FRENCH NOTE 16 - SIX MOODS OF FRENCH VERBS
Shall we continue ? Remember still we are in the introductory stage. I am giving you an outline. In depth treatment , follows later.
SIX MOODS
INDICATIVE
In French they call , " modes " . There are six of them. Most of the time we communicate what is happening , a factual situation. The mood of communication is called " indicative " .
When you say , " Krishna est avocat " or " Elle est indienne " , these are factual statements.
As far as the verbs in these statements are concerned, they are said to be in indicative mood.Do not mix up mood with tense. They are two different categories relating to verbs. The indicative mood can be in different tenses. Present, past , future etc.
CONDITIONAL
Sometimes while communicating , we express hypothetical or imaginary situations. If I were a billionaire , what would I do ? Were I the prime minister of my country , what would happen? If Cleopatra ' s nose were shorter, how the course of history would have changed and all sorts of such stuff. To express the consequences of such hypothesis or conditions, we use the conditional mood.
SUBJUNCTIVE
When we have to express our doubts, wish, feelings, will, fear etc, what we convey are mainly in the realm of our mind , they may or may not happen. In those cases, we employ the subjunctive mood. A very detailed treatment will follow .
IMPERATIVE
Many a time we request, order or command. Do this , don't do this , come at once etc.
In such circumstances, we use the imperative mood. While studying , conjugation of verbs we will learn them.
N'ayez pas peur -don't be afraid
Asseyez-vous-sit down
Faites ce que vous voulez - Do what you want
The above sentences are in imperative mood.
PARTICIPLE MOOD
There are two participles . One is the present participle and the other past. The present participle has an ending, -" ANT". It is normally invariable except when it is used as adjective.
Courant très vite, il est tombé dans une fossé.
Running fast, he fell into a ditch.
En regardant la télé , je mange.
While watching tv, I eat.
Est-ce que vous avez entendu parler des oiseaux chantants ?
Have you heard of singing birds ?
Observe that in the above sentences, the present participle has been used in all the possible ways.
The past participle is used for expressing the various past tenses. They are always conjugated either with " être " or " avoir ". Since we are going to have a very detailed treatment , I am not explaining it here.
INFINITIVE MOOD
At the beginning of the note , I mentioned about the infinitive. It is something like a master key. It just indicates the action. When you don't know the correct conjugation , you just mumble the infinitive, people will understand your intentions. " manger , manger " . They will understand that you want to eat. It has various functions which in due course I shall deal with.
Rest in subsequent posts.
Sayee Jayaraman
23/01/2015
Shall we continue ? Remember still we are in the introductory stage. I am giving you an outline. In depth treatment , follows later.
SIX MOODS
INDICATIVE
In French they call , " modes " . There are six of them. Most of the time we communicate what is happening , a factual situation. The mood of communication is called " indicative " .
When you say , " Krishna est avocat " or " Elle est indienne " , these are factual statements.
As far as the verbs in these statements are concerned, they are said to be in indicative mood.Do not mix up mood with tense. They are two different categories relating to verbs. The indicative mood can be in different tenses. Present, past , future etc.
CONDITIONAL
Sometimes while communicating , we express hypothetical or imaginary situations. If I were a billionaire , what would I do ? Were I the prime minister of my country , what would happen? If Cleopatra ' s nose were shorter, how the course of history would have changed and all sorts of such stuff. To express the consequences of such hypothesis or conditions, we use the conditional mood.
SUBJUNCTIVE
When we have to express our doubts, wish, feelings, will, fear etc, what we convey are mainly in the realm of our mind , they may or may not happen. In those cases, we employ the subjunctive mood. A very detailed treatment will follow .
IMPERATIVE
Many a time we request, order or command. Do this , don't do this , come at once etc.
In such circumstances, we use the imperative mood. While studying , conjugation of verbs we will learn them.
N'ayez pas peur -don't be afraid
Asseyez-vous-sit down
Faites ce que vous voulez - Do what you want
The above sentences are in imperative mood.
PARTICIPLE MOOD
There are two participles . One is the present participle and the other past. The present participle has an ending, -" ANT". It is normally invariable except when it is used as adjective.
Courant très vite, il est tombé dans une fossé.
Running fast, he fell into a ditch.
En regardant la télé , je mange.
While watching tv, I eat.
Est-ce que vous avez entendu parler des oiseaux chantants ?
Have you heard of singing birds ?
Observe that in the above sentences, the present participle has been used in all the possible ways.
The past participle is used for expressing the various past tenses. They are always conjugated either with " être " or " avoir ". Since we are going to have a very detailed treatment , I am not explaining it here.
INFINITIVE MOOD
At the beginning of the note , I mentioned about the infinitive. It is something like a master key. It just indicates the action. When you don't know the correct conjugation , you just mumble the infinitive, people will understand your intentions. " manger , manger " . They will understand that you want to eat. It has various functions which in due course I shall deal with.
Rest in subsequent posts.
Sayee Jayaraman
23/01/2015
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