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The indicative mood is, in general, the mood of assertion, or presentation of certainty. It is not correct to say that it is the mood of certainty or reality. This belongs to the presentation (i.e., the indicative may present something as being certain or real, though the speaker might not believe it).
- Declarative Indicative
The indicative is routinely used to present an assertion as a non-contingent (or unqualified) statement. This is by far the most common use.
- Mark 4:3 The sower went out to sow.
- John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word.
- Interrogative Indicative
The indicative can be used in a question. The question expects an assertion to be made; it expects a declarative indicative in the answer. (This contrasts with the subjunctive, which asks a question of moral "oughtness" or obligation, or asks whether something is possible.)
- Matt 27:11 Are you the king of the Jews?
- John 1:38 He said to them, "What do you seek ?" And they said to him, "Rabbi, .. where are you staying ?"
- Conditional Indicative
This is the use of the indicative in the protasis of the conditional sentences. The conditional element is made explicit with the particle ei. the first class condition indicates the assumption of truth for the sake of argument, while the second class condition indicates the assumption of an untruth for the sake of argument.
- Matt 12:27 If I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out?
- John 5:46 If you believe Moses, you would believe me.
- Potential Indicative
The indicative is used with verbs of obligation, wish, or desire, followed by an infinitive. The nature of the verb root, rather than the indicative, is what makes it look like a potential mood in its semantic force.
- Luke 11:42 It was necessary [for you] to have done these things.
- 1Cor 11:7 A man should not cover his head.
- Cohortative (Command, Volitive) Indicative
The future indicative is sometimes used for a command, almost always in the OT quotations (because of a literal translation of the Hebrew). However, it was used even in classical Greek, though infrequently.
- Matt 19:18 You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness .
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