Indicative Mood,
Imperative Mood
and Subjunctive Mood

English moods include the indicative mood, the imperative mood and the subjunctive mood. What are they and how do you use them correctly?

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First of All, What Is a MOOD?

mood = a way to express the attitude of the speaker to what is being said.

There are three moods in English.

Indicative Mood

Indicative means "stating a fact."

The indicative mood is a category of verb forms that we use to state facts.

Examples:

• "Joe plays outside." (The speaker thinks it's a fact.)
  
  
• "It will rain soon." (The speaker thinks it's a fact.)
  
  
• "She was studying all day long." (The speaker thinks it's a fact.)

The indicative mood is the basic mood of verbs in English.

Imperative Mood

Imperative means "expressing an order."

The imperative mood is a category of verb forms that we use to express orders, instructions, commands or requests.

Examples:

• "Go outside!" (This is a command.)
  
  
• "Close the door, please." (This is a request.)
  
  
• "Don't move the object." (This is an instruction.)

Subjunctive Mood

Subjunctive means "subordinate" (less important than something else) or "dependent" (needing something/someone else).

The subjunctive mood is a category of verb forms that we use to express things that are not facts: wishes, possibilities, doubts, suggestions, conditions, etc.

Examples:

• "It may snow tomorrow."
  (It is not a fact yet. It is a possibility in the speaker's mind.)
  (Incorrect: "It will snow tomorrow.")
  
  
• "I would do it if I had the time."
  (It is not a fact. It depends on me having the time.)
  
  
• "You should listen to your parents."
  (It is not a fact. It is a suggestion.)
  
  
• "I suggest that Robert wait a few minutes."
  (It is not a fact. It is a suggestion.)
  (Incorrect: "I suggest that Robert waits a few minutes.")
  
  
• "It's important that Sandra leave on time."
  (It is not a fact. It is what needs to be done.)
  (Incorrect: "It's important that Sandra leaves on time.")
  
  
• "I doubt that Mary would forget your birthday."
  (It is not a fact that Mary will forget the birthday. The speakers has doubts about it.)
  
  
• "Father insisted that Jennifer go to school."
  (It is not a fact that Jennifer will go to school. It is her father's intention.)
  (Incorrect: "Father insisted that Jeniffer goes to school.")
  
  
• "If he had worked harder, he would have completed the task on time."
  (He didn't work harder, so he didn't complete the task on time.)
  
  
• "I wish I were faster."
  (I am not faster. This is a wish in my mind.)
  (Incorrect: "I wish I was faster.")
  
  
• "If I were you, I would accept the offer."
  (I am not you. This is an unreal condition in my mind.)
  (Incorrect: "If I was you, I will accept the offer.")
  
  
• "I wish it were summer now."
  (It is not summer now. This is a wish in my mind.)
  (Incorrect: "I wish it is summer now.")
  
  
• "She suggests that Michael move to the sales department."
  (Incorrect: "She suggests that Michael moves to the sales department.")
  

All these sentences were examples of the use of the subjunctive mood.

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