SENTENCES

A sentence is a group of words that is used to make a statement, to ask a question, or to give an order or make a request.

A sentence should provide the person hearing it or reading it with enough information for them to form a complete idea in their mind of the message that is being communicated to them.

Some examples of sentences:

My new house is very small.

Are you going into town this afternoon?

What a lovely day it has been!

The wedding was a great success.

A group of words that does not convey a complete massage is not a complete sentence:

The boy along the road

We cannot have with us

Their new car yesterday

Types of sentences

There are four main types of sentence.

1.Declarative sentences (Sentences that make statements.)

That isn’t the way to do it.

Lions and tigers belong to the cat family.

Canada and the United States are neighbours.

2.Interrogative sentences (Sentences that ask questions.)

What are you doing?

Would you like a cup of coffee?

Can you see anything?

3.Imperative sentences (Sentences that give orders or make requests)

Come back!

Don’t ever do that again!

Come and have a cup of coffee!

4.Exclamatory sentences (Sentences that express opinions or feelings with force or strong of emotion, like exclamations.)

What a fool I’ve been!

How I hate maths!

You silly boy!

5.Optative sentence (Optative sentences express wishes.)

God save the Queen!

Long live the President!

May you live a long and happy life together.

Optative sentences are not common as the other four types of sentence. Some occur as fixed sayings:

God save…….!

Long live ……!

Optative sentences formed with may are found mainly in very formal or rather dated language.

How to Punctuate Sentences

A written sentence must begin with a capital letter and end with a full stop (.), a question mark (?) or an exclamation mark (!).

1.Declaratie sentences usually end with a full stop:

I don’t feel very well.

She’s scared of the dogs.

You can use an exclamation mark instead of a full stop at the end of a declarative sentence if you want to show that you are expressing strong feelings. Compare these sentences:

Harry’s coming.

Harry’s coming!

The first sentence is a simple statement. The second sentence, however, not only conveys the same information but also expresses strong emotion such as surprise, pleasure, or fear.

2.Interrogative sentences with a question mark:

How did she do that?

Which house is yours?

Sometimes a question mark is the only way you can tell whether a sentence is a question or a statement:

John’s leaving this afternoon. (statement)

John’s leaving this afternoon? (question)

Even if only part of a sentence asks a question, the whole sentence is still treated as an interrogative sentence:

If you won’t do it now, Then when will you do it?

3.Exclamatory sentences end with an exclamation mark:

What a wonderful day!

Off with his head!

Isn’t that tree beautiful!

4.Imperative and optative sentences generally end with a full stop, but again, if you want to show that the words are being spoken with great force or emotion, then use an exclamation mark.

Please sit down.

Sit down at once!

May you have all your heart desires.

May he suffer as I was suffered!

Notice that some exclamatory sentences look like questions, but are in fact comments or commands:

Isn’t that a beautiful flower!

Will you stop that noise!

Come back here

Since such sentences are not asking questions but expressing opinions or making requests, they are punctuated with exclamation marks rather than question marks. Compare the following sentences:

Will they ever stop the fighting in Palestine? (question)

Will you stop fighting with your sister! (exclamation, expressing an order)