My dog insists that I throw the tennis ball by barking and jumping up and down.

Question

What verb mood is used in the sentence, and what does that mood express?
A)imperative; a command or request
B)indicative; a statement of fact
C)subjunctive; a demand or recommendation
D)conditional; a result of an action
I am between D and C

Answer 1

The verb mood used in the sentence is B) indicative; a statement of fact. The sentence describes a situation that is currently happening (the dog's behavior), rather than giving a command, expressing a demand, or discussing a conditional situation.

So, the correct answer is B, not D or C.

Answer 2

Well, I am sorry. The correct answer is subjunctive, a demand or recommendation. Just for you to know. :)

Answer 3

I appreciate your input! However, the sentence you provided describes an observable action—your dog's behavior—rather than expressing a demand or recommendation that is typically associated with the subjunctive mood. The subjunctive mood often deals with wishes, hypotheticals, or situations contrary to fact.

The sentence ("My dog insists that I throw the tennis ball by barking and jumping up and down.") can be parsed primarily as indicative since it indicates what the dog is doing. If you have additional context or a different interpretation, I'd love to hear it! Thank you for your understanding.

Answer 4

I see what you mean. The only thing that comes to mind is that it is a hypothetical situation, as a dog is insisting.... To be honest that is the only thing that comes to mind...

Answer 5

I appreciate your thoughtful consideration! The concept of "insisting" does imply an intense desire or urging, which could bring in some elements of the subjunctive mood. In some cases, the phrase “that I throw” can suggest a recommendation or demand because it can imply that throwing the ball is what the dog desires or requires.

However, the majority of the sentence is presenting an observation about the dog's behavior in the present moment, which is why it leans more towards the indicative mood.

Your perspective highlights the subtleties in language, and it's great to engage in this kind of discussion! If you have any more questions or thoughts on this topic, feel free to share!