Indikatiivimuoto

Indikatiivimuoto, often translated as the indicative mood, is a grammatical mood used to express factual statements, opinions, or assertions. It is the most common mood in many languages, including Finnish, and is used to convey information that the speaker believes to be true or real.

In Finnish, the indicative mood is the default form of the verb and does not require any special inflection to denote its mood. It is used in simple declarative sentences. For example, "Minä luen" (I read) or "Hän nukkuu" (He/She sleeps) are both in the indicative mood. It contrasts with other moods such as the imperative (command) or conditional (hypothetical).

The indicative mood can express a wide range of tenses, including present, past, and future. The specific tense is indicated by verb conjugations or auxiliary verbs, not by the mood itself. For instance, "Minä luin" (I read - past) and "Minä luen" (I read - present) are both indicative.

Essentially, the indicative mood serves to present information as a matter of fact, without expressing doubt, command, or a hypothetical situation. It is the backbone of everyday communication, allowing speakers to report on events, share knowledge, and state their beliefs.