Functions of sentences

There are four types of functions performed by sentences: declarative, interrogative,

imperative, or exclamatory.

1.  A declarative sentence makes a declaration or statement which is in contrast to a

command, a question, or an exclamation. This is the most common type of sentences. The
subject comes before the verb in a declarative sentence which always ends in a full
stop/period. 

Declarative sentences make a statement. They tell us something. They give us

information, and they normally end with a full-stop/period.

The usual word order for the declarative sentence is:

 subject + verb...

Declarative sentences can be positive or negative. Look at these examples:

Positive negative
I like coffee. I do not like coffee.
We watched TV last night. We did not watch TV last night.

Declarative sentences are the most common type of sentence.

Examples: 
o My parents like to watch bullfights.
o She said I don't love dogs as much as she does.
o He is not as friendly as he looks.
o That hotel restaurant serves minced crocodile meat. 
 
2. An interrogative sentence asks a question and ends in a question mark. This
distinguishes it from the other types of sentences – declarative, imperative, and
exclamatory – by the inversion of the normal subject-verb order with the verb or verb
phrase coming before the subject. 

Interrogative sentences ask a question. They ask us something. They want information,
and they always end with a question mark.

The usual word order for the interrogative sentence is:

 (wh-word +) auxiliary + subject + verb...

 Interrogative sentences can be positive or negative. Look at these examples:

positive negative

Do you like coffee? Don't you like coffee?

Why did you go? Why didn't you go?

Examples: 
o Is a long journey able to make you happy ?
o Do you expect me to believe what you just said?
(The auxiliary verb appears before the subject.)
o Who is coming along with us to the haunted castle tonight?
(One of the question words [who, what, where, when, why, and how] who is used
here to ask a question as the subject is unknown. The question word who does not
invert with the auxiliary verb is)
® Who knocked at the door last night ?
o Is there enough money for us to dine in that restaurant?
(In this yes/no question which is answered with either yes or no, the auxiliary verb is
inverted with the subject.)
® Have you eaten breakfast ?
 
3. An imperative sentence gives an instruction, expresses a command or issue a request.
The subject is not normally shown in an imperative sentence, while the verb used is
always in the base form; that is, a verb without any endings such as –s, -ed or -ing: Stop
here! / Not: Stopped here! The implied subject is understood to be you. Imperative
sentences vary in length; they can be as short as a single word: Look! An imperative
sentence ends with a full stop/period or an exclamation mark. 

Imperative sentences give a command. They tell us to do something, and they end with
a full-stop/period (.) or exclamation mark/point (!).

The usual word order for the imperative sentence is:

 base verb...

Note that there is usually no subject—because the subject is understood, it is YOU.

Imperative sentences can be positive or negative. Look at these examples:

positive Negative
 Stop! Do not stop!
Give her coffee. Don't give her coffee.

Examples: 
o Bake it in the oven until golden brown. (Instruction) 
o Make a full report to your superior before the end of the week. (Command) 
o Please get me a carton of frozen yogurt on your way home. (Request) 
o Will you kids stop shouting. (Question phrased as a request)
o Don't just stand there; do something, anything to show you are busy..
   
4. An exclamatory sentence is not unlike a declarative sentence conveying strong feeling
such as excitement, surprise, anger or shock. It typically ends with an exclamation mark
(!). 

Exclamative sentences express strong emotion/surprise—an exclamation—and they

always end with an exclamation mark/point (!).

The usual word order for the exclamative sentence is:

 What (+ adjective) + noun + subject + verb

 How (+ adjective/adverb) + subject + verb

Look at these examples:

 What a liar he is!

 What an exciting movie it was!
 How smart he is !
 How exciting the movie was!

Examples: 

The following are examples of exclamatory sentences expressing the various emotions.

 
o Wait! I’m coming along. (Excitement) 
o We thought you weren’t coming! (Surprise) 
o But you said you would pay me back today! (Anger) 
o We read how the grandmother was treated. Shocking! (Shock)
o I won the bet again! (Happiness)
 o I’m really going to miss you a lot. (Sadness)
o What a terrible waste of time waiting for the rain to stop! (Frustration)