Types of sentences in English are essential to learn to make strong grammer skills. It’s one
of the basic topics to start English grammar, which helps all students and teachers to construct better sentences in
Learn the Types of sentences in English with example-Declarative, Interrogative, Imperative, and exclamatory. Simple guide for students and teachers.
Types of Sentences in English Based on Their Function
Sentences can be categorized into four types based on their functions: Declarative,
Imperative, exclamatory, and interrogative sentences. Each type plays a very important role
in writing and communication.
1. Declarative Sentences
These sentences are the simplest type of sentence. They express opinions, facts, or convey ideas in sentences. These sentences help to share knowledge or provide a description of the sentences. Mostly, they follow the structure Subject-verb-object and end with a full stop.
Characteristics:
● Give information about facts.
● Express opinions.
● Used to explain about something
Examples:
● The sun rises from the east.
● Water starts boiling at 100 degrees C.
● India is a religious country.
● My Favorite book is Atomic Habits.
● Our flag consists of three colors.
In these examples, each sentence gives knowledge about something. “The sun rises from
The East” is a universal truth, while “My favorite book is ‘Atomic Habits’ expresses a personal
opinion.
2. Interrogative Sentences
These sentences are used to ask questions and to find the answer to something. They
usually start with the words what, who, whom, how, where, when, or start with helping verbs like
is, am, are, do, does, has, or have. These sentences end with the question mark (?).
Characteristics:
● Ask questions for the clarification.
● Start with a question word.
● Tries to find an answer
Examples:
● Where are you going?
● What is your school name?
● What’s the colour of pen?
● Why is water transparent?
● Do you like cricket?
In these examples, the sentences are created to find the answer. Like “What is your name?”
find s to know someone’s identity, and what is your school name? asking about the name.
3. Imperative Sentences
These sentences tell about instructions, commands, requests, or advice. Sentences can
Often be directed as a reader or listener.
Examples:
● Shut the door.
● Please pass the pen.
● Please bring the book.
● Read the letter properly.
● Be quiet during the class
In these examples, the sentence gives instructions or commands, or advice. The example
itself orders that “shut the door”, while “Please pass the pen” is a direct request.
4. Exclamatory Sentences
These sentences express excitement, strong feelings, or surprise. They can also start with
words like “What”, “How”. These words express strong sentiments in the sentences and end
with the exclamation mark(?). These sentences help to express emotions such as joy,
happiness, or anger.
Characteristics:
● Show reactions or feelings.
● Can start with the word that expresses emotion. like, hurray, yeah, Nice.
● Contains an exclamation mark.
Examples:
● What a beautiful beach!
● Hurray! We won the match.
● Wow! What a movie.
● How Beautiful the Flower is!
● What a scary street!
These examples express surprise or strong feelings. “What a beautiful beach! Express
beauty of the beach.
Sentences Based on Structure
Other than these types of sentences, there are three more structure-based sentences:
Simple, Compound, and Complex. They depend on the number of words and clauses.
1. Simple Sentences
These sentences contain one clause, which means they contain a pair of a subject and a
predicate and defines a full sentence.
Characteristics:
● Contains a pair of (subject and predicate).
● Defines a complete sentence.
Example:
● She is calling me.
● She is singing.
● I had eaten an apple.
● The bike stops at a signal.
● He hits the ball.
These sentences give information about the whole scenario
2. Compound Sentences
These sentences use compound sentences to integrate two or more independent but
connected sentences into a single, cohesive sentence.
Characteristics:
● Contains two or more pairs of subject and predicate.
● Joined by conjunctions or symbol(,)
● Defines multiple ideas or views.
Examples:
● I want to attend the party, but I have to finish my homework.
● She likes ice cream, and he prefers tea.
● The rain stopped, so he went to school.
● I have to attend the meeting, but it’s raining.
● She wanted to go for a walk, but it was raining outside.
3. Complex Sentences
This sentence is described as “containing one main part (the main clause of a sentence)
and one or more other parts, and connects with conjunctions like because, since, although,
when, or if.
Examples:
● Although it was raining, we went for a match.
● She was crying because she won the match.
● He is crying because his mom beats him.
● When I get free, I will call you.
● Light is not working because it gets fuse.
Importance of Understanding Types of Sentences in English
● It improves communication skills.
● It improves writing skills.
● It helps you understand.
● It helps you improve basic grammar
You can also read our guide on Parts of Speech in English
http://What Are Nouns and Pronouns? Easy Guide for Class 3 Students
For more details, check the official Cambridge Grammar Guide
