TYPES OF SENTENCES

Therearefourdifferenttypesofsentences:
1.
2.
3.
4.

DeclarativeSentence(s)
InterrogativeSentence(s)
ExclamatorySentence(s)
ImperativeSentence(s)

Letstakeacloserlookatthesefourtypes.
1. DeclarativeSentence
- thistypeofsentencemakesastatement
- itinformsthereaderofeitherafactorargumentthatrequiresnoactionoranswer
ExamplesofDeclarativeSentences:
A) Iwenttothestore.
B) Ihaveadog.
C) Iburnedmyhandonthestove.
2. InterrogativeSentence
thistypeofsentenceasksaquestionandALWAYSendsinaquestionmark(?)
ExamplesofInterrogativeSentences:
A) Istheskyblue?
B) Whenwillyoubecominghome?
C) Whattimewereyououtuntillastnight?
3. ExclamatorySentence
- thistypeofsentenceisamoreforcefulwaytowriteadeclarativesentence(see#1)
- itwillalwaysbemarkedwithanexclamationmark(!)attheend
ExamplesofExclamatorySentences:
A) TheCNToweristall!

B) TheTorontoMapleLeafsareagreathockeyteam!
C) Iamexcitedforsummer!

4. ImperativeSentence
- animperativesentencegivesadirectcommandtoanotherperson
- itcanendwitheitheranexclamationmark(!)oraperiod(.)dependingonhowforcefulthe
commandis
- animperativesentenceisnotnormallyusedinacademicwriting

ExamplesofImperativeSentences:
Examplesendingwith(!)
A) Sitdown!
B) Bequiet!
C) Washthedishesnow!

Examplesendingwith(.)
A)Writeastoryforclass.
B)Pleasestudyforclass.
C)Trytobequietplease.

materialtakenfromUniversityofOttawaWebsite,
http://www.arts.uottawa.ca/writcent/hypergrammar/sntpurps.html

Developedby:TheCommunicationsCentre/MichelleLaBonte/January2008