4. Mood Flashcards
What is the difference between tense and time in linguistic studies?
Tense is a grammatical category marking verb forms, while time refers to semantic interpretation relating to chronology.
Define grammatical mood.
Grammatical mood refers to the morphological markers on verbs indicating the manner or mode in which a speaker conceptualizes and communicates an action or state.
What does mood signal in grammar?
Mood signals the speaker’s perspective on the factual status of the described event, expressing factuality, possibility, necessity, or desirability.
List the three primary distinctions of mood according to traditional grammar.
- Indicative mood
- Subjunctive mood
- Imperative mood
What is the indicative mood?
The indicative mood typically represents events or states as actual or real and is associated with statements of fact or direct questions about factual matters.
What are key grammatical features of the indicative mood?
- Capability to appear as the verb form in independent clauses
- Clear distinction of temporal contrasts (tense)
- Obligatory agreement in person and number
What does the subjunctive mood express?
The subjunctive mood expresses actions or states not perceived as actual or real, representing subjective attitudes, wishes, recommendations, or hypothetical conditions.
What are the two main subjunctive forms in English?
- Present subjunctive
- Past subjunctive
What is a defining feature of the present subjunctive?
The present subjunctive typically employs the verb’s base form.
Provide an example contrasting indicative and subjunctive mood.
‘She suggests he studies harder’ (indicative) vs. ‘She suggests he study harder’ (subjunctive)
What is the past subjunctive also known as?
The were-subjunctive.
What is the imperative mood used for?
The imperative mood conveys commands, requests, instructions, or advice, directly addressing the listener.
What is a defining characteristic of the imperative mood?
The omission of an explicit grammatical subject.
How can the imperative mood be softened?
By incorporating politeness markers such as ‘please’ or using more formally structured requests.
What is an example of a negative imperative?
‘Do not touch that!’ or ‘Don’t forget your keys.’
True or False: The imperative mood indicates tense and aspect.
False.
Fill in the blank: The subjunctive mood is primarily used to represent _______.
[subjective attitudes, wishes, recommendations, or hypothetical conditions]
What role does the imperative mood play in instructional discourse?
It guides action in both spoken and written formats, such as in user manuals and classroom directions.
