Sentence Types

What are Sentence Types?

There are four types of sentences in English: declarative, interrogative, imperative, and exclamatory. Each has a specific purpose that is detailed below.

Four Types of Sentences:

1. Declarative Sentence
   The purpose of this sentence is to make a statement. It is the most common sentence in writing, and it ends with a period.
   

             Ex: Larry ate chocolate ice cream covered with almonds.
             Ex: Susan was declared class president at the pep rally.

2. Interrogative Sentence
   The purpose of this sentence is to ask a question. The sentence ends with a question mark. There are two kinds of questions in English: the "yes/no" question and the "wh-" question.
   
   • The "yes/no" question places the helping verb in a declarative sentence before the subject in the interrogative sentence.

               s  hv   v
         Ex: I can go to Jamaica this summer. (declarative)
     
         Is transformed to:
     
                 hv  s  v
                Can I go to Jamaica this summer? (interrogative)

   • The "wh-"question begins with a question word: who, what, when, where, why, and how. These words always appear first in the interrogative sentence.

     Ex: Who is that student?
     Ex:What are Mary and Robin doing?
     Ex: When will you be home?
     Ex: Where is Mark going?
     Ex: Why are you sad?
     Ex: How does that work?

3. Imperative Sentence
   The purpose of this sentence is to issue a request or command. It has no written subject; however, the subject is implied, and it is always "you."
   

   Ex: Go to school.
   (You) Go to school.
   
   Ex: Don't drive too fast.
   (You) Don't drive too fast.

4. Exclamatory Sentence
   The purpose of this sentence is to express a strong feeling. Exclamatory sentences always end with an exclamation point (!).
   

   Ex: That is an unusual color!
   Ex: John sounded brilliant!

Remember: There are four types of sentences in English. Each has a specific purpose: to make a statement, to ask a question, to issue a command, or to express a strong feeling.