A sentence is a group of words which makes complete sense. A sentence begins with a capital letter and ends with a full stop, a question mark or an exclamatory mark.

There are mainly four kinds of sentences.

1. Declarative
2. Imperative
3. Interrogative
4. Exclamatory

Declarative and assertive sentences make statements.

• She is my friend.
• It is round.

Imperative sentences are used to give an order or make a request. The subject is not usually present in an imperative sentence. The verb is always in its base (present simple) form.

• Come here.
• Take this file with you.

Interrogative sentences

Interrogative sentences are sentences that ask for information. They end with a question mark.

• Will you help me?
• Where are you going?

Exclamatory sentence

A sentence which expresses a strong and sudden feeling is an exclamatory sentence. Exclamatory sentences end with a mark of exclamation.

Exercise

Write whether the sentences given below are declarative, interrogative, imperative or exclamatory.

1. She works for a multinational company.           ……………………………………………………

2. Bring me that file.                                                       ………………………………………………….

3. Sit down.                                                                        ………………………………………………….

4. What do you want?                                                    ………………………………………………….

5. How did that happen?                                              ………………………………………………….

6. I don’t know his address.                                         ………………………………………………….

7. What a beautiful flower!                                          ………………………………………………….

8. When will your brother return?                            …………………………………………………..

9. Can you lend me a pen?                                           ……………………………………………………

10. She wants to become an astronaut.                                 ……………………………………………………

Answers

1. Declarative; 2. Imperative; 3. Imperative; 4. Interrogative; 5. Interrogative; 6. Declarative; 7. Exclamatory; 8. Interrogative; 9. Interrogative; 10. Declarative