Mood

Mood—sometimes, rather erroneously, spelled 'mode'—in grammar, describes the manner in which the action is to be understood, whether, e.g., it is making a statement, expressing a wish or giving a command. Four moods are usually identified in Greek grammars, though some include a fifth.

1) The indicative makes a statement or asks a question; e.g., "They do", "Are you coming?", "He is gone," "Jesus prays."

2) The interrogative asks a question; e.g., "Why are you crying?"

3) The imperative issues a command, entreaty, or exhortation; e.g., "Go and do likewise", "Let him in".

4) The subjunctive (optative) expresses a thought, a wish, or an intended action; e.g., "God save the king", "in order that I might succeed", "if I were you, I would not go", "I should go home".

(5) The infinitive expresses an action in general terms, without reference to a particular person or thing. In English, the infinitie is normally prefaced by the word "to"; e.g., "to err is human", "they wanted to go home". Infinitives in English, however, may also be phrased so that the "to" is omitted, e.g., "he can come" (="he is allowed to come").

It helps to think of these five moods as falling into two broad categories: the indicative has to do with reality, while the subjunctive/optative and imperative deal with potentiality.