Indicative Mood
What Is It?
The indicative mood presents actual statements, questions, or beliefs:
S → V → O → fact.
Example: “The script runs nightly.”
Why Use Indicative Mood?
- Clarity — states facts without ambiguity.
- Neutral tone — avoids command or speculation.
- Credibility — sounds objective and authoritative.
When to Choose Indicative Mood
- Status updates, bug reports, changelogs.
- Analytics dashboards and factual blog posts.
- Q&A or FAQ sections (“What does this flag do?”).
Forming Indicative Sentences
| Tense/Aspect | Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Present | S + V(s/es) + O | “She writes code.” |
| Present Continuous | S + am/is/are + V-ing + O | “They are testing features.” |
| Simple Past | S + V-ed + O | “He updated dependencies.” |
| Present Perfect | S + has/have + V-pp + O | “We have released v2.” |
Tips for Writing with Indicative Mood
- State the subject early.
- Choose precise verbs (“crashes” vs. “stops working”).
- Avoid unnecessary qualifiers unless data demands them.
- Support claims with numbers where possible.
Exceptions & Nuances
- Rhetorical questions still indicative (“Isn’t that cool?”).
- Tag questions soften assertions (“It works, doesn’t it?”).
- Reported speech may shift tense but stays indicative.