Business English: A Practice Book by Rose Buhlig

asked a policeman. =Exercise 122--Mode= Mode is the form of the verb that indicates the manner of expressing the thought. The _modes_, or _moods_, that every one should be able to distinguish are the _indicative_ and the _subjunctive_. If the verb indicates a fact, we say it is in the indicative mode; if it expresses a supposition, a doubt, a statement contrary to fact, or a wish, we say it is in the subjunctive mode. You _are_ good. (A fact--indicative.) I wish I _were_ good. (Contrary to fact, a wish--subjunctive.) In form the indicative and the subjunctive differ in the present and the past tenses of the verb _to be_, as follows: =Indicative of _be_= _Present_ _Past_ I am We are I was We were You are You are You were You were He is They are He was They were =Subjunctive of _be_= _Present_ _Past_ If I be If we be If I were If we were If you be If you be If you were If you were If he be If they be If he were If they were Other verbs in the subjunctive mode do not end in _s_ in the third person singular number, but use the same form as the other persons in the singular number; as, _if he go_, _if she walk_. _If_, _though_, _although_, or _lest_ usually introduce the subjunctive form. In modern English, the use of the subjunctive is becoming rare except in the past and past perfect tenses in statements contrary to fact, and in wishes, which are really statements contrary to fact; as,