noun
mood
A grammatical category indicating how a speaker presents an action or state as fact, possibility, or command.
The imperative mood is often used for commands.
Etymology
The grammatical term is a form of mode, from Latin modus, meaning manner. It describes the manner in which a verb presents the action, such as a fact or a command.
More examples
- She compared the indicative and subjunctive moods.
- The exercise asked students to identify the verb's mood.
- A change of mood altered how the statement was presented.
Forms
mood · moods
Similar words
- mode
- A broader term for a manner or way; also the source of grammatical mood.