GRAMMAR FOCUS

VERB MOOD

    One the most common mistakes Chinese learners of English make is using the wrong verb mood (or voice). Yes, even verbs have moods!  For example, verbs can have imperative moods or declarative moods. When we want to tell someone to do something, or suggest they do something, our verbs are in the imperative mood. In the example, Do your homework, I am not telling you that your homework is being done, but I am telling you that I want you to do it. This is imperative mood. If, however, I ask you, What are you doing?  you could reply, I'm doing my homework. You are not telling me to do something, but you are declaring that you are currently doing it. This is declarative mood.  If I ask you, What are you doing? and you reply, Do my homework, you are using the wrong verb mood.

REGULAR AND IRREGULAR VERBS