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Mood and Modality

Mood and modality are related components of grammar. [1] Mood describes the function of a sentence such as declarative, interrogative, imperative, or subjunctive. [2] Declarative sentences make statements, interrogative sentences ask questions, imperative sentences give directives or commands, and subjunctive sentences express uncertainty. [3] Modality refers to attitudes such as possibility, necessity, volition, and prediction, which are often expressed through modal verbs like may, can, must, shall, and should.

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1K views8 pages

Mood and Modality

Mood and modality are related components of grammar. [1] Mood describes the function of a sentence such as declarative, interrogative, imperative, or subjunctive. [2] Declarative sentences make statements, interrogative sentences ask questions, imperative sentences give directives or commands, and subjunctive sentences express uncertainty. [3] Modality refers to attitudes such as possibility, necessity, volition, and prediction, which are often expressed through modal verbs like may, can, must, shall, and should.

Uploaded by

Dani Constance Aranda
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Mood and Modality

Mood' and 'modality' are separate


components of grammar, but they're
related in origin and to some extent in
meaning.
Mood

Descriptions of English grammar usually recognize up to
four 'moods':

1. Declarative (or indicative)
2. Interrogative
3. Imperative
4. Subjunctive

Declarative

Declarative sentences express statements.
- They always eat at the same restaurant.
- Ive never been to London


Declarative sentences typically have subject + verb word order.
But sometimes there's no subject:
- Don't know where he is. Probably missed his train.

Sometimes the subject is after the verb:
- Then came the prize-giving.

Or between the auxiliary and main verbs:
-Rarely have I seen such incompetence.
Interrogative

Interrogative sentences express questions:
-When was the last time we met?
-Do you want tea or coffee?

But they often have other functions too:
-Do you think its too early? (This can mean Hurry up!.')
- What did I tell you? (This can mean 'I told you so.')

And there are other ways of asking questions:
-I suppose you are ready for your presentation.
- I'd like to know the train times for Sunday.

In interrogative sentences, the subject is typically after the verb (if
there's only one verb) or between the auxiliary and main verbs.
But sometimes the order is subject + verb:
- You did what?!

Imperative
Imperative sentences express directives, such as orders,
instructions, requests, invitations etc. They typically have a
verb with no subject and in the infinitive form.
- See chapter 2.
- Come round at the weekend.

But positive imperatives can also include an auxiliary 'do', and the
subject can be included in positives or negatives:
-Do be careful.
-Don't mention it.
-You stay here.
-Don't you tell me what to do!

There may also be a 'please' or a question tag appended:
-Come over here, please.
-Be quiet, will you?




Subjunctive
Subjunctive sentences express uncertainty,
unreality, hypotheses, wishes, etc.
-I demand that this barrier be opened.
- They suggested that she wait a little longer.
-... as if he were dreaming.
- Long live the president!

They often contain verb forms different from
those that would be used in equivalent
indicative sentences.
Modality

The term 'modality' includes various types of personal perceptions and
attitudes. A broad categorisation of the main types of modality
would be:
- Possibility, including ability and permission
- Necessity, including obligation
- Volition
- Prediction

One major way in which these meanings are expressed is by
using modal verbs.
-I must have left the keys at home
-We cant park here
- You should leave now.

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