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The quality of mood describes how a writer intends a statement to be taken.
There are three moods in English. The indicative mood is used to state facts. The imperative mood is used to make commands. The subjunctive mood is used to indicate wishes, desires, or suppositions.
INDICATIVE
The driver was careful.
IMPERATIVE
Be careful!
SUBJUNCTIVE
If I were you, I would be careful.
The present subjunctive is simply the base form of the verb A verb indicates the meaning of a sentence as it shows action, occurrence, or state of being. Verbs change form to show time, voice, number, person, and mood. In the following sentence, the verb have is used correctly: Ben and Ted have so many friends.
(the infinitive without to). The following sentences correctly use the present subjunctive:
Peace be with you.
He intends to leave, come what may.
It is important that Jane have your blessing.
The past subjunctive is the same as the past tense except for the verb to be, which in the simple past tense always requires were. The following sentences correctly use the past subjunctive:
I wish she had been the director.
Suppose you were the director.
If I were the director, I would start the movie with a tense scene.
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Click the correct sentence. |
| Yes. In this sentence, were is correct. |
| No. In this sentence, was is not correct. |
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