#grammarexamples

Understanding English grammar can sometimes feel difficult, especially when it comes to moods.

In this blog post, I will explain the three main moods in English grammar: Indicative, Imperative, and Subjunctive.

I will use simple examples, clear rules, and practical tips to help both English learners and teachers.

Whether you are preparing for exams like IELTS or TOEFL, or teaching students in a classroom, this guide will help you.

✅ What Is Mood in Grammar?

In English grammar, mood shows the speaker’s attitude or intention. It tells us if the sentence is a fact, a command, a wish, or something imaginary.

There are three main moods in English:

Indicative Mood – for stating facts or asking questions

Imperative Mood – for giving commands or requests

Subjunctive Mood – for wishes, suggestions, or unreal situations

Let’s look at each one in detail.

1️⃣ Indicative Mood

✅ What It Is:

The indicative mood is used to state facts, ask questions, or express opinions. This is the most common mood in English.

📌 Examples of Indicative Sentences:

I live in New Delhi.

She is a doctor.

They went to the market.

Do you like pizza?

He doesn't understand the lesson.

🧠 Key Features:

Talks about real things

Uses normal sentence structure

Can be positive or negative

Used in statements and questions

💡 Tip for Learners:

Most of the sentences you use every day are in the indicative mood. Just think of it as the mood for "normal" conversation.

2️⃣ Imperative Mood

✅ What It Is:

The imperative mood is used to give commands, instructions, or requests. It can be strong or polite.

📌 Examples of Imperative Sentences:

Sit down.

Please open the window.

Don’t be late.

Turn off the light.

Let’s go to the park.

🧠 Key Features:

Usually starts with a verb

The subject “you” is understood, not written

Can be positive or negative

Sometimes uses "Let’s" for suggestions

🧑‍🏫 Example for Teachers:

If you say to your students: “Take out your notebooks.” — that’s an imperative sentence.

💡 Tip for Learners:

When someone is telling you to do something, they are using the imperative mood.

3️⃣ Subjunctive Mood

✅ What It Is:

The subjunctive mood is used for wishes, suggestions, unreal situations, or things that are not true. It is less common and more formal.

📌 Examples of Subjunctive Sentences:

I wish I were taller.

If I were rich, I would travel the world.

The teacher suggested that he study more.

It is important that she be on time.

I wish it were not raining.

🧠 Key Features:

Uses “were” instead of “was” for imaginary or unreal situations

After verbs like suggest, recommend, ask, demand, we use the base form of the verb

Often shows wishes or something not real

🌟 Key Differences Between the Three Moods

Mood Use Example Indicative Facts, real actions, questions She goes to school every day. Imperative Commands, requests, instructions Close the door, please. Subjunctive Wishes, unreal situations, suggestions I wish I were rich.

🧠 How to Teach These Moods (For Teachers)

As a teacher, you can help your students learn moods with the following methods:

1. Use Real-Life Situations

Create simple role-play situations:

Indicative: “Talk about your daily routine.”

Imperative: “Give instructions to make tea.”

Subjunctive: “What would you do if you were invisible?”

2. Teach Through Stories

Tell stories that include all three moods.

Example:

Rahul is a student. (Indicative) “Finish your homework,” said his teacher. (Imperative) Rahul wished he were at home instead of school. (Subjunctive)

3. Grammar Matching Exercises

Give sentence cards to your students and ask them to identify which mood it is.

✍️ More Examples of Each Mood

Let’s look at more examples to make it very clear.

✅ Indicative Mood Examples:

He speaks English fluently.

Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.

Are you ready for the test?

They have finished their homework.

She didn’t call me yesterday.

✅ Imperative Mood Examples:

Call me when you reach.

Don’t touch that!

Be quiet in the library.

Let’s start the meeting.

Please help me with this.

✅ Subjunctive Mood Examples:

I suggest that he come early.

If I were you, I would study harder.

It’s necessary that she be here on time.

I wish I had more time.

If it were sunny, we would go outside.

✏️ Subjunctive Mood: Common Mistakes

Here are some common errors English learners make:

❌ Mistake: "If I was rich, I would travel."

✅ Correct: "If I were rich, I would travel."

❌ Mistake: "I wish it was sunny."

✅ Correct: "I wish it were sunny."

❌ Mistake: "He suggests that she studies more."

✅ Correct: "He suggests that she study more."

👉 Why? Because subjunctive mood uses the base form of the verb, even after "he" or "she".

🛠️ Practice Time: Test Your Understanding

Here’s a quick quiz. Identify the mood of each sentence.

Wash your hands before eating.

