The Ultimate Guide To Different Kinds Of Sentences In English Grammar

Assertive Sentence [Statement]

Identifying an Assertive Sentence/Features:- 

• The function of an Assertive Sentence is ‘Statement.’
• This type of sentence states or expresses or declares a fact or a situation or a condition.
• This type of sentence ends with a full stop(.).

Definition of Assertive Sentence:- A Sentence that states or expresses or declares a fact or a situation or a condition and carries a full stop (.) at the end of it, is called an Assertive Sentence. The other name of an Assertive Sentence is a Declarative Sentence.

Example of Assertive Sentence:-  Debu is a good boy.

Explanation:- Here in the above sentence a general statement is made and the statement declares the nature of Debu as a boy. The sentence ends with a full stop (.).

Interrogative Sentence [Question]

Identifying an Interrogative Sentence/Features:- 

• The function of an Interrogative Sentence is ‘Question.’
• A question is raised in this type of sentence.
• This type of sentence carries a question mark (?) at the end.
• The sentences are generally marked by inversion of the subject and predicate i.e. the first verb in a verb phrase appears before the subject.
• The sentences may start with ‘Wh’ words such as – ‘What’, Why’, ‘Where’, When’, ‘How etc.
• Sometimes, the sentences begin with the verbs like- ‘Do’, ‘Does’, ‘Did’, ‘Am’, ‘Is’, ‘Are’, ‘Was’, ‘Were’, ‘Have’, ‘Has’, ‘Had’, ‘Shall’, ‘Will’ etc.
• Sometimes, the sentences start with the modals like- ‘Should’, ‘Would’, ‘Can’, ‘Could’, ‘May’ etc.

Definition of Interrogative Sentence:- A Sentence that asks or raises a question or inquires about someone or something and carries a question mark (?) at the end of it, is called an Interrogative Sentence.

Example of Interrogative Sentence:- What is your name?

Explanation:- So, we can see that in the above sentence, a question is raised and the interrogator intends to know the name of the person whom he asks the question. The sentence ends with a question mark(?).

Imperative Sentence [Command/Request/Advice]

Identifying an Imperative Sentence/Features:- 

• Generally, the function of an Imperative Sentence is either ‘A Command’ or ‘A Request’ or ‘An Advice.’
• A command or an instruction or a request or a piece of advice is given by this sentence.
• This kind of sentence generally ends with a full stop (.) {Ex-Open at page 57.}, but occasionally ends with an Exclamation mark (!) {Ex-Get out!, Move out of my way!}.
• Generally, these kinds of sentences start with verbs.
• These sentences are sometimes referred to as Directives as they provide direction to whoever is being addressed.

Definition of Imperative Sentence:- A sentence that gives an instruction or expresses a command or a request or a piece of advice, generally starts with a verb and usually ends with a full stop(.) is called an Imperative Sentence.

Example of Imperative Sentence:-
i) Open the door. [Command/Order/Instruction]
ii) Please open the door. [Request]
iii) Do not give up hope. [Advice]
iv) Get out! [Order]

Explanation:- So, there are four sentences in the Example section and in the very first sentence a command is given to open the door.

In the case of the second sentence, the purpose is the same i.e. ‘to open the door’ but the tone has been changed. Here we find a tone of request instead of order as the speaker says ‘Please.‘

In the last sentence, a piece of advice is given i.e. ‘not to run in the sun’.

The first three sentences end with a full stop (.).

But in the case of the last sentence (no.-iv), we see a little difference. A command or an order is given through the concerned sentence but the sentence ends with an exclamation mark(!) with which usually an Exclamatory Sentence ends.

Previously, I have said that an Imperative Sentence may occasionally end with an exclamatory mark and now we have got an example.

Optative Sentence [Desire/Wish/Prayer]

Identifying an Optative Sentence/Features:-

• In simple words, the function of an Optative Sentence is either ‘A Desire’ or ‘A Prayer.’
• In this type of sentence either a desire is expressed or a prayer is made.
• The sentences generally end with a full stop. (.).
• Words such as- ‘May’, ‘Let Us’ (Let’s), ‘Wish’ etc. are used in this type of sentence.
  

