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22. WHAT IS MEANT BY MOOD?
Verbs are divided into moods which, in turn, are subdivided into one or more tenses. The word “mood” is a variation of the word mode meaning manner or way. The various grammatical moods indicate the attitude of the speaker toward what he or she is saying. For instance, if you are making a statement you use one mood, but if you are giving an order you use another. As a beginning student of Spanish, you only have to recognize the names of the moods so that you will know what your Spanish textbook is referring to when it uses these terms. You will learn when to use the various moods as you learn verbs and their tenses.
IN ENGLISH Verbs can be in one of three moods.
INDICATIVE—The indicative mood is used to state the action of the verb, that is, to indicate facts. This is the most common mood, and most of the verb forms that you use in everyday conversation belong to the indicative mood. Most of the tenses studied in this handbook belong to the indicative mood: the present tense (see p. 60), the past tense (see p. 62), and the future tense (see p. 86).
Robert studies Spanish. present indicative
Anita was here. past indicative
They will arrive tomorrow. future indicative
IMPERATIVE—The imperative mood is used to give commands or orders (see What is the Imperative?, p. 78). This mood is not divided into tenses.
Robert, study Spanish now! Anita, be home on time! SUBJUNCTIVE—The subjunctive is used to express an attitude or feeling toward the action of the verb. Since it stresses feelings about the fact or the idea, it is “subjective” about them (see What is the Subjunc- tive?, p. 75). In English this mood is not divided into tenses.
The school requires that students study Spanish. I wish that Anita were here. The teacher recommends that he do his homework.
IN SPANISH The Spanish language identifies two moods: the indicative and the subjunctive.
INDICATIVE—As in English, the indicative mood is the most common, and most of the tenses you will learn belong to this mood. SUBJUNCTiVE—The subjunctive mood is used much more frequently in Spanish than in English. The Spanish subjunctive has four tenses: pre- sent, imperfect, present perfect, and past perfect (also called the plu- perfect). In addition, most imperative or command forms are also pre- sent subjunctive forms. Textbooks will use the term “present subjunctive” to distinguish that tense from the “present indicative.”
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23. WHAT IS THE SUBJUNCTIVE?
The subjunctive is a mood used to express a wish, hope, uncertainty, or other similar attitude toward a fact or an idea. Since it stresses the speaker’s feelings about the fact or idea, it is usually “subjective” about them.
IN ENGLISH The subjunctive is used in only a very few constructions. The subjunc- tive verb form is difficult to recognize because it is spelled like other forms of the verb.
I am in Detroit right now. present indicative of to be
I wish I were in Madrid right now. subjunctive spelled like past tense of to be
He reads a book each week. present indicative of to read
The professor insists that he read a book each week. subjunctive spelled like the dictionary form of to read
The subjunctive occurs most commonly in the subordinate clause of three kinds of sentences. 1. The subjunctive of the verb to be (were) is used in conditional clauses introduced by if if clause result clause
f I were in Europe now, I would go to Madri subjunctive result clause if clause I I I John would run faster, if he were in shape. subjunctive
2. The same subjunctive form were is used in statements expressing a wish that is not possible. I wish I were in Europe right now. subjunctive I wish she were my teacher. subjunctive
3. The subjunctive of any verb, which is the same as the dictionary form of that verb, is used in the clause following expressions of necessity or demand, often with verbs of asking, urging, demanding, and requesting.
is necessary that he be here. demand subjunctive
I asked that she come to see me. request subjunctive
IN SPANISH The subjunctive is used very frequently, but unfortunately English usage will rarely help you decide where or how to use it in Spanish. Therefore, we refer you to your Spanish textbook. First, learn how to conjugate regular and irregular verbs in the present subjunctive. Then, learn the verbs and expressions that require you to put the verbs that follow into the subjunctive. Learn to form and use the other subjunc- tive tenses in the same way.
Following are some examples of a few of the types of expressions requiring the use of a subjunctive in Spanish.
example of a verb of desire that is followed by a verb in the subjunc- tive: querer (to want) Quiero que Uds. estudien mucho. I I present indicative present subjunctive querer estudiar (to study)
I want you to study a lot. [word-for-word: I want that you study a lot.]
• example of an expression of doubt or uncertainty that is followed by a verb in the subjunctive: dudar (to doubt) Dudo que Roberto hoy. I ll9ue present indicative present subjunctive dudar Ilegar (to arrive)
I doubt that Robert will arrive today [word-for-word: I doubt that Robert arrives today.] |
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