I wish I could sing like a professional.

Does he like coffee or tea?

Let’s clean the room together.

The doctor recommended that he rest more.

She teaches English at a school.

Please don’t shout.

If I were a bird, I would fly away.

The sun rises in the east.

They suggested that we arrive early.

✅ Answers:

Imperative

Subjunctive

Indicative

Imperative

Subjunctive

Indicative

Imperative

Subjunctive

Indicative

Subjunctive

🎯 Final Tips to Remember

Use indicative for everyday facts and questions.

Use imperative when you want someone to do something.

Use subjunctive for wishes, dreams, and imaginary situations.

🗂️ Summary Table

Mood Use Example Indicative Real facts or questions “She works in an office.” Imperative Orders, commands, polite requests “Please close the door.” Subjunctive Unreal, wished, or suggested actions “I wish I were taller.”

🔚 Conclusion

Understanding moods in English helps you express feelings, give instructions, and share ideas clearly. Now you know the difference between indicative, imperative, and subjunctive moods. With practice, you’ll use them correctly and confidently.

As an English teacher, I’ve seen that simple explanations and practical examples help students the most. Keep learning, keep practicing, and never be afraid to make mistakes.

  FAQs on Indicative, Imperative, and Subjunctive Mood

1. What is the difference between indicative, imperative, and subjunctive mood in English grammar?

Indicative shows facts or asks questions. (She is a teacher.)

Imperative gives commands or requests. (Please open the door.)

Subjunctive expresses wishes, suggestions, or unreal situations. (I wish I were taller.)

2. What are examples of the indicative mood? Examples of indicative sentences are:

I live in Delhi.

She likes coffee.

Do you play cricket? These sentences show facts or ask questions.

3. How do you know if a sentence is imperative? An imperative sentence usually starts with a verb and gives a command, instruction, or request. Examples: Sit down., Please help me., Don’t be late. The subject “you” is understood.

4. What are common mistakes with the subjunctive mood? Learners often use was instead of were in unreal situations. ❌ If I was rich, I would travel. ✔️ If I were rich, I would travel. Another mistake is using the wrong verb form after suggestions. ❌ The teacher suggested that he studies more. ✔️ The teacher suggested that he study more.

5. Why is it important to understand moods in English grammar? Understanding moods helps you communicate clearly.

Indicative makes your sentences factual.

Imperative makes your instructions clear.

Subjunctive lets you express wishes, dreams, or formal suggestions. This is useful in exams like IELTS/TOEFL and in professional communication.

Are you confused by long English sentences?

Do you see words like because, although, or if and feel lost? Don’t worry. These are called subordinating conjunctions, and they are not as hard as they seem.

In this blog post, I will explain what subordinating conjunctions are, how they work, and how you can use them easily in your speaking and writing.

Whether you are an English learner or a teacher, this guide will help you with examples, meanings, and tips.

I have been teaching English for over 10 years and have trained students from all age groups. This post comes from real classroom experience. My goal is to make English easy and useful for everyone.

Let’s get started!

📚 What Are Conjunctions?

A conjunction is a word that joins two parts of a sentence. There are three types:

Coordinating conjunctions – join two equal ideas (like and, but, or).

Correlative conjunctions – work in pairs (like either...or, neither...nor).

Subordinating conjunctions – join a main idea and a dependent idea (like because, if, when).

In this post, we will focus on subordinating conjunctions.

🔍 What Is a Subordinating Conjunction?

A subordinating conjunction is a word that connects a main clause and a subordinate clause (also called a dependent clause).

👉 Main clause: A complete sentence. 👉 Subordinate clause: Not a complete sentence. It depends on the main clause to make sense.

🧩 These conjunctions show the relationship between two ideas — like cause, time, condition, contrast, and more.

🧠 Examples of Subordinating Conjunctions

Here are some common subordinating conjunctions:

Conjunction Meaning Type Example Sentence because cause I stayed home because it was raining. although contrast Although he was tired, he went to work. if condition I’ll go if it stops raining. when time She called me when she arrived. since time/cause Since you’re here, let’s start. after time We went home after the movie ended. before time Wash your hands before you eat. while time/contrast While I was studying, my brother was watching TV. unless condition You can’t go out unless you finish your work. as cause/time I left early as I had a meeting.

📌 Structure of Sentences with Subordinating Conjunctions

You can write sentences using subordinating conjunctions in two ways:

1. Main Clause + Subordinate Clause

👉 I went home because I was tired.

2. Subordinate Clause + Main Clause

👉 Because I was tired, I went home.

✅ Note: When the subordinate clause comes first, use a comma.

