Subjunctive vs. Indictive?
What is the difference between subjunctive and indictive? how can you tell when to use which form?
1 Answer
A very complex subject for beginners. This article provides an introduction.
So far, you have studied verb tenses in the indicative mood. The indicative mood is used to express factual information, certainty, and objectivity.
Along that line the subjunctive mood is used to express contrary-to-fact information, uncertainty and subjectivity.
That is a vast over-simplification, however. To understand why it is an over-simplifaction you will have to explore the myriad situations that call for one mood over the other and the means to express both moods.
There is no shortage of online grammar articles, discussions here, or books addressing the topic. Feel free to post specific questions about either moods.
