Sentences in English
A sentence in English requires a subject and a verb to work together to express a complete thought. There are four classifications for sentences: declarative, interrogative, imperative, and exclamatory. Here are some examples:
These are sentences:
- He can play the guitar. (declarative sentence)
- Can he play the guitar? (question or interrogative sentence)
- Give me that! (command or imperative sentence)
- You must give that to me! (exclamatory sentence)
These are not sentences:
- Because I need it. (clause or incomplete sentence)
- in the morning (prepositional phrase–not a sentence–no subject-verb relationship)
Sentences in English may also be classified by their structure: simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex. Structure shows how words are put together in a sentence. I cover this in a different lesson.
a. declarative sentences 
Sentences (or declarative sentences) make a statement. The subject usually goes before the verb.
- It’s going to rain tonight.
- The garbage is picked up on Tuesday.
- My brother found a rabbit in his yard.
- I bought a used umbrella.
a. Examples
- This is a two-story house.
- It also has a basement, so there are three levels.
- The front door is red.
- After Bill and Gloria bought the house, they painted the door red.
b. interrogative sentences
An interrogative sentence makes a question or a request.
- Do you have a hat?
- Where can I buy good mangoes around here?
- Would you mind not doing that?
- Can’t they see she’s busy?
- Where did you go last night?
- What happened?
- Who showed up at the party?
Interrogative sentences are better known as questions.
b. Examples
- What are those?
- Are they pancakes?
- Where did you get the pancakes?
- Is that syrup on the pancakes?
- Can I try some?
- Who’s on the bike?
- How many people are on the bike.
- Where did you get that?
- How much did it cost?
c. imperative sentences
An imperative sentence is a command. One person tells another person to do something. The verb is in the simple form and it goes first. The subject is “you,” but the subject is unspoken.
- Come here, please. (I want you to come over.)
- Go to the store. (I’m telling you to go to the store.)
- Help! (I’m asking anyone to help me.)
- Don’t do that. (Negative commands use “don’t.”)
Imperative sentences are easy to identify because they begin with a verb, the word “don’t,” or the word “please.”
c. Examples ✍🏾
- Make a fire!
- Bring out your guitar.
- Play some songs.
- Sing along!
- Be careful around that fire.
- Don’t get too close to the fire!
- Don’t forget to put the fire out before you go to sleep.
d. exclamatory sentences
An exclamatory sentence ends with an exclamation point. This kind of a sentence express urgency or importance.
- Pay attention!
- That’s a great movie!
- I’m so happy for you!
- We won!
- It’s snowing!
- They made a million dollars cleaning houses!
- What a good idea!
- Do not go there!
d. Examples ✍🏾
- It’s raining!
- I love the rain!
- We finally got some rain!
- What a relief!
