indicative
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.showing or suggesting that something is happening or exists.
adj.serving as a sign, symptom, or suggestion of something. Often used with the preposition 'of'.
Simple“The sudden drop in sales is indicative of a larger problem with the economy.”
In context“The persistent silence from the negotiations was widely seen as indicative of a fundamental breakdown in communication between the two parties.”
Synonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
adj.relating to the form of a verb used to make simple statements or ask questions.
adj.relating to the grammatical mood used to express factual statements and positive beliefs.
Simple“In the sentence 'He is eating,' the verb is in the indicative mood.”
In context“While the subjunctive mood expresses wishes or possibilities, the indicative is the standard form for asserting facts in English.”
UsageIn linguistic contexts, it typically modifies the noun 'mood'.
SynonymsdeclarativeAntonymssubjunctiveimperative - 03 C1 Advanced
n.the category of verb forms used for facts and statements.
n.the indicative mood or a verb form belonging to it. Uncountable when referring to the mood itself; countable when referring to a specific instance.
Simple“Most of the sentences we use every day are in the indicative.”
In context“The student struggled to distinguish between the indicative and the conditional when translating the complex legal document.”
Usage indicative of
“In other words, the SunZia is not indicative of an onshore wind-energy boom.”
“While this ballot is only indicative, we are disappointed with the outcome and will continue to engage with Napo and other recognised trade unions.”
From Middle French indicatif, from Late Latin indicātīvus. By surface analysis, indicate + -ive.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.