Types of Sentences

Semantic type of Sentences/ Syntactic type of Sentences/

Types according to the Meanings Types according to the Structure
In this, we guess the category of the In this, we guess the category of the
sentence on the basis of its meaning. sentence on the basis of its structure.

• Assertive Sentences • Simple Sentences

• Negative Sentences • Compound Sentences
• Interrogative Sentences • Complex Sentences
• Imperative Sentences • Complex-Compound Sentences
• Optative Sentences
• Exclamatory Sentences

Semantic type of Sentences / Types according to the Meanings

1. Assertive/Declarative/Affirmative/Demonstrative
Sentence
This kind of sentence simply asserts or declares something. It simply informs us
about something. It doesn’t entail any question, request, command, suggestion,
prayer, wish or exclamation.
Examples:
I like apples.
Karachi is quite far from Islamabad.
He asked me if I want to go with him or not.
Father asked me whether his son was present in the class or not.
You are my best friend.
2. Negative Sentence

This kind of sentences negate a reality or they tell us about something which is not
there. These sentences use the word “Not” in them.

Examples:

He could not go to Lahore.

She did not come to me.
He was not playing.
He has not responded yet.
You are not allowed to go abroad.

3. Interrogative Sentence
This kind of sentence asks a question. Questions are normally asked using helping
verbs, wh words, and how.

Examples:
Do you like apples?
Is he driving the car?
Have you completed your work?
Will you come tomorrow?
Were they present yesterday?
How are you?
Where have you been?
When are your exams?

4. Imperative sentence
This kind of sentence entails command/order, request, suggestion and advice.

Examples:

Open the door.

Complete this task immediately.
Don’t play in the street.
Take your medicines regularly.
Let me study please.
Let’s play cricket.
5. Optative Sentence
This kind of sentence conveys a wish or prayer for someone or for your own self.

Examples:

May he get good marks!

May you live long!
May ALLAH bless you!
God bless you.
Long live the great king.
Wish you a life full of happiness.
Wish you a good journey together.
Would that I were a doctor.

6. Exclamatory Sentence
Exclamatory sentence makes a statement that conveys strong feelings or
excitement.

Examples:

What a beautiful flower!

What a shot!
How high the mountain is!
How stupid the boy is!
What an unfortunate event!
Syntactic type of Sentences / Types according to the Meanings

1. Simple Sentence
Simple sentence has only one clause.
Examples:
He is a good boy.
He lives in a good society.
Ahmed and Ali study together.
He is going to school.
He works and plays in time.
She works very hard and gets first position in the class.
Aslam and Ahmed packed their bags, met their friends, greeted their teachers and
went to station.

2. Compound Sentence

Compound sentence consists of at least two or more clauses joined together by

coordinating conjunctions. (FANBOYS) For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So.
Whereas.
Examples:
I’ll help him and he will help me.
You can help me or you can go and sleep.
I played and my friend studied.
He is ill yet he will try to come to the party.
He is suffering from fever so he cannot come.
I’ll go to his party for he is my friend.
I can go with you but I have a lot to do today.
He is going to Lahore so he cannot meet you but he has sent best wishes.
3. Complex Sentence
Complex sentence consists of at least two or more clauses joined together by
subordinating conjunctions (because, until, unless, lest, as, if, while, after,
since etc.), correlative conjunctions (Although-yet, Either-or, Neither-nor
etc.), compound conjunctions (as if, so that, along with, as soon as etc.),
relative pronoun (Whose, whom, which, that, who) and relative adverbs
(When, where, how etc.).
Examples:
He attended a call while he was driving the car.
He met me after he had managed his online classes.
He is going to Lahore since he is missing his parents.
He was called at the court as he was also involved in the murder.
He came home because the flight got late.
He asked me when I was coming.
He guessed that he is going to come.
I know where he lives.
That you have come pleased me.

4. Compound-Complex Sentence
It consists of at least three or more clauses joined together by at least one
coordinating (FANBOYS) and one subordinating conjunction.
Examples:

He cannot come because he is ill but he has sent best wishes.

He was driving slowly because it was raining and the road was slippery.
He cried as if her were a child and I was shocked to see that.