Types of Sentences:

Based on their meaning sentences are of five kinds:

 Declarative sentences (statements)

 Interrogative sentences (questions)
 Imperative sentences (request, commands)
 Exclamatory sentences (exclamation)
 Optative sentences (wishes)

Declarative Sentences:

These sentences make statement or some kind of observation.

There are two kinds of statements:

Affirmative: Statements that simply say or state something.

I like chocolates.

Negative: They express a negative meaning.

I do not like ice cream.

Interrogative Sentences:

An interrogative sentence, also called a question, is formed by putting verb before the noun, or
by beginning the sentence with a ‘wh’ word. This ends with a question mark.

Do you ice cream?

Which game does he play?

Imperative sentence:

These express request, commands, advice, or suggestions. In these sentences the subject is
invariably the second person (you) which is generally unexpressed.

Shut the door.

Do not shut the door.

Exclamatory Sentences:

They express sudden, strong feeling like, surprise, delight, anger, disgust, etc. These kinds of
sentences end with sign of exclamation.

What a sweet song!

How interesting!

Optative Sentences:

They are use to express wishes.

Long live the president!

May you live long!

Kinds of sentences based on their structure:

Sentences are divided into three kinds depending on the structure.

Simple Sentences:

A simple sentence expresses a single, complete thought and has one finite verb. A simple
sentence has only one subject and one predicate.

John is an intelligent boy.

Compound Sentences:

A compound sentence has two or more coordinate clauses. The coordinate clauses are
independent clauses. They are of equal rank and convey the complete meaning or sense by
themselves.

I didn’t like the food but I ate everything.

The above sentence consists of two independent clauses.

(a) I didn’t like the food. (b) I ate everything.

Complex Sentences:

A complex sentence has only one independent clause, called the principal clause and one or more
dependent clause called the subordinate clauses.

We rushed inside because it started to rain.