A Mood denotes the mode or manner in which a statement is made by the verb. There are three moods:— Indicative, Imperative, and Subjunctive.
NOTE: Formerly the Infinitive also was called a mood; but some modern grammarians do not regard it as such, because it "merely names the action in an indefinite way, without reference to the mode or manner."
❒❒ The Indicative Mood is used :
(a) To state a fact I do. He goes. He does not go.
(b) To ask questions: Is he ill? Do you like it ?
(c) To express a supposition which is taken as a fact:
If he goes there he will be punished (taking it as a fact that he will go there).
If it rains you must not come (taking it as a fact that it will rain).
❒❒ The Imperative Mood is used only in the present tense and in the Second Person :
(a) To give orders: Go there. (Go you there). Sit down (Sit you down).
(b) To make request: Come in, please.
(c) To advise : Do not tell a lie. Be steady.
(d) To entreat Save me. Help! Have pity on us.
(e) Sometimes to express a supposition: Read (if you read), and you will learn. Move (-unless you move), or you die.
(f) Sometimes, absolutely Give me some money, say fifty rupees.
❒❒ (1) The Subjunctive Mood is used to express :
(a) A condition or supposition contrary to fact: If I were you (i.e., but I am not) I should not do it.
Had he been present, he would have opposed you.
'Were he here, I would tell him this.'
Sometimes the condition is expressed in the Imperative form: 'Come weal, come woe (whether weal or woe comes), I shall go there."
(b) A wish (this is called the optative use): Long live the King.
May he be happy.
Had I been there !
(c) A proposal, intention or order not yet carried out:
Resolved that the proceedings of the last meeting be confirmed.
The sentence is that he be hanged by the neck.
(2) The form of the subjunctive is the same in all numbers and persons.
In the present tense it is that of the Infinitive without "to": If you or he or I want; If you or Ram or I go; If you or they or we be.
In the past tense it is that of the Indicative past: If he or I went; Though you went.
But, in the case of the verb "to be," the present form is be, and the past form is were for all numbers and persons: If he or they were; Though I were.
¹NOTE: The tendency of modern English is to discard the Subjunctive. A few more examples of the Subjunctive Mood:
If he were (not was) there, he would have come.
I wish this were (not was) possible.
I would go there if I were (not was) you.
I wish I could (not can) have the things.
If it be (not is) sin to work hard, I am a sinner.
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¹ "The subjunctive mood is in its death throes, and the best thing to do is to put it out of its misery as soon as possible."-Somerset Maugham in A Writer's Note-book.
"The subjunctive mood is dying; the indicative is superseding it more and more." The Complete Plain Words by Sir Earnest Gowers.
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