The Verb: Mood 1) The Indicative Mood 2) The Imperative Mood 3) The Oblique Moods: a) Subjunctive I b) Subjunctive II c) Subjunctive III / Conditional Mood d) Subjucntive IV (Modal Spective Mood) e) Suppositional Mood 4) Mood and Tense 5) Mood and Modality
Meaning of the Category V. V. Vinogradov: “Mood expresses the relation of the action to reality, as stated by the speaker. ” M. Y. Blokh: “The category of mood expresses the character of connection between the process denoted by the verb and the actual reality, ei ther presenting the process as a fact that really happened, happens or will happen, or treating it as an imaginary phenomenon, i. e. the subject of a hypothesis, speculation, desire. ”
Reasons for Multiplicity of Opinion: 1. Scholars approach mood differently: classifications are created either on the basis of formal criterion or on the formal criterion basis of meaning 2. Homonymy in the category of mood. Homonymy 3. It’s often hard to differentiate between the analytical forms of mood and modality expressed lexically, with forms of mood modality the help of modal verbs.
Classification 1: Meaning Means of Expression Inducement (order, request, prayer, and the come (!) (no ending, no auxiliary, like) and usually without subject, 2 nd person only) Possibility (action thought of as ( 1 ) (he) come (no ending, no conditionally possible, or as purpose of auxiliary) (2) should come (should for all another action, etc. ) persons) (3) may come (? ) Unreal condition Consequence of unreal condition came, had come (same as past or past perfect indicative), used in subordinate clauses should come (1 st person) would come (2 nd and 3 rd person)
Classification 2: Form Means of Expression Meaning come (!) (no ending, no auxiliary, and usually without subject) Inducement (he) come (no ending in any person, no auxiliary) Possibility came, had come Unreal condition should come (for all persons) Unlikely condition Matter for assessment should come (1 st person) would come (2 nd and 3 rd person ) may come (? ) Consequence of unreal condition Wish or purpose
The Indicative The use of the indicative mood means that the speaker perceives the action as real. The mention of the speaker (or writer) who represents the action as real is essential. Some doubt about the meaning of the indicative mood may arise as to its use in conditional sentences: I will speak to him if I meet him.
The Imperative Come! Don’t come! No suffix, no ending No person, number, tense, or aspect distinctions Limited in its use to one type of sentence only, viz. imperative sentences (? ) Perfect imperative: Have done! (Stop immediately!)
Oblique Moods a) Subjunctive I (Pure Spective) bare infinitive stem Be it as you wish! Come what may! So be it. God forgive us! Possibility of passive formations: the suggestion that the matter be discussed today
SI signifies different attitudes: desire supposition specula tion suggestion recommendation inducement of various degrees of insistence, commands
b) Subjunctive II (Stipulative) the form is homonymous with Past Indefinite / Past Perfect “were” for all persons: Oh, that he were together with us now! If I were in your place, I'd only be happy. Tense retrospect shift: the different treatments of absolutive and relative tenses sharply contrast one against the other. SII expresses the unreality of an action which constitutes a con dition for the corresponding consequence.
c) Subjunctive III (Conditional, Consective ) Would / should + bare inf Would / should + perf inf Can be used in independent sentences: He would be here by now: he may have missed his train. Expresses an unreal consequential action depen dent on an unreal stipulating action
d) Subjunctive IV (Modal Spective Mood) The first construction type: may/might + Infinitive (the “desiderative series”). It is used to express wish, de sire, hope: o May it be as you wish! o May it all happen as you desire! o May success attend you. o I hope that he may be safe. o Let's pray that ev erything ight still turn to the good, after m all. o May our friendship live long.
(? )The second construction type (the “considerative series”): should + Infinitive It is used in subordinate predicative units to express supposition, speculation, suggestion, recommendation, inducements: o Whatever they should say of the project, it must be considered seriously. o It has been arranged that the delegation should be received by the President of the Federation. o Orders were given that the searching group should start out at once.
The third construction type: let + Objective Substantive + Infinitive (“the imperative series”) It is used to express inducement in relation to all the o o o persons, but preferably to the first person plural and third person both numbers: Let’s agree to end this wait and see policy. Now don't let’s be hearing any more of this. Let him repeat the accusation in Tim's presence. Let our military forces be capable and ready. Let me try to convince them myself.
Tense aspect shift in Modal Spective: o I wish her plans might succeed. o I wished her plans might succeed. o I wish her plans might have succeeded. o I wished her plans might have succeeded.
Forms of the Subjunctive Mood (Blokh)
e) Suppositional Mood should (for all persons) + bare inf Expresses an unlikely supposition: Should you meet him, tell him to come. Occurs in adverbial clauses of supposition: If you should meet him, tell him to come. and purpose: I wrote to him so that he shouldn’t forget it. and in object clauses: I suggest that he should come.
4. Tense and Mood Tense aspect shift is the categorial feature of mood. Future Indefinite and Future Perfect sometimes acquire modal characteristics. Future in the Past and Past Indefinite/Past Perfect problem: polysemy or homonymy?
5. Mood and Modality Dictum and modus Modality: deontic, epistemic, dynamic. Deontic modality is concerned with “influencing actions, states, or events”, deals with threats, promises, requests, commands, instructions (directive), desires, wishes and fears: e. g. You must come in immediately (obligation). You can have one more turn. (permission) You can’t have any more. (prohibition)
Epistemic modality is concerned with the speaker’s judgement of the truth of the proposition embedded in the statement. It must have been a mistake. You may be right.
Dynamic modality is subject oriented and generally concerns the properties and dispositions of persons or objects. e. g. Liz can drive better than you. I asked Ed to go but he won’t.
All three kinds of modality are commonly expressed by other means than by modal auxiliaries: lexical verbs (You are obliged to do that) adjectives (You are likely to be fined) adverbs (Perhaps you are right) nouns (You have my permission to leave early).
