Skip to main content

Mood

MOOD


The simplest use of a Verb is to make a statement of fact or ask a question ; as, I write to my brother every week.
Who wrote that letter?

But a Verb may also be used to express a command; as.
Write neatly.
Or a Verb may be used to express a mere supposition ; as,

If I were you, I would not do it.

These different modes or manners in which a Verb may be used to express an action are called Moods. (Lat. modus, manner.)

Def- Mood is the mode or manner in which the action denoted by the Verb is represented.

There are three Moods in English:-Indicative, Imperative, Subjunctive.

Indicative Mood

The Indicative Mood is used:

(1) To make a statement of fact; as, Rama goes to school daily.

We are taught Arithmetic. He writes legibly. Napoleon died at St. Helena. The child is alive.

To ask a question; as, Have you found your book? Are you well?

In each of these sentences the Verb in italics is said to be in the Indicative Mood.

The Indicative Mood is also used in expressing a supposition which is assumed as a fact; as,

If [= assuming as a fact that] I am to be a beggar, it shall never make me a rascal. If it rains, I shall stay at home. [Assuming as a fact that it will rain, etc.]

If my friend wants it, 1 shall give it to him. [Assuming as a fact that my friend wants it,." etc.]

If he is the ring-leader, he deserves to be punished. [Assuming as a fact that he is the ring-leader, etc.]

A Verb which makes a statement of fact or asks a question, or expresses a supposition which is assumed as a fact, is in the Indicative Mood.

Imperative Mood


The Imperative Mood is used to express-

(1) A Command; as, Wait there.
Come here.
Open your book at page 7.

An exhortation; as, Be steady.

Take care of your health. Try to do better.

An entreaty or prayer; as, Have mercy upon us.
Give us this day our daily bread.

In each of these sentences the Verb in italics is said to be in the Imperative Mood.

A Verb which expresses a command, an exhortation an entreaty or prayer, is in the Imperative Mood.

Note1.- The imperative mood can strictly be used only in the Second Person, since the person commanded must be the person spoken to. But in the First and Third Persons a like sense is expressed by the use of the Auxiliary Verb let; as,

Let me go.
Let us go.
Let him go.
Let them go.

Note 2.- The Subject of a Verb in the Imperative Mood (you) is usually omitted.

Subjunctive Mood


The following are the forms of the Subjunctive :

Present Subjunctive

the verb 'be' -- other verbs
I be -- I speak
We be -- We speak
You be -- You speak
He be -- He speak
They be -- They speak

Post Subjunctive

the verb 'be' -- other verbs
I were -- I spoke
We were -- We spoke
You were -- You spoke
He were -- He spoke
They were -- They spoke

The Subjunctive Mood scarcely exists in present-day English.

 The Present Subjunctive occurs
 In certain traditional phrases, where it expresses a wish or hope ; as,           .
God bless you !
God save the King !
Heaven help us !

In formal English, in a noun clause dependent on a verb expressing desire, intention, resolution, etc. ; as,
I move that Mr. Gupta be appointed Chairman.

It is suggested that a ring road be built to relieve the congestion. We recommended that the subscription be increased to ten rupees.

The Past Subjunctive is used

After the verb wish, to indicate a situation which is unreal or contrary to fact; as, I wish I knew his name. (= I'm sorry I don't know his name,)
I wish I were a millionaire.
She wishes the car belonged to you.

After if, to express improbability or unreality in the present; as,
If I were you I should not do that (but I am not you, and never can be).
If we started now we would be in time (but we cannot start now).

After as if/as though, to indicate unreality or improbability; as, He orders me about as if I were his wife (but I am not).
He walks as though he were drunk (but he is not).

After it is time + subject; to imply that it is late; as,
It is time we started.

 After would rather + subject, to indicate preference; as,
I would rather you went by air (= I should prefer you to go by air).
They would rather you paid them by cheque.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Expansion of Passages

EXPANSION OF PASSAGES This exercise is the exact opposite of Precis-writing. In Precis-writing we have to compress; and in these exercises we have to expand. A sentence, or a short passage, has to be enlarged into a paragraph by the fuller and more elaborate expression of its meaning, or by adding illustrations, details or proofs to a simple statement. Such exercise practically amounts to the writing of miniature essays on the subject of the original sentence or passage. No strict rule can be laid down for the length of the expansion; it must not be too short, or it will scarcely be an expansion, or so long as to become an essay. On the average, eighty to one hundred words should be aimed at. METHOD OF PROCEDURE Carefully read the original sentence or passage until you feel that you clearly understand its meaning. (It is a good practice to try to express the main idea in a word or a phrase; e.g., the real subject of the second specimen is, "Pride in One's Work
Post a Comment
Read more

Transitive and Intransitive Verb

THE VERB Transitive and Intransitive Verbs A Verb is a word that tells or asserts something about a person or thing. Verb comes from the Latin verbum, a word. It is so called because it is the most important word in a sentence. A Verb may tell us- What a person or thing does; as, Hari laughs. The clock strikes. What is done to a person or thing ; as, Hari is scolded. The window is broken. What a person or thing is; as, The cat is dead. Glass is brittle. I feel sorry. Def:- A Verb is a word used to tell or assert something about some person or thing. A Verb often consists of more than one word; as, The girls were singing. I have learnt my lesson. The watch has been found. Read these sentences:- The boy kicks the football. The boy laughs loudly. In sentence 1, the action denoted by the verb kicks passes over from the doer or subject boy to some Object football. The verb kicks is, therefore, called a Transitive Verb. (Transitive means passing ove
7 comments
Read more

Phrases

PHRASES 1. Adjective Phrases We have seen that sometimes a group of words does the work of an adjective ( Now examine the following pairs of sentences:- 1. (a) The vizier was a wealthy man.    (b) The vizier was a man of great wealth. 2. (a) The magistrate was a kind man.    (b) The magistrate was a man with a kindly nature.       3.   (a) The chief lived in a stone house.                                     (b)  The chief lived in a house built of stone. 4. (a) I like to see a smiling face.     (b) I like to see a face with a smile on it. 5. (a) The coolies belonged to a hill tribe.     (b) The coolies belonged to a tribe dwelling in the hills. In each of the above pairs of sentences, we have first a single word describing the person or thing denoted by the noun, and then a group of words describing the person or thing denoted by the same noun. For instance, the group of words of great wealth tells us what sort of man the vizier was.
9 comments
Read more