunctive clauses the verb is always in past simple form, although not actually referring to a past time.
It's important they be compensated for their work.
a present subjunctive
It's about time you talked to her.
a past subjunctive
Conditional Mood
The conditional mood is used to express events or actions that are dependent on a certain condition or circumstance, and may or may not happen. It is often used to express a hypothetical situation, a possibility, or a conjecture.
If you were me, you would dump him.
If you boil the egg, it gets solid over a short time.
There are five types of conditional moods in English:
Zero conditional
Zero conditionals express a general truth or fact, and imply that a particular action or result will always follow a certain condition.
The zero conditional is typically formed using the present simple tense in both clauses of the sentence, with words like 'if' or 'when' introducing the condition. For example:
If you boil eggs, they get solid in a short time.
He cries if you hurt him.
First Conditional
The first conditional refers to a future event that is likely to happen if a specific condition is met. The condition clause expresses this condition, and is often introduced with a condition marker like 'if'. The first conditional uses the present simple tense in the condition clause and a future simple tense in the result clause. Check out the examples:
I will pick up John if you are busy.
If you take it easy, it will be easier to find solutions.
Second Conditional
The second conditional refers to a hypothetical situation that is unlikely or impossible to happen in the present or future. It is often used to express a situation that could have happened differently, or to make a suggestion, or express a wish that is unlikely to be fulfilled. The second conditional is usually formed using the past simple tense in the condition clause and the modal verb 'would' followed by the base form of the verb in the main clause. Here are some examples:
If I were you, I would tell the truth to my boss.
I would do anything for her if she just chose me over him.
Third Conditional
The third conditional refers to a hypothetical situation or event that did not happen in the past, and is used to express a regret or a missed opportunity. It is often used to imagine what could have happened differently in the past if circumstances had been different.
The third conditional is usually formed using the past perfect tense in the condition clause and the modal verb 'would have' followed by a past participle in the main clause. Here are some examples.
If I had watched the movie, we would have been able to talk over something mutual.
She would have called me if you hadn't lied to her.
Mixed Conditional
The mixed conditional is a type of conditional sentence that combines elements of the second and third conditional moods. It is used to express a hypothetical or unreal situation in the present or future that is linked to a past event or condition. In a mixed conditional sentence, one clause typically uses the past perfect tense, while the other clause uses 'would' + base form of the verb. Another possible structure consists of past simple tense in the condition clause and 'would have' followed by the past participle in the result clause. Here are the examples:
If I hadn't been married to Sam, I wouldn't be this happy now.
If I had studied harder in school, I would be working in a better job now.
Review
The state or form of a particular verb is described by a mood. There are six different moods in English as follows.
imperative mood
declarative (indicative) mood
interrogative mood
exclamatory mood
subjunctive mood
conditional mood
Quiz:
Sort the words to form an interrogative sentence.
Which of the following sentences is in the subjunctive mood?
She goes to the market every morning.
Don't touch that button!
Are you feeling better today?
I wish I were taller.
Which sentence is written in the third conditional mood?
If he had known, he would have helped.
If she trains hard, she will win.
If I were rich, I would buy a yacht.
If it rains, the grass gets wet.
Fill the table by choosing the mood that matches the description. (There is one extra option.)
The mood that is used to ask questions. | |
The mood that shows dependency of one action on another. | |
This mood is used for statements and facts. | |
This mood expresses strong emotions | |
This mood is used when giving orders or instructions. |
Match each sentence to its mood.
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