Archive for February, 2015

Grammar review: types of sentences

February 23rd, 2015 in English Learning

There are four types of sentences in English.

  1. Declarative or assertive sentence
  2. Exclamatory sentence
  3. Imperative sentence
  4. Interrogative sentence

Declarative sentence

A declarative sentence makes a simple statement.

Declarative sentences are of two types – affirmative sentences and negative sentences.

Examples are:

  • She is my sister.
  • He works at a family.
  • Birds live in nests.
  • We don’t have pets.
  • I don’t know the answer.
  • I didn’t do anything.

A declarative sentence begins with a capital letter and ends with a full stop.

Exclamatory sentence

An exclamatory sentence expresses a sudden emotion.

  • How beautiful she is!
  • What a lovely evening!
  • How disgusting!

An exclamatory sentence begins with a capital letter and ends with an exclamation mark.

Imperative sentence

An imperative sentence expresses a command or request. Note that in imperative sentences, the subject is not usually mentioned.

  • Come here. (Here the subject ‘you’ is not mentioned, but it is understood.)
  • Keep quiet.
  • Get me that file.
  • Sit down.

Note that the subject of an imperative sentence is always the pronoun ‘you’.

Imperative sentences begin with a capital letter and ends with a full stop.

Interrogative sentence

An interrogative sentence asks a question.

  • What is your name?
  • Who is he?
  • Where are you going?
  • Are you coming with us?
  • Does she work here?

An interrogative sentence begins with a capital letter and ends with a full stop.