The Imperative Mood
The Imperative Mood :
Mood of A Verb
Mood is that attribute of a verb by which it denotes the manner or way in which the assertion is expressed.
Mood is only another form of the word mode and signifies manner or way.
The assertion may be expressed in five different ways…thus….
1. I write.
2. If I write…
3. I may write.
4. Write.
5. To write….
Therefore, Verbs have five Moods.
1. The Indicative Mood
2. The Subjunctive Mood
3. The Potential Mood
4. The Imperative Mood
5. The Infinitive Mood
The Indicative Mood
The Indicative Mood is that form of the verb in which the assertion is expressed directly and without limitation as….
He writes.
When we affirm or assert a thing, as if we were certain of it, then the verb will be in the Indicative mood as….
1. The sun shines.
2. My mother loves me.
The Indicative mood is also used in asking direct questions as….
1. Does the sun shine?
2. Does my mother love me?
This is sometimes called The Interrogative Form of The Indicative Mood.
The Subjunctive Mood
The Subjunctive Mood is that form of the verb in which the assertion is expressed as an uncertainty as….
If he write.
When we affirm or assert a thing in a way that shows that it is not a certainty as….
1. If I live, the thing will be accomplished.
2. Though he slay me, yet will I trust him.
3. Unless he come, he will lose his place.
The verb will be in the Subjunctive mood.
The Subjunctive mood is generally preceded by a conjunction, such as if, though, although, unless, except, whether, or lest. The Subjunctive mood is always accompanied by another verb in some other mood. Without this it cannot make complete sense. Thus…
If he study diligently, he will improve.
The Potential Mood
The Potential Mood is that form of the verb which expresses possibility, liberty, power, willingness or obligation as…
1. He can write.
2. He may write.
3. He must write.
To say, A thing may be or might be, expresses possibility.
To say, You may do it, or You might do it, is giving liberty to do it.
To say. You can do it, or You could do it, shows that you have the power to do it.
To say, You would do it, expresses a willingness to do it.
To say, You must do it, expresses an obligation to do it.
The Potential mood is also used in asking questions…. as…..
1. May I write?
2. Must I write?
A verb in the Potential mood is always accompanied by some one of the words, may, can, must, might, could, would, should and this accompanying word is considered a part of the verb.
The Imperative Mood
The Imperative Mood is that form of the verb which is used to command, exhort, entreat, or permit as….
1. Write the copy according to the directions.
2. Father, forgive us.
Soldiers, march.
March is used to command.
Pity the sorrows of a poor old man.
Pity is used to entreat or beg.
Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
Fear and keep are used to exhort or persuade with a reason.
Sit near me, if you wish.
Sit is used to permit or allow.
The nominative case of a verb in the Imperative mood will always be thou or you, but it will seldom be expressed.
SIT STILL means THOU OR YOU SIT STILL.
The Infinitive Mood
The Infinitive Mood is that form of the verb which is not limited to a subject or which has no subject as…..
To write….
The Infinitive mood usually has the preposition to before it and the preposition in this case is considered a part of the verb.
He told me to sit still, if I wished to hear.
TO SIT and To Hear are in the Infinitive mood.
Exercise :
In the following sentences select all the verbs and state the voice and mood of each.
1. Charles studies his lesson.
2. The boys caught a rabbit in the woods.
3. The rabbit was caught by the boys.
4. The lesson was assigned by the teacher.
5. If he study his lesson he will improve.
6. Though he slay me yet I will trust him.
7. If the lesson be recited properly, the class will be dismissed.
8. Mary must return home when her task is finished.
9. The letter may he returned by the postman.
10. If I had a book I would study the lesson.
11. Charles, bring me that book.
12. Boys, study your lessons.
13. God said, “Children, obey your parents.” You should keep this commandment, if you wish to obtain the reward which he promises, which is, that your days may be long in the land.
14. The shepherd takes care of his sheep. If they wander near a precipice, he uses a crook to draw them away, for they are timid animals. If he ran towards them, they might fall over into the gulf.
15. Listen to the merry bells. I listen to them with delight. You may listen to them without growing weary, if you delight to listen to sweet music.
Give (or write) three sentences containing a verb in the Indicative mood and three in each of the other Moods.
The Imperative Mood :
Elementary English Grammar Index
Related Links : The Imperative Mood