Verb Moods

Verb moods indicate a state of being or reality. Shows the speaker’s attitude.. They show the

manner in which the action or condition is intended.

Indicative Mood

Indicative states an apparent fact. This is the way verbs are normally used in English.

Indicative Mood

examples: (Choose 1)

Last year, I ate a sandwich for lunch almost every day.

Mrs. Freeman drives a very nice car.

Bernie's cat likes to sit on a piano bench.

Interrogative Mood

indicates a state of questioning. In the interrogative, the subject-verb order is inverted.

examples:

Will Dad take out the trash tomorrow?(Interrogative of: Dad will take out the trash tomorrow.)

Imperative Mood

Imperative states a command or request. Frequently, the subject does not appear in the sentence, but it is implied.

examples: (Choose 1)

(You) Wait and watch before crossing the street.

Come here.

Hang on!

Subjunctive Mood

Subjunctive expresses a doubt, desire, imaginary situation, or condition contrary to fact.

The subjunctive typically takes these verbs:

ask, demand, insist, move, order, pray, determine, prefer, recommend, regret, request, require, suggest, wish

* It is not true, or you are being wishful.*

Clues- Would, could, and if

Subjunctive Mood

examples: (Choose 1)

If I were you, I would study very hard for Friday's test.

I prefer Mom to drive me to the store instead of my cousin Bob.

Principal Andrews insists that we students walk on the right side of the hallway.

Subjunctive Mood

NOTE): The subjunctive mood of the verb "to be" is "be" in the present tense and "were" in the past tense regardless of the subject.

Conditional Mood

Conditional indicates a conditional state that will cause something else to happen.

It is marked by the words "might," "could," and "would."

Conditional Mood

examples:

If we use our time wisely, we might get to go home early. If the people use their time wisely (conditional state), they might get to go home early ("going home early" will happen).

Inappropriate shift

An inappropriate shift or inconsistency in the verb of a sentence confuses the reader.

Shifts in a verb mood can make reading difficult and obscure the sentence's meaning. To correct the shift, both clauses in the sentence should be in the same mood.

In complex or compound sentences, the verb tenses should be the same.

Inappropriate shift

I Inappropriate Shift Correction

Eat ice cream, and you will jog around the playground.(imperative) (indicative)

Eat ice cream and jog around the playground.(imperative) (imperative)

You could eat ice cream, but why couldn't you jog around the playground?(indicative) (interrogative)

You could eat ice cream, and you could jog around the playground.(indicative) (indicative)

If you were to eat ice cream, you will jog around the playground.(subjunctive: hint "if/were") (indicative)

If you were to eat ice cream, you would jog around the playground.(subjunctive past form "were") (subjunctive past form "would")