Lesson 3 : Kinds of Sentences

Identify the kind of sentences.

Understand the uses of punctuation marks

Give example os sentences according to it's kind.

There are four types of English sentence, classified by their purpose:

• declarative sentence (statement)

• interrogative sentence (question)

• imperative sentence (command)

• exclamatory sentence (exclamation)

1. Declarative Sentence (statement)

Declarative sentences make a statement. They tell us something. They give us information, and they normally end with a full-stop/period.

The usual word order for the declarative sentence is:

• subject + verb...

Declarative sentences can be positive or negative. Look at these examples:

positive

negative

I like coffee.

I do not like coffee.

We watched TV last night.

We did not watch TV last night.

Declarative sentences are the most common type of sentence.

2. Interrogative Sentence (question)

Interrogative sentences ask a question. They ask us something. They want information, and they always end with a question mark.

The usual word order for the interrogative sentence is:

• (wh-word +) auxiliary + subject + verb...

Interrogative sentences can be positive or negative. Look at these examples:

positive

negative

Do you like coffee?

Don't you like coffee?

Why did you go?

Why didn't you go?

3. Imperative Sentence (command)

Imperative sentences give a command. They tell us to do something, and they end with a full-stop/period (.) or exclamation mark/point (!).

The usual word order for the imperative sentence is:

• base verb...

Note that there is usually no subject—because the subject is understood, it is YOU.

Imperative sentences can be positive or negative. Look at these examples:

positive

negative

Stop!

Do not stop!

Give her coffee.

Don't give her coffee.

4. Exclamative Sentence (exclamation)

Exclamative sentences express strong emotion/surprise—an exclamation—and they always end with an exclamation mark/point (!).

The usual word order for the exclamative sentence is:

• What (+ adjective) + noun + subject + verb

• How (+ adjective/adverb) + subject + verb

Look at these examples:

• What a liar he is!

• What an exciting movie it was!

• How he lied!

• How exciting the movie was!