Definition of Optative Sentence:- A sentence which expresses a desire or a keen wish or a prayer and usually uses words such as- ‘May’, ‘Let Us’ (Let’s), ‘Wish’ etc. and carries a full stop (.) at the end of it, is called an Optative Sentence.

Example of Optative Sentence:-
i) May you be happy. [Desire/Wish]
ii) May God bless you. [Prayer]

Explanation:- There are two sentences in the Example section and in the very first sentence a desire is expressed as the intention of the speaker is to see the person happy when he says- ‘May you be happy’ to the person.

In the last sentence, a prayer is made from the speaker’s end and the speaker wants the person to be blessed by God, a Supreme Power as he says- ‘May God bless you’. Each of the above two sentences ends with a full stop(.).

Exclamatory Sentence [Joy/Delight/~ Sorrow/Plight ~ Wonder/Surprise]

Identifying an Exclamatory Sentence/Features:-

• The function of an Exclamatory Sentence may be ‘Joy or Delight’, ‘Sorrow or Plight’, ‘Wonder or Surprise’ etc.
• A strong feeling or emotion like ‘Joy’ or ‘Sorrow’ or ‘Wonder’ is expressed through this type of sentence.
• The sentences carry an Exclamation mark (!) at the end.
• Words such as- ‘Hurrah’, ‘Alas’,  ‘What’, ‘How’, ‘So’, ‘Such’, etc. are used in this type of sentence.

Definition of Exclamatory Sentence:- A sentence that expresses a sudden and strong feeling or emotion like joy, sorrow, or wonder and carries an exclamation mark (!) is called an Exclamatory Sentence.

Example of Exclamatory Sentence:-
i) Hurrah! We have won the match. [Joy/Delight]
ii) Alas! He is no more. [Sorrow/Plight]
iii) How beautiful the moon is![Wonder/Surprise]

Explanation:- The above three sentences express the speaker’s delight, plight and surprise respectively and each of the sentences is marked by a sudden and strong feeling of emotion or excitement.

In each of the above sentences, we find an exclamation mark(!). The words- ‘Hurrah’, ‘Alas’, and ‘How’ are used in the sentences to boost the emotional expressions.

Identifying an Affirmative Sentence/Features:-

• It affirms or approves a proposition.
• It agrees with or consents to a statement or request offering an emotional support.
• It expresses the validity or truth of a basic assertion.
• It expresses a positive meaning.

What is an Affirmative Sentence?:- A sentence that affirms or approves a proposition or agrees with or consents to a statement or request, offering an emotional support and thus expressing the validity or truth of a basic assertion to convey a positive meaning or sense, is called an Affirmative Sentence.

Examples of Affirmative Sentences:-
i) Debu is a good boy.
ii) He goes to school every day.
iii) He likes to play football.
iv) His favorite subject is English.
v) He wants to be a teacher of English.

Negative Sentence

Identifying a Negative Sentence/Features:-

• A negative states something which is not true or incorrect.
• It does not affirm or disapprove a proposition.
• It does not agree with or does not consent to a basic assertion.
• Usually, the word ‘not’ is used after the first auxiliary verb in a positive sentence to make it a negative one.
• Sometimes, the words such as ‘Nobody’, ‘None'(No One), ‘Nowhere’, ‘Nothing’, ‘No’, ‘Never’, ‘Not’, ‘barely’, ‘hardly’, ‘scarcely’, ‘seldom’ etc. which already carry a negative meaning are used in this type of sentence.

What is a Negative Sentence?:- A sentence that expresses something which is not true and which disapproves a proposition to convey a negative meaning is called a Negative Sentence.

Usually, the word ‘not’ is used after the first auxiliary verb in this type of sentence. Sometimes, the words such as ‘Nobody’, ‘None'(No One), ‘Nowhere’, ‘Nothing’, ‘No’, ‘Never’, ‘Not’, ‘barely’, ‘hardly’, ‘scarcely’, ‘seldom’ etc. are also used. 

Examples of Negative Sentence:- 
i)Deb is not a good boy.
ii) He does not go to school every day.
Or, He hardly goes to school.
iii) He does not like to play football.
iv) His favorite subject is not English.
v) He does not want to be a teacher of English.

