Note the following sentences:
1 - Shesingsevery day.
2 - We hope shesingevery day.
3 -sing every day for me.
The highlighted words in each sentence are verbs, but they are flexed in different modes and therefore also present different intentions from their speakers.
Let's analyze sentence 1:
Is it over theresingsevery day.
Note that the verb is conjugated in the gift from indicative.The choice of this mode (indicative) was not made randomly. We choose the indicative mode when we intend to express something that we are sure of its realization. Thus, we have the function of this inflection in order to ensure the content expressed by the speaker through the utterance.
Now, let's see what's different about sentence 2:
we hope shesingevery day.
Note that in this sentence the speaker's attitude has changed, that is, there is no longer any certainty of the fact expressed in the utterance and, therefore, there is also the choice of a different verbal mode, thesubjunctive. Thus, the verb is conjugated in the gift fromsubjunctivebecause the speaker intended to express a content of which he is not sure.
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Finally, let's look at sentence 3:
singevery day for me.
In this statement, the speaker's intention is clear, isn't it? He speaks in a tone of request, entreaty, or command. In this sentence, there was the option to use the imperative mode, a form of the verb that characterizes the communicator's intention to send, advise or ask.
Given these examples, we can say that there are three verbal modes in the Portuguese language: oindicative,Osubjunctiveit's the imperative.
Briefly:
verbal modes |
What they express: |
Indicative |
Certainty |
Subjunctive |
uncertainty, guess |
Imperative |
command, request, advice |
By Mariana Rigonatto
Graduated in Letters
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
RIGONATTO, Mariana. "Verbal modes and their functions in the utterance"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/gramatica/modos-verbais-suas-funcoes-no-enunciado.htm. Accessed on June 27, 2021.