Learn to identify the 4 sentence types in English: 1. declarative, 2. imperative, 3 interrogative, and 4. exclamatory sentences.
Sentence Types in English are
Sentence Types categorize sentences by their function—i.e., by what the sentence is doing
| Declarative | declare something! |
| Imperative | make requests, give orders |
| Interrogative | ask questions |
| Exclamatory | give emphasis and an excited tone! |
Declarative Sentences literally declare something.
Ex: Today is Tuesday.
My name is Jean.
The weather is lovely today.
I read books to my children.
Javier collects unusual postcards from around the world.
My company laid off over one hundred employees.
Imperative Sentences give orders or make requests.
Examples:
Take out the garbage.
Have a nice day.
Let me get that door for you.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Watch out for that pothole!
Don’t forget my birthday!
(Note that imperatives can use either periods or exclamation points.)
In sentences giving orders or instructions, the subject, usually you (2nd person singular) or you (2nd person plural) can be omitted. The subject is understood from the context. Imperative sentences (orders or requests) are the one exception to the rule that all sentences must have an explicit subject.
“You” (singular or plural) is assumed.
Fire! Shoulder arms! [An order or command]
“You guys” (plural) is assumed.
Help unload the car! [Still in tone a command]
“You” does not have to be omitted.
Please would you help unload the car? [More polite, a request]
Interrogative Sentences ask something and generally end with a question mark.
Examples:
Where are we going?
Why are we going this way?
Do you like to cook?
Does anybody here know CPR?
How do I open a retirement account?
Exclamatory Sentences have an excited tone about the information and usually end with an exclamation point.
Examples:
I can’t believe it!
I’m utterly shocked!
The ordeal was over!
CCCC Statement on Ebonics. Conference on College Composition and Communication. 6/30/21
Students’ Right to Their Own Language. Conference on College Composition and Communication. (April 1974, reaffirmed November 2003, annotated bibliography added August 2006, reaffirmed November 2014)
Why is Grammar Important? NCTE Position Statement (National Council of Teachers of English. 7/1/2002.