Different Kinds of Sentences Based on Structure

Based on Structure sentences can be divided into three types and they are- Simple Sentence, Complex Sentence and Compound Sentence. But before we learn about the above-mentioned three sentences we should know about Principal Clause and Sub-ordinate Clause and again complex and compound sentences can be of different types too. However, I will cover this topic on some other day in some other chapter.

Here I am just trying to give a basic outline. Hope you will find this helpful.

Clause: A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a predicate (verb) and forms a grammatical unit within a sentence. A clause can be either independent or dependent.

Independent Clause: An independent clause which is also known as the main clause, can express a complete thought independently and can stand alone as a sentence. It contains a subject and a predicate and does not depend on any other clause to form a sentence.

It is also known as the Principal Clause or main Clause.

For example: “I am going to the store”

Dependent Clause: A dependent clause which is also known as a subordinate clause, contains a subject and a predicate but does not express a complete thought on its own and hence cannot stand alone as a sentence.

It is dependent because it depends on an independent clause to complete a sentence. Dependent clauses often start with subordinating conjunctions like “although,” “because,” or “when.

It is also known as the Subordinate Clause.

For example: “I know the person who helped me last night”- Here, in this sentence ‘I know the person’ is an independent clause as it does not depend on any other clause to express a complete thought whereas ‘Who helped me last night’ is an example of the dependent clause as it depends upon the independent for the complete meaning.

Okay, so we have to know the basics of the Independent Clause and Sub-ordinate Clause and now we can understand easily Simple, Complex, and Compound Sentences.

Simple Sentence With Example

A simple sentence is a sentence that contains only one independent clause, which means it expresses a complete thought on its own. Simple sentences usually have a subject and a predicate, and they are often short and straightforward.

Example “She sings beautifully” is a simple sentence because it has only one subject, “she,” and one predicate, “sings beautifully.”

Complex Sentence With Example

A complex sentence is a sentence that contains one independent or principal or main clause and one or more dependent or sub-ordinate clause or clauses.

Example “Despite the bad weather, we went to the beach”. Here, ‘Despite the bad weather’ is the dependent clause and ‘We went to the beach’ is the independent clause.

Compound Sentence With Example

A compound sentence is a sentence that contains two or more independent clauses that are connected by a coordinating conjunction like “and,” “but,” or “or.” Here, each independent clause can stand alone as a sentence.

Example “He is poor but he is honest”. Here, both ‘He is poor’ and ‘he is honest’ are two independent clauses and each can stand alone as a complete sentence.

A Bengali YouTube Video on Different Kinds of Sentences in English

If you are one from a Bengali Medium, then the following video based on the same subject matter is going to help you a lot.

Quiz on Different Kinds of Sentences

I hope you have certainly learned some valuable lessons from this article. Now it is time to check what you have learned and how much you have learned it. We have designed a quiz session for this. Below is the link.

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FAQ: Different Kinds of Sentences in English

Below are some common questions that people over the internet ask. We have chosen five questions and given answers to them. I hope you will like this too.

Q 1. What is the function of an Interrogative Sentence?

Ans. The main function of an interrogative sentence is a Question. We ask questions by using this sentence.

Q 2. Name the Different Kinds of Sentences Based on Function.

Ans. Sentences are divided into five types based on Function or Purpose and they are- Assertive Sentence, Interrogative Sentence, Imperative Sentence, Optative Sentence and Exclamatory Sentence.

Q 3. Name the Different Kinds of Sentences Based on Structure.

Ans. Based on Structure, we can divide sentences into three types and they are- Simple Sentence, Complex Sentence and Compound Sentence.

Q 4. Name the Different Kinds of Sentences Based on Polarity.

Ans.  Based on polarity, sentences can be divided into two types and they are- Affirmative Sentence and Negative Sentence.

Q 5. Which Clause has the capability to express a complete meaning on its own?

Ans. The clause which can express a complete sense on its own and can stand alone as a sentence not depending on any other clauses is known as Independent Clause or Principal Clause Or Main Clause.

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