JK Academy What is a sentence?
A set of words, arranged in a pre-determined order, so that they express a clear thought, is called a sentence.
We make use of sentences when we are speaking, reading or writing.
All sentences begin with a capital letter.
We punctuate the sentences by a full stop, question mark or exclamation mark at the end, depending on what the sentence is conveying.
Based on their purpose we classify the sentences in the following four types:
A) Assertive or Declarative Sentence
B) Interrogative Sentence
C) Exclamatory Sentence
D) Imperative Sentence
A) Assertive or Declarative Sentence:
When a sentence makes a statement and gives us information about a noun, is said to be an Assertive or Declarative Sentence.
An Assertive or declarative sentence always ends with a period or full stop. (.)
Example:
Reading helps gain knowledge.
A poisonous snake bit the boy.
This summer vacation my family is travelling to America.
B) Interrogative Sentence:
A sentence that asks a question or requests information is called an Interrogative sentence.
It always ends with a question mark. (?)
Interrogative Sentences are of four types:
1. Wh – questions: These are direct questions that begin with a wh word – How, What, When, Where, Why, Which, Who, Whose, Whom
Example:
How many eggs did the hen lay?
Why was the child crying?
Where is my book?
2. Yes – No questions: These are questions, for which the answer could be either a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’.
Example:
Did it rain yesterday in your town?
Is the teacher going to give us a test today?
Will you play with me?
3. Choice questions: These are questions that contain two or more alternatives or choices.
Example:
Do you prefer tea or coffee?
Should I call you Mr. Brown or Mr. Sam?
4. Question tags: These are questions where a tag question word is added at the end of a statement.
Tag question words are helping verbs followed by a pronoun.
Example:
Rita likes chocolates, doesn’t she?
The dog was barking all night, wasn’t it?
Yesterday, they weren’t at home, were they?
Rules for adding the tag:
An Affirmative statement carries a negative tag and
A negative statement carries an affirmative tag.
C. Exclamatory Sentence:
A sentence that conveys an excitement or emotion of the speaker is an Exclamatory sentence.
We use exclamation mark (!) at the end of the sentence.
Example:
What a pleasant surprise!
How clever you are!
We won the match!
If a sentence uses an interjection, we put the exclamation mark after it, followed by a declarative sentence.
D. Imperative Sentence:
A sentence that gives an order, command, request, suggestion, proposal or instructions is an Imperative Sentence.
An imperative sentence begins with a verb and ends with a period or full stop. (.)
Example:
Take a step forward. (order)
Let’s go for a walk. (suggestion)
Please get me a glass of water. (request)
Don’t go too close to the fire. (instruction)
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