Scribd
Upload
29 views

Verbs in Indicative Imperative Interrogative Conditional Amp Subjunctive Moods

The document discusses five verb moods: indicative, imperative, interrogative, conditional, and subjunctive. The indicative mood indicates facts, while the imperative mood issues commands. The interrogative mood asks questions. The conditional mood depends on certain conditions being met. Lastly, the subjunctive mood expresses wishes or hypothetical situations contrary to reality, as seen in the Beyoncé song "If I Were a Boy." Examples are provided for each mood.

Uploaded by

M Awwab Khan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
29 views

Verbs in Indicative Imperative Interrogative Conditional Amp Subjunctive Moods

The document discusses five verb moods: indicative, imperative, interrogative, conditional, and subjunctive. The indicative mood indicates facts, while the imperative mood issues commands. The interrogative mood asks questions. The conditional mood depends on certain conditions being met. Lastly, the subjunctive mood expresses wishes or hypothetical situations contrary to reality, as seen in the Beyoncé song "If I Were a Boy." Examples are provided for each mood.

Uploaded by

M Awwab Khan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

Verbs in Indicative, Imperative, Interrogative,

Conditional & Subjunctive Moods


study.com/academy/lesson/verbs-in-indicative-imperative-interrogative-conditional-subjective-moods.html

Indicative
Indicative indicates a state of factuality or states something that is happening in reality.
Most sentences in English are written in the indicative mood. For example, the sentence -
The dog jumps into the car - simply states what is really happening in the present
moment.

Imperative
Imperative is a command. A way of remembering this is to think of your parents saying,
'It is imperative that you do your chores.' This is not a suggestion, a statement about what
is going on, or a question. It is a direct command, telling you what to do.

Most people know someone who is pretty bossy and demanding. He or she might say
imperative sentences all the time, like:

Sit over here.

Give me that cookie.

Notice how in both examples, the word 'you,' which is the subject, is not stated. It is only
implied. This is often the case with imperative sentences.

1/4
Sometimes imperative sentences can be more like a desperate plea to do something, such
as the sentence:

Help me!

It is still giving a command, but it is meant as an earnest request, not a bossy demand.

Interrogative
Interrogative asks a question. A great way to remember the term 'interrogative' is to
think of an interrogation room where a suspect is asked a series of questions.

The sentence - Will you please leave me alone? - is an example of an interrogative


sentence because it asks a question rather than demands it. If the sentence were revised to
say - Leave me alone. - that would be a command, or an imperative sentence. But by
asking someone to leave you alone, you are creating an interrogative sentence that is a
request.

Conditional
Conditional depends on something else to happen under certain conditions. A way to
remember this is to think of the phrase 'If this, then that.' The conditional often uses
words like might, could, and would.

The baby might cry if you pick him up.

This sentence shows what could happen under the condition of picking up the baby, so it's
an example of the conditional mood.

Another example is:

He would look older with a beard.

This shows that the man looking older depends on whether or not he has a beard, so
under that specific condition, he would appear to have aged.

Subjunctive
Subjunctive is a wish or hypothetical and is contrary to reality. An easy way to recall the
definition for subjunctive is to think: What if? The subjunctive mood is uncertain and may
never happen, unlike the conditional mood. The subjunctive is rarely used compared to
the other moods we've discussed, but it's still important to be able to identify, use and
understand.

Thankfully, pop icon Beyoncé can help us out. Her song 'If I Were a Boy' uses the
subjunctive. More specifically, she uses the subjunctive in the line:

If I were a boy, I think I could understand.

2/4
This sentence is written in the subjunctive mood because it isn't possible for Beyoncé to
snap her fingers and be a boy. It is contrary to reality and is a wish that she is expressing.

Another example is:

I wish I had something to eat.

This sentence expresses a wish and is contrary to what is actually true. It is implied that
you don't have something to eat and what is stated suggests the imagined idea of: What if
I had something to eat right now?

Lesson Summary
Indicative indicates a state of factuality or states something that is happening in reality.
Most sentences in English are written in the indicative mood. For example, the sentence -
The dog jumps into the car - simply states what is really happening.

Imperative is a command and includes sentences like:

Eat your vegetables.

Don't interrupt me.

Interrogative asks a question, such as:

Who were you with?

What time did you arrive?

Conditional depends on something else to happen under certain conditions. A way to


remember this is to think of the phrase 'If this, then that.' The conditional often uses
words like might, could, and would.

The baby might cry if you pick him up.

This sentence shows what could happen under the condition of picking up the baby.

Subjunctive is a wish or hypothetical and is contrary to reality. Using our imagination


by asking what if? employs the subjunctive. Although it is rarely used compared to the
other moods we've discussed, we can recall Beyoncé's song 'If I Were a Boy.' In the song,
she says:

If I were a boy, I think I could understand.

This sentence is written in the subjunctive mood because it isn't possible for Beyoncé to
snap her fingers and be a boy. It is contrary to reality and is a wish that she is expressing.

Learning Outcomes

3/4
Use this lesson to expand your ability to:

Provide descriptive details about the indicative, imperative, interrogative,


conditional and subjunctive moods
Give examples of each type of verb mood

To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.


Create your account

4/4

You might also like