A sentence is the accumulation of a few words that give meaning to an expression or emotion. Although there are many ways to construct a sentence, we need to follow a few basic things to write a perfect and grammatically correct sentence. So before we start with that, let us take a look at different types of sentences.
1. September has thirty days.
2. Aeroplane needs a big space to land.
3. Two and two make four.
4. Honesty is the best policy.
5. Where do you stay?
So here, we can conclude that:
A group of words, which makes complete sense, is called a sentence.
The important things we need to remember while constructing a sentence:
a) The words should be arranged in a proper order to mean something.
b) A sentence must begin with a ‘CAPITAL’ letter.
c) A Full Stop (.), a Question Mark (?), or an exclamatory mark (!) must be placed at the end.
Kinds of sentences-
Broadly, sentences can be categorised into four types:
· Statements (Assertive – Positive or Negative)
· Questions (Interrogative)
· Commands (Imperative)
· Exclamations (Exclamatory)
Assertive sentence:
A sentence that states facts or declares something is called a statement or a Declarative sentence. A statement can be Assertive (Positive or Negative). It can also be called an assertive sentence because we can write and speak it positively or negatively. For further explanation, let us go through a few examples:
Positive-
- The sun rises in the east.
- Wild animals are very fierce.
Both of these sentences are positive.
Negative-
- I do not like your behaviour.
- He is not an honest man.
The tone of both sentences is negative.
Interrogative sentence:
A sentence, which asks a question, is called an interrogative sentence.
When someone asks a question, or you ask a question in a sentence, then that sentence is known as an interrogative sentence.
Example-
- Will you attend my birthday party?
- Is the train late?
Both of the sentences end with a question mark. Moreover, the tone is also enquiring. These are some of the hints you should consider while writing or reading an interrogative sentence.
Imperative sentence:
A sentence that expresses a command or a request is also an Imperative sentence.
Example:
- Go away, at once. (This is a command)
- Please, get me a glass of water. (That is a request)
Both the sentences are not statements or nor questions. They do not provide any information like a statement. Besides these sentences, also do not ask for information. Between the two above-mentioned sentences, the first one orders to go away. The tone is commanding. The second sentence requests someone to do something. Both the sentences are thus regarded as interrogative sentences.
Exclamatory sentence:
A sentence, which expresses something very strongly with emotion, is called an exclamatory sentence or exclamation. Human beings are loaded with feelings. These sentences are the outcome of such emotions.
Examples –
- How beautiful the garden is!
This means the garden is a lovely place. Saying plainly, ‘the garden is beautiful’ does not express how you are excited to visualize the garden’s beauty. However, while we put an exclamatory mark at the end of the sentence, it shows how exciting and thrilling the experience is.
- What a pity!
- Alas! We have lost. (The match)
These sentences do not command or request anything. The only thing to find in these types of penalties is sudden expressions of emotions like joy, sorrow, surprise, wonder, etc. These sentences are thus unusual. The most common way to find such a sentence is by observing the exclamatory mark at the end.
Tutor Bio: Shveta Aggarwal, a spoken English teacher, has been teaching for nearly five years. In this article, she discussed the right way to construct a sentence and its various types.
