What is Mood in English Grammar?
Grammatical Mood indicates the quality or form of a verb in a sentence and also used to clear the intention of the speaker or writer . It doesn’t always refer to feelings . It can also be called Mode . It is the form of a verb to indicate an event to be regarded – as a fact , real or unreal, as a command, as a demand , as a wish, as an uncertainty or possibility.
Types of Mood in English Grammar –
1 . Indicative Mood
2. Imperative Mood
3 . Subjunctive Mood
4 . Interrogative Mood
5 . Conditional Mood
6. Infinitive Mood
1 . Indicative Mood – This mood is used to indicate a fact or real statement . It can also be used to ask a question which is going to be factual .
Examples – I like to read books .
Mother prepares breakfast everyday.
Where is he going now ?
2 . Imperative Mood – This mood is used to indicate a direct command or a request statement . It uses the second person as the subject of the sentence which remains hidden for most of the time.
Examples – Do your task .
Attend the meeting in the afternoon.
3 . Subjunctive Mood – This mood is used to indicate a hypothetical fact or a wish , demand or doubt .
Verbs will be in the simple form in the Past, Present or Future Tenses in the Subjunctive Mood .
We need to use ‘were‘ instead of ‘was’ in Subjunctive Mood.
Verbs in the Present Subjunctive Mood take the infinitive form e.g., ‘be ‘, ‘ run ‘, ‘ sing ‘ , ‘ drink ‘ , etc and verbs in the Past Subjunctive are used in simple form .
We use ‘ have ‘ in Subjunctive Form instead of ‘ has .’
Examples –
If I were with you, I would never insist you to give up . ( Hypothetical fact )
He wished the dream were true .
( Wish )
They demand that everybody have a chance to appear in the tournament.
( Demand )
Experts suggested that a change be made in your behavior. ( Suggestion )
He insisted that his father be involved in any event. ( Insist )
i . Present Subjunctive Mood or Mandative Mood – This is used to indicate future actions or situations . It is used to express suggestions, recommendations, advice, requests, demands .
It can be formed with two types of clauses –
a main clause that contains an indicative verb ( like – recommended, suggested ) or a phrase that starts with an adjective ( like – It is necessary ) .
A subordinate clause usually beginning with the Conjunction ‘that‘ .
Another thing to remember – In Subjunctive Mood if the subject is a Personal Pronoun then it’s always a Subject Pronoun , like – I, he, she, we , etc . but not like me, him, her, us , etc.
Examples –
His manager recommended that he join the post immediately.
The professor advised us that we attend the group discussion.
It is necessary that you try .
The coach advised I take charge .
The teacher suggests that we not waste our time. ( Negative )
ii . Past Subjunctive – It is used to indicate past or present actions or situations .
In Past Subjunctive Mood, a sentence contains two clauses –
a main clause in the Indicative Mood .
A subordinate clause in the Subjunctive Mood . ( Usually starts with that, if , as if )
The form of ‘ be ‘ verbs in Past Subjunctive form is ‘ were ‘ ( whatever the subject is ) .
All other verbs are used in simple form in Past Subjunctive Mood.
Examples – If I were there, I would try my tricks.
I wish I visited Switzerland.
4 . Interrogative Mood – This mood is used to indicate uncertainty by asking a question and the question is formed with an auxiliary or helping verb and a main verb .
Examples – Have you done this ?
Is he joining us today ?
5 . Conditional Mood – This mood is used to indicate a condition and an auxiliary verb or helping verb supports a main verb to express the condition.
Examples – If you come to Kolkata , you should visit our house .
If you want to crack the examination, you must prepare for that .
6. Infinitive Mood – This mood used Infinitives to indicate action . Infinitive = to + base verb.
Examples – My father loves to spend time with family .
He wanted me to take part in the event .
