Lesson 4: Kinds of Sentences | Easy English Subject

There are four general kinds of sentences: declarative, interrogative, imperative, and exclamatory.



The declarative sentence states a fact. A period ends a declarative sentence.

Example:

We all want to be happy.



The interrogative sentence ask a question. A question mark ends interrogative sentence.

Example:

Do we all want to be happy?



The imperative sentence expresses a command. A period ends an imperative sentence.

Example:

Everyone, strive to be happy.



The exclamatory sentence expresses a strong feeling. An exclamation point ends an exclamatory sentence.

Example:

How we all want to be happy!


The interrogative sentence follows a definite pattern. Statements with is, are, was, and were may be changed into questions by exchanging the positions of the subject and the predicate.

Examples:

          S    V
1. Mario is a student.
    V       S
    Is Mario a student?


               S        V
2. The boys were present.
         V              S
     Were the boys present?



Statements indicating present time and using verbs other than is and are are changed into questions by placing does (singular) or do (plural) as the first word to signal the question.

Examples:

         S          V
1. Myrna works hard.
                  S          V
    Does Myrna work hard?

                      S          V
2. The students work hard.
                        S            V
     Do the students work hard?



Note that in this form, the s form of the verb is assumed by does.

Statements indicating past time and using verbs other than was and were are changed into questions by placing did at the beginning to signal the question. The principal verb after the auxillary verb did is always in the infinitive form.

Example:

  S       V
Ely went home.
         S       V
Did Ely went home?



Statement with verb phrases (verbs of more than one word) are changed into questions by placing the subject after the forst helping verb.

Example:

                   S                    V
1. The students will come soon.
                            S           V
     Will the students come soon?

                  S                                   V
2. The students should have done well. (two helping verbs)
                                S                     V
     Should the students have done well?

                   S                         V
3. The students haven't seen her. (helping verb contracted with not)
                                 S           V
     Haven't the students seen her?



In the imperative sentence, the subject is always the personal pronoun you which may be merely understood. A statement may be changed into an imperative sentence by omitting the subject.

Statement: You keep quiet.
Imperative: Keep quiet!



The negative form of the imperative sentence is formed by placing do not before the verb.


Examples:

1. I am / tired.
    How tired / I am!

2. She is / a pretty girl.
    What a pretty girl / she is!

3. He shouted / loudly.
    How loudly / he shouted!


The negative form of questions is formed by inserting not after the subject.

Example:

1. Is she pretty?
    Is she not pretty?

2. Did she go?
    Did she not go?

3. Have you seen her?
    Have you not seen her?



Next Lesson 》Word and Phrase Modifiers | Lesson 5 》



*Please leave your comment below and subscribe. Thanks.