🗂️ Types of Subordinating Conjunctions (with Examples)

Let’s go deeper and understand different types of subordinating conjunctions based on the relationship they show.

1. Time

These conjunctions show when something happens.

after – We’ll eat dinner after Dad comes home.

before – Brush your teeth before you go to bed.

when – I called her when I reached the station.

while – He listened to music while driving.

until – Wait until the lights turn green.

since – I’ve lived here since 2015.

as soon as – Call me as soon as you get home.

📝 Use these to build clear timelines in your writing.

2. Cause or Reason

These conjunctions explain why something happens.

because – I didn’t go out because I was sick.

since – Since you’re busy, I’ll help you later.

as – I stayed inside as it was too cold.

📝 Great for giving explanations in writing and speaking.

3. Condition

These show that something will happen only if another thing happens first.

if – You’ll pass the exam if you study.

unless – Don’t call me unless it’s important.

provided that – You can join us provided that you bring your ID.

in case – Take an umbrella in case it rains.

📝 Useful in rules, instructions, and plans.

4. Contrast or Concession

These show opposite or unexpected results.

although – Although it was raining, we went out.

even though – Even though he’s rich, he lives simply.

whereas – I love tea, whereas she prefers coffee.

while – While I love pizza, I don’t eat it often.

📝 These are great for comparing and contrasting ideas.

5. Purpose

These show the goal of an action.

so that – I left early so that I could catch the bus.

in order that – He studies hard in order that he can get a scholarship.

📝 Common in academic and formal writing.

6. Manner or Comparison

These show how something happens or compare two actions.

as if – He looks as if he saw a ghost.

as though – She talks as though she knows everything.

📝 Useful in descriptions and storytelling.

🧾 Tips to Remember Subordinating Conjunctions

✅ Tip 1: Think about the question you are answering — is it “when?”, “why?”, “how?”, or “if?” 👉 That helps you pick the right conjunction.

✅ Tip 2: Start small. Use 5–6 common conjunctions like because, if, when, although, before, and since. Use them often.

✅ Tip 3: Mix sentence types in your writing. Don’t only use short sentences. Use subordinating conjunctions to join ideas.

✅ Tip 4: Practice joining ideas from your daily life. Example:

I’m tired. I’ll take a break. 👉 I’ll take a break because I’m tired.

🧑‍🏫 For Teachers: How to Teach Subordinating Conjunctions

As a teacher, here are a few easy methods I recommend:

🎲 Use Games

Sentence-matching games

Fill-in-the-blank races

“Finish the sentence” challenges

🎨 Use Visuals

Show pictures and ask students to describe using when, because, or if.

🗣️ Use Speaking Activities

Role-plays

Story chains (each student adds a line using a subordinating conjunction)

📋 Use Writing Prompts

“Write about your day using while, after, and before.”

“Describe a problem using because and although.”

✅ Tip for Teachers: Always explain why we use the conjunction — not just the meaning of the word.

✅ Common Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

Mistake Why It’s Wrong Correct Form I will come if it will not rain. Don’t use “will” in the “if” clause. I will come if it doesn’t rain. He left because he was sick, and he didn’t call. Too many ideas joined poorly. He left because he was sick. He didn’t call. Although she was tired, but she worked. Don’t use although and but together. Although she was tired, she worked.

💡 Final Thoughts

Subordinating conjunctions are powerful tools in English. They help you:

Join ideas

Show time, reason, condition, or contrast

Make your speaking and writing more natural

You don’t need to learn them all at once. Start with the common ones and use them every day. The more you practice, the easier it gets.

📥 Want More?

👉 Follow my blog for posts about grammar, vocabulary, conversations, and teaching tips. 👉 Contact me for workshops, training, or one-on-one sessions.

Let’s learn English — the simple way!

FAQ

Q1. What is a subordinating conjunction in English? A subordinating conjunction is a word that connects a dependent clause with a main clause. Example: I stayed home because it was raining.

Q2. What are 10 examples of subordinating conjunctions? Because, although, if, when, since, after, before, while, unless, as.

Q3. How do you know if a sentence uses a subordinating conjunction? Check if one idea cannot stand alone (dependent) and needs a main sentence. Example: Because I was tired (not complete) → Because I was tired, I went home.

Q4. What is the difference between coordinating and subordinating conjunctions?

Coordinating joins equal ideas (and, but, or).

Subordinating joins a main and dependent idea (because, if, when).

Q5. How can students practice subordinating conjunctions?

Write daily sentences using because, when, if.

Play fill-in-the-blank games.

Join two short sentences into one long sentence.