Part 2: The Moods of Verbs
TODAY'S GRAMMAR CHALLENGE
— Mwalimu Joshua Njenga (@JKNjenga) March 18, 2022
(1) I wish I WAS six feet tall.
(2) I wish I WERE six feet tall.
Which one is correct?#InMwalimuNjengasClass
This challenge is all about mood, one of the five properties of verbs. (The others are number, person, tense, and voice).
A writer uses the mood of a verb to indicate how readers should interpret a statement. Is it, for example, a simple factual statement, a question, or a command? Is the information it conveys probable, improbable, or contrary-to-reality?
As a writer, you can choose from among three verb moods to signal the manner in which your ideas should be understood.
The Indicative Mood
You use the indicative mood to signal the reader that you are making a statement or asking a question.
STATEMENT: "The old man walked slowly down the street."
QUESTION: Why do you eat so quickly?
Use the indicative mood to describe things as they are or were, such as when reporting facts or findings and drawing conclusions.
The Imperative Mood
An imperative mood statement is used to convey commands, requests, or instructions, and it most frequently begins with a verb. Its subject is rarely expressed but is always the second-person pronoun "you." Here are some examples of sentences expressed in the imperative mood:
- “Read the instructions carefully before attempting to assemble this unit.”
- “Insert the cotter pin through the hole in the shaft and bend the pin as shown.”
- “Send the usual thank-you letter to Mr. Wafula.”
In the workplace, the imperative mood is widely used for writing procedures or instructional material.
Often, you will want to soften the impact of imperative mood statements by including the word "please." For example, contrast the imperative tone mood in the following sentences.
- “Return the questionnaire by January 15.”
- “Please return the questionnaire by January 15.”
The Subjunctive Mood
Use the subjunctive mood to express a wish or make statements you think are not true, possible, or probable. The subjunctive mood typically uses the verb "were" as in the following examples:
- “I wish I were able to help you.”
- “If only he were capable of returning the money he stole.”
- “He looks as though he were successful.”
AS IF and AS THOUGH statements are always subjunctive because they mean “not really, but pretending or supposing that…”
- “She spoke AS IF she WERE in favour of adopting the proposal.”
- “The report was presented AS THOUGH it were the final decision.”
Given that the statement in this challenge expresses a wish, it is best written in the subjunctive mood. Thus, Option 2 ("I wish I were six feet tall") is the ideal response.
