TYPES OF SENTENCES - English grammar

TYPES OF SENTENCES

What is a sentence?

We need words to express what we have in mind so that others may understand us. But words are not enough. Words have to be put in a definite order so that they may make sense. Such a group of words is called a sentence. A sentence is the largest grammatical unit. It usually consists of a subject, a verb and an object or a complement. Essentially, a sentence consists of a subject and a verb.

Definition:  A group of words that makes a complete sense. The sentences are broadly classified in to Four:

1. Assertive / Declarative / Sentences or Statement
2. Interrogative sentences
3. Imperative sentences and
4. Exclamatory sentences

1. ASSERTIVE or DECLARATIVE SENTENCES or STATEMENTS:

A sentence that makes an assertion or declaration or deny something are Assertive or Declarative. These Assertive sentences simply make statements – affirmative or negative.

Eg: 1. The earth is a small planet in the Solar System.

            Karim hit him hard. (Affirmative)

Karim did not hit him hard. (Negative)

2. INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES:

A sentence that asks a question is called an Interrogative sentence.

Eg: why are you late?

       Who is Mr. Arya?

Do you like ice-creame?

Is she a singer?

There are two major types of interrogative sentences in English. They are :-

• WH – Questions:-

They begin with interrogative pronouns. What, who,  which, whom and whose.

Or  with interrogative adverbs:- where, when, why and How.  Or with interrogative adjectives:- what which and whose.

Note: Answer to such a question is always a complete sentence.

How are you?

Where does he study?

Why are you late?

Who will do the job?

• YES or NO Questions:-

They always start with an Auxiliary verb like Am, Is, Are, was, were, has, have, had, do, does, did, will, shall, would, should, may, might, can, could, ought etc.

Eg:-  Am I correct?

         Have they finished the whole work?

3. IMPERATI VE SENTENCES

A sentence that expresses a command, request, advice, entreaty, desire or an instruction  is called an imperative sentence.

Eg:- Get out from here.

Close the door.

Be quiet, please.

Do not smoke here.

May God bless you.

Take two tablets three times a day after meals.

4. EXCLAMATORY SENTENCES

A sentence that expresses sudden feelings or emotions is called Exclamatory sentences. Exclamatory sentences are always followed by the mark of interjection(!)

Eg:- what a melodious voice!

        what a pity!

How clever the crow is!

Alas! He is no more!

Ah! What a tragedy!

1. INTERCHANGE OF SENTENCES
2. An affirmative question becomes a negative statement:
3. Can the blind see?                                                 (Question)

The blind can’t see.                                                         (Statement)

2. Who lives if the country dies?                            (Question)

None lives if the country dies.                                      (Statement)

3. Does man live by bread alone?                          (Question)

Man doesn’t live by bread alone.                                (Statement)

4. Can the leopard change its spots?                     (Question)

The leopard cannot change its spots.                          (Statement)

1. A negative question become a positive statement:

1. Doesn’t a mother love her children?            (Question)

A mother loves her children.                                      (statement)

2. Who doesn’t like to be happy?                        (Question)

Everyone likes to be happy.                                        (statement)

3. Isn’t the earth round?                                        (Question)

The earth is round.                                                          (statement)

4. Who would not pity the weak?                         (Question)

Everyone would pity the weak.                                  (statement)

5. Who would not condemn the vicious?            (Question)

Everyone would condemn the vicious.                   (statement)

1. Transformation of Affirmative to Negative sentences:

1. She is innocent.                                                 (Affirmative)

She is not guilty.                                                           (Negative)

2. He is no mean poet.                                          (Affirmative)

He is a great poet.                                                       (Negative)

3. Where there is smoke, there is fire.              (Affirmative)

There is no smoke without fire.                                 (Negative)

4. you are more intelligent than I.                    (Affirmative)

I am not so intelligent as you.                                   (Negative)

5. Krishna loved Radha.                                    (Affirmative)

Krishna did not hate Radha.                                   (Negative)

6. He is older than I.                                            (Affirmative)

I am not so old as he.                                                 (Negative)

7. America is more powerful than Russia.       (Affirmative)

Russia is not as powerful as America.                    (Negative)

8. Ramesh is cleverer than Ram.                        (Affirmative)

Ram is not so clever as Ramesh                                (Negative)

9. A lawyer alone can answer this question.     (Affirmative)

None but a lawyer can answer this question.        (Negative)

10. He found him dishonest.                                (Affirmative)

He did not find him honest.                                      (Negative)

• TRANSFORMATION OF A STATEMENT INTO AN EXCLAMATION:

GUIDELINES:

1. very is left out in exclamatory sentences.
2. Full Stop is replaced by a note of exclamation.

• What/how is added and placed first.

1. What is used with a noun.
2. How is used with an adjective/adverb:

How lovely a place! (not, what lovely a place!)

1. It +be + adjective is replaced by how + adjective:

• O that! / Oh that! / would that, expresses wish + regret.
• Alas is replaced by (it + be + sad/shocking etc.)

1. If only is replaced by principal clause (subject + wish)

Noun clause remains unchanged

Noun clause is not used with that:

1. Infinitive is replaced by (it + be + strange etc.)

EXAMPLES:

1. It is a very lonely place.                                                                     (statement)

What a lonely place it is!                                                                    (Exclamation)

2. She has a very sweet voice.                                                                 (statement)

What a sweet voice she has!                                                              (Exclamation)

How sweet her voice is!

3. He runs very fast.                                                                                  (statement)

How fast he runs!                                                                                   (Exclamation)

4. It is kind of you to help me.                                                                 (statement)

How kind of you to help me!                                                              (Exclamation)

5. It is foolish of him to throw stones on buses.                                      (statement)

How foolish of him to throw stones on buses!                                    (Exclamation)

6. It is wise of her to anticipate these problems.                                    (statement)

How wise of her to anticipate these problems!                                     (Exclamation)

7. O that! /Oh that, I had wings!                                                                     (Exclamation)

I wish I had wings.                                                                                           (statement)

8. Would that I were a prince!                                                                          (Exclamation)

I wish I were a prince.                                                                                    (statement)

9. O to live on Mars!                                                                                           (Exclamation)

I wish I lived on Mars.                                                                                    (statement)

10. Alas that she is dead!                                                                                        (Exclamation)

Alas! She is dead!

It is sad/shocking that she is dead.                                                           (statement)

11. If only I were a bit taller!                                                                             (Exclamation)

I wish I were a bit taller.                                                                                  (statement)

12. To think of seeing you here!                                                                          (Exclamation)

It is strange that I should see you here.                                                       (statement)

13. My husband, and so mean!                                                                        (Exclamation)

It is shocking that my husband is so mean.                                            (statement)