Like the blood coursing through our veins, verbs give life to our sentences. Without them, you’d have a list of subjects and objects sitting around like empty husks – but did you know that verbs are a little more complex than just action words? They can carry different moods and forms as well! You’ve probably used verbs to create various moods in your writing, but being able to properly identify each mood is an important skill if you want to call yourself a copywriter. Join Wordsmith as we explore into the intricacies of verb usage!
Fishing for feelings
“Verbs, like the rest of us, act differently depending on which mood they are in,” explain Caroline Taggart and J. A. Wines in their book My Grammar and I (or Should That Be ‘Me’?). However, these aren’t your regular moods like joy, anger and so forth – instead, verb moods come in three flavours:
Indicative mood:
Cambridge Dictionary defines indicative as “being or relating to a sign that something exists, is true, or is likely to happen” – which is needed for making simple declarative statements or when asking a question!
· I’m feeling sick today.
· The pizza guy sure is late.
· Can you check my temperature?
Imperative mood:
Do you have an intense need for something? As if your world would collapse if you didn’t get it? Okay, maybe it’s not always that serious… but whenever you need to make a request or demand, your verbs take on an imperative mood to signify that you want or need something. Note that the imperative mood cannot be a question (as that would fall under the indicative mood)! Just remember, imperatives are commands – even if you phrase it politely, it’s an order nonetheless.
· My gut feels off, please go without me.
· Turn left on Main Street – my house is the second on the right.
· Sit down and shut up!
Subjunctive mood:
As humans, we’re innately greedy. Even if we are grateful for what we have at the moment, our imaginations often drift and think about what could’ve been. Maybe we could’ve fit in an extra order of fries with lunch, maybe we regret not turning around after passing someone attractive, or perhaps even wishing for tomorrow to be a typhoon day so work would be cancelled! When you dislike what is and imagine or hope for something else, your verbs carry a subjunctive mood.
However, subjunctive moods can also be used when reminiscing or recalling something. In either case, this involves using was or were, but is there a difference over which to use? “If you know something for a fact use was,” instruct Taggart and Wines. “If something was contrary to fact, or if you are imagining a future or different situation to the one you are in, use were.”
· I wish I weren’t sick all the time.
· If I were a rich man, I wouldn’t be spending my days flipping burgers now, would I?
· She was quite the looker, but her personality was terrible.
· The former-President was mad for Tweeting his mind without a filter.
· When I was 21, I spent all day and night studying for a mid-term. I wish it weren’t so dull.
Who did what?
In addition to moods, each verb also represents one of two forms – transitive and intransitive. Transitive verbs occur when the subject performs an action on the object.
· The President mocked the reporter.
· Colonel Mustard did it with a lead pipe.
“Transitive verbs with one object are called monotransitive,” explain Taggart and Wines. “Verbs with both a direct and an indirect object are called ditransitive.” If you aren’t sure how to differentiate between a direct and indirect object, then you just need to remember that the direct object is… well, directly affected by the verb – it receives the action or effect of the verb – hence it answers the “what” or “whom”. On the other side, an indirect object tells “for/of/to what” or “for/of/to whom”.
· Monotransitive: The President hopped on Twitter.
· Ditransitive: The reporter chucked his shoe (direct object) at the President (indirect object).
Unlike transitive verbs, intransitive verbs are independent verbs that are fully functional without an object – and if you tried to forcibly plug in an object, it might not make sense.
· The President died (hypothetically speaking).
— But the President cannot died something.
· The audience disbanded.
— Neither can the audience disbanded something.
As you fiddle around with transitive and intransitive verbs, you might find that some verbs can fit under both classifications depending on context – which are known as ambitransitive verbs. “To check whether a verb is intransitive, place a full stop directly after it and see if it makes sense. A transitive verb needs an object to complete its action,” advise Taggart and Wines.
· The President slept in his limo // The President slept like a brick.
· The reporter read his question out aloud // The reporter read during lunch break.
· The audience gasped at the sudden outbreak // The audience gasped
With so many choices of verbs available, it’s easy to lose track of when and where particular verbs work best. They may be a moody bunch with the uncanny ability to alter the presentation of a sentence, but proper understanding of your verbs is key to writing proper and persuasive content!