Verb Moods Part One

Moody little verbs

Standards

ELACC8L1: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.

b. Form and use verbs in the active and passive voice.

c. Form and use verbs in the indicative, imperative, interrogative, conditional, and subjunctive mood.

d. Recognize and correct inappropriate shifts in verb voice and mood.*

The 5 Moods

Verbs come in 5 Main Moods!• Indicative• Subjunctive• Imperative• Interrogative• Conditional

IndicativeThe indicative mood is the most common. It is used

to express facts/opinions or to make an indication.

Most of the statements you make or you read will be in the indicative mood.

Examples:1. Joe picks up the boxes. 2. The German shepherd fetched the stick. 3. Charles closed the window in his room.

Imperative

The imperative mood is also common and is used to give orders or to make requests.

Examples:1.Pick up those boxes. 2.Please, close the window.3.Nicole, don’t stand on the table! 4.Fetch!

(They are imperative sentences)

Interrogative The interrogative mood is used when indicating a

state of questioning

Examples:1. Will you leave me alone now? 2. How did you do in the race?3. Have you seen The Voice this season?

One marker of the interrogative is that frequently the speaker inverts the subject-verb order by placing the helping verb first, before the subject.

Examples

Indicative, Imperative, Interrogative moods

1.Many children set career goals for themselves.2.Please, remember to take the garbage out.3.Have you finished your paper on the branches

of government yet?

Inappropriate Shifts in Mood

• Do not change of shift the verb mood in your sentences unless it makes sense to do so.

• Changing the mood for no reason is considered an “inappropriate shift in mood”

Example of Inappropriate Shift

Example: Read the instructions carefully, and you must assemble the equipment completely before beginning the procedure.

This is incorrect because the clauses do not match in mood! One is imperative, the other is indicative. They need to match.

To fix it: Make the Moods Match

Acceptable: Make both imperative• Read the instructions carefully and assemble

the equipment completely before beginning the procedure.

ORAcceptable: Make both indicative• You must read the instructions carefully, and

you must assemble the equipment completely before beginning the procedure.

Standards

ELACC8L1: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.

b. Form and use verbs in the active and passive voice.

c. Form and use verbs in the indicative, imperative, interrogative, conditional, and subjunctive mood.

d. Recognize and correct inappropriate shifts in verb voice and mood.*