Indicative Mood

The vast majority of verbs in sentences are in the indicative mood.

The main verb in a declarative sentence (a statement) or an interrogative sentence (a question) will be in the indicative mood.

Examples of Verbs in the Indicative Mood

• The sky is clear tonight.
• She stopped during the third lap.
• The aliens will be unable to breathe our air.
• Is that a whelk?
• That was tasty. Did you like it? (This is a declarative sentence followed by an interrogative sentence.)

What Is Mood?

Mood is the form a verb takes to show how it is to be regarded (e.g., as a fact, a command, a wish, an uncertainty).

• The Indicative Mood. This states facts or asks questions. For example:
  • She is driving the car.
  • Is she driving the car?
  • Drive the car!
  • Please drive the car.
  • I suggest that Dawn drive the car.
  • I propose that Dawn be asked to drive the car.
  • If I were Dawn, I would drive the car.

  Why Indicative Mood Is Important

  Most sentences are in the indicative mood. Therefore, it can be considered the "baseline" mood. (The biggest point for learners related to the indicative mood is understanding how to form questions.) In essence, the indicative mood is the baseline against which the other more-abstract moods (i.e., the imperative mood and the subjunctive mood) are compared.

  Key Points

  • Learn about the indicative mood so you can see how the imperative mood and the subjunctive mood differ.

  This page was written by Craig Shrives.