Indikatif

Indikatif is a grammatical mood used to express factual statements and questions about real events. It is the default mood in many languages and is typically referred to as the indicative in English grammar. The category contrasts with other moods such as the subjunctive, which expresses doubt, possibility, or wishes, and with the imperative, used for commands. In some languages the term Indikatif is used to designate this mood.

Function and usage: The indicative marks statements about reality and is used for present, past, and future tenses; the verb is inflected for person and number. Examples: English present indicative: "She walks to work." Spanish present indicative: "Ella camina al trabajo." German present indicative: "Sie geht zur Arbeit." The exact forms vary by language, but the mood signals that the content is presented as fact.

Typology and variation: In many languages with a mood system, the indicative is the most frequently used mood in simple declaratives. Some languages also have a realis–irreal distinction with a separate subjunctive or conditional mood for hypothetical or non-factual statements. The Indikatif name derives from Latin indicare, to indicate or point out facts.

See also: Indicative mood; Subjunctive mood; Imperative mood.