#DIFFERENT TYPES OF MOODS HOW TO#

Here are some words that are commonly used to describe mood:Ī single piece of writing can and usually does employ more than one mood, since different parts of the same work can have different moods, but works are generally characterized by a single overarching mood. Generally speaking, any word that can be used to describe emotion can be used to describe the mood of a story, poem, or other piece of writing.

#DIFFERENT TYPES OF MOODS HOW TO#

Here's how to pronounce mood: mude Mood Explained Mood is often (and understandably) confused with tone, which is related but different in that tone refers to the attitude of a piece of writing, not its atmosphere.Moods are established gradually over the course of an entire work, so it's often difficult to pinpoint the elements that contribute to a work's mood at the level of the sentence or paragraph.Every piece of writing has a mood-whether it's a masterwork of literature or a short haiku.For instance, a story that begins 'It was a dark and stormy night' will probably have an overall dark, ominous, or suspenseful mood. Every aspect of a piece of writing can influence its mood, from the setting and the imagery to the author's word choice and tone. The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion-in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. The one place where the subjunctive will likely survive for quite some time yet is in common expressions:įinally, even though the subjunctive is on the way out in English, it is frequently used in other languages.What is mood? Here’s a quick and simple definition: Most of us would pick the indicative, and not feel bad about it. The subjunctive is disappearing from the English language, which is why you may often find it more natural to use the indicative form. If that works then the subjunctive mood is probably appropriate. If you’re not sure if a statement is subjunctive, try inserting a modal helping verb that makes the clause subjunctive (that he should leave). (indicative: I was I will live)Ĭlauses that start with that and express commands, advice, wishes, and so on: Now that you know how to form the subjunctive, let’s look at some situations in which the subjunctive should be used.

The subjunctive expresses conditions that are contrary to fact, hypothetical situations that have not happened or are not likely to happen. These days we tend to use modal helping verbs (like should, would, etc.) to create the same effect. The subjunctive is the mood that gives writers the most trouble, in part because it is little used. (you join)įollow these simple instructions to put together your new table. Please join me in applauding a fine performance.

The subject of an imperative verb is implied (it’s usually you):ĭo the right thing and buy me a coffee. The imperative mood covers commands, requests, and instructions. Indicative statements can use any of the twelve verb tenses described above. It includes statements of fact and questions:īy that time I will have been waiting for five hours. The indicative is the one we use most often. English has three moods: the indicative, imperative, and subjunctive. You can think of the mood as the tone or manner in which something is expressed.

Different types of moods