Moods in English
Moods in English
Moods in English
Indicative
Imperative
Lets go imperative
The imperative in the first and third person both singular and plural are formed with let:
Let me speak. Let him finish the sentence. Let us go.
Negative imperatives:
Dont let him stop here.
Polite requests
Subjunctive
The subjunctive mood is indicated through a shift in tense when the dependent clause follows a wish statement, or is an improbable if clause
Probable if clause: If I buy a watch I will know the time. Improbable: If I won the lottery, I would not care about the time.
Sentences that express urging, demand, or necessity also require the subjunctive mood. Verbs other than the verb 'to be' in the dependent clause use the present tense form of the verb, without adding the 's' for the third person singular:
I demand that she apologize to the student.
Such sentences that require the verb 'to be' in the dependent clause use the form 'be' in all three persons:
I insist that I be promoted. I had insisted that you be hired immediately. They insisted that she be nominated for President.
Contrasted
Indicative I am you are he is she is it is we are they are
Exercises
Fill in the blanks with the Simple Present Subjunctive of the verbs shown in brackets. be 1. He suggested that I _________ ready by eight o'clock. (to be) open 2. We request that she _________ the leave window. (to open) 3. They demanded that he _________ the accompany room. (to leave) 4. I will ask that she _____________ me. (to accompany) fly 5. They recommended that he _________ to Bermuda. (to fly)
Complete each of the following sentences with the Simple Past Subjunctive of the verb shown in brackets. were 1. I wish it _________ possible to finish the work tonight. (to be) 2. Will he wish hewere ______ ready? (to be) 3. She wished she knew _________ how to sing. (to know) wanted 4. We wish they ____________ to come with us. (to want) felt 5. You wished you ___________ better. (to feel)
I wish he were ___________ here now. (to be) Had been 2. I wish that you _____________ here yesterday. (to be) Would come 3. We wish you ________________ tomorrow. (to come) Would come 4. They wished he _________________ with them the next day. (to come) Had arrived 5. We wish you ________________ yesterday. (to arrive) 6. I wish that he Would visit ______________ us next year. (to visit)