MOOD

  
MOOD

We all know that as humans, we can experience different moods. A mood is a temporary state of mind or feeling. We may be amused, cranky, shocked, relaxed, optimistic or frustrated. The list goes on and on. But did you know that VERBS have moods as well?

What? Verbs can be giddy, irritated or perplexed? 

No. Verbs have moods in a different sense. Read on to understand what moods a verb can have, what they mean and examples of how to use them. 

A verb “mood” is the form that a verb takes to show the manner in which it is being used. There are three of them we will consider:

1) Indicative Mood
2) Imperative Mood
3) Subjunctive Mood

INDICATIVE MOOD
  
You use this verb mood when you wish to state a fact or ask a question.

Example:

He is cooking dinner.
Is he cooking dinner?

IMPERATIVE MOOD

You use this verb mood to express a command or a request.

Example:

Cook dinner!
Please cook dinner.

SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD

You use this verb mood to show a wish or doubt. Although this is a major verb mood in the English language, it is slowly being replaced other moods or specific tenses. 

Example:

I suggest that Bill cook dinner.
I suggest that Bill be asked to cook dinner. 
If I were Bill, I would cook dinner. --> This is being replaced in spoken English by the past tense “If I was Bill….”

English grammar can be complicated. But little by little, you can learn the “ins and outs” of this beautiful language. So let’s improve YOUR mood by practicing the verb moods in a class together!