nonimperative

Nonimperative is a linguistic term used to describe any clause or utterance that is not in the imperative mood. In languages that mark verbal mood, the imperative form is used to issue commands or requests; nonimperative forms cover the remaining expressive functions of the verb, such as stating facts, asking questions, expressing wishes, or describing hypothetical situations.

Because different languages encode mood in different ways, the exact range of nonimperatives can vary. Common nonimperative moods include the indicative, used for statements of fact; the subjunctive or optative, used for wishes, unreality, or hypothetical scenarios; and interrogative forms, which raise questions though not all languages classify questions as a mood. Some languages lack a dedicated subjunctive or optative, while others rely on auxiliary verbs or particles to express nonimperative meanings.

Examples in English illustrate nonimperative usage: “The cat slept on the mat.” (indicative); “If he were here, he would help.” (subjunctive); “Are you coming?” (interrogative); “What a beautiful day!” (exclamative). Note that in English, questions are not a mood per se, but they fall under nonimperative utterances as opposed to commands such as “Close the door.”

In linguistic descriptions, the nonimperative category is useful for contrasting command forms with other verbal functions. Researchers may analyze mood systems as a spectrum or as discrete categories depending on the language’s grammar. The term “nonimperative” emphasizes the cross-cutting idea that not all verbs are used to command.

See also: mood, imperative mood, indicative, subjunctive, interrogative.