A verb mood in English shows the writer's attitude toward what he/she is saying. There are four different and distinct verb moods that we use in the English language to highlight a kind of behavior or belief that needs to be expressed independently or dependently. The four verb moods that we will cover in this article are indicative, imperative, subjunctive, and infinitive.

We will cover how, when, and why these four moods are used along with giving some example sentences of how they can be expressed in the written form. The verb moods are similar to each other but they are also distinct in how they are utilized. If you are able to use all four of them correctly, your English proficiency and understanding will increase a good amount as a result.

Indicative Mood states an actuality or fact.

• We will go to see a movie this Sunday.

• I'll follow you to the park.

Imperative Mood makes a request or a demand.

• Let's go to see a play this weekend!

• Please stop touching me!

Subjunctive Mood expresses a doubtful condition (contrary to fact) and is often used with an "if" clause.

• If I were you, I wouldn't buy a house.

• I wish I were more organized.

Infinitive Mood expresses an action or state without reference to any subject. It can be the source of sentence fragments when the writer mistakenly thinks the infinitive form is a fully-functioning verb.

 When we speak of the English infinitive, we usually mean the basic form of the verb with “to” in front of it: to go, to sing, to walk, to speak.

 Verbs said to be in the infinitive mood can include participle forms ending in -ed and -ing. Verbs in the infinitive mood are not being used as verbs, but as other parts of speech.

·       To err is human; to forgive, divine.

·       He is a man to be admired.

·       He came to see you.

 The following verbs often attract the subjunctive mood:

Ask, recommend, suggest, wish, insist, order, commend, request, and demand.

A verb in the subjunctive mood may have a different form.

 The subjunctive for the present tense third-person singular drops the -s or -es so that it looks and sounds like the present tense for everything else. In the subjunctive mood, the verb to be is be in the present tense and were in the past tense, regardless of what the subject is.

• Incorrect: If I was you, I would take any offer.

• Correct: If I were you, I would take any offer.

(The verb follows 'if' and expresses a non-factual condition.)

• Incorrect: I wish I was able to speak English fluently.

• Correct: I wish I were able to speak English fluently.
  

  (The second verb is in a clause following a verb expressing a wish. It suggests a non-factual or doubtful condition.)

·       Incorrect: Our suggestion is that everyone on the team does the survey.

·       Correct: Our suggestion is that everyone on the team do the survey.

·       Incorrect: She recommended that each student takes a note.

·       Correct: She recommended that each student take a note.

Once again, the Indicative, imperative, subjunctive and infinitive are the four moods of English verbs. All manners and moods are expressed through these four verbs. While verb tenses (present, past and future) are used to talk about time, the four mood verbs show states, attitudes and reality.

Indicative Mood

We use the indicative mood to express:

Assertion - Heathrow is the world's busiest airport.

Denial - Oliver cannot speak English well.

Question - Do you work in Tokyo?

Imperative Mood

We use the imperative mood to express requests, commands and advice:

Request - Please don't talk during the Spanish lesson.

Advice - Look out for that tree!

Command - Shut that door please.

Subjunctive Mood

We use the subjunctive mood to express unreal situations, possibility and wish.

Unreal - If I were rich, I would buy a sports car.

Possibility - We might find her engagement ring if we were to look hard enough.

Wish - I wish it would stop raining today.

Infinitive Mood

Verbs in the infinitive mood are used as parts of speech more than verbs. It expresses the state of being or the state of action.

I may go to the beach later.

They came to speak to me about the meeting.

It's important to eat well and exercise a lot.