Why might a writer of an explanatory text use the indicative mood more than any other verb mood?

1 answer

A writer of an explanatory text might use the indicative mood more than any other verb mood for several reasons:

  1. Clarity and Objectivity: The indicative mood is used to state facts, provide information, and convey reality. Explanatory texts aim to inform the reader clearly and objectively, making the indicative mood the most suitable choice for presenting factual content.

  2. Direct Communication: Explanatory texts often require straightforward communication of ideas or concepts. The indicative mood allows the writer to present statements clearly, enhancing the reader's understanding without ambiguity.

  3. Consistency: In an explanatory context, maintaining a consistent tone is important. The indicative mood helps achieve this consistency as it focuses on establishing clear and factual statements rather than expressing wishes, possibilities, or hypotheticals, which are typical in other moods (subjunctive or imperative).

  4. Audience Engagement: Since explanatory texts are often designed to educate or inform, using the indicative mood can create a sense of authority and credibility. The reader is more likely to trust the information presented as factual rather than speculative.

  5. Purpose of the Text: The primary purpose of explanatory writing is to explain or clarify a topic, theory, or phenomenon. The indicative mood directly supports this purpose by allowing the writer to assert and explain the information without distraction from other moods that might introduce uncertainty or subjectivity.

In summary, the indicative mood is preferred in explanatory texts because it effectively communicates factual information clearly and directly, aligning with the text's intent to inform and educate the reader.