Kinds of Sentences English Grammar Lesson

Definition of Sentences and Kinds of Sentence:

Sentences can be categorised into five categories, based on their meaning or function.

They are as follows:

Assertive Sentence

Interrogative Sentence

Imperative Sentence

Optative Sentence

Exclamatory Sentence

What is an Assertive Sentence:

An assertive sentence is a kind of sentence which expresses statement, and this is statement can be both affirmative or negative form.

Pattern assertive sentence:

Subject + verb + object (complement/adverb/ adjective)

Example of assertive sentence:

-English is an International Language. (If it is an affirmative assertive sentence)

-We never hate him. (Negative)

-Everybody should do his own duty. (Modal auxiliaries)

What is an Interrogative Sentence:

An interrogative sentence is a kind of sentence which we use to ask question recording person or thing. At the end of interrogative sentence there is always question mark (?).

Interrogative sentences are of two types, one type of question is yes/no question and another type is WH question.

Yes/no question Begins with helping verbs auxillary verbs like am, is, are, was, were, have, has, had or modal auxiliaries such as shall, should, will, would, can, could, may, might, etc.

Example of yes/question:

- Have you submitted your assignment today?

- Can he speak English?

-Would you help me?

- May I go there?

- Is this your house?

- Didn't I make a call? (Negative)

WH-question Begins with some specific WH words like what, who, which, when, where, why, how, whom, how many, how much etc. and these questions are known as ‘WH’ questions.

Example:

- How is your plan going on?

- Who fixed the problem?

- Whom do you like among your fellow friends?

- What are you asking me?

- What time is scheduled for the next train?

- How many rabbits have died there?

What is an Imperative Sentence:

An important sentence is a sentence that expresses a request, order, command, advice, suggestion, etc.

An imperative sentence does not contain a subject rather the subject is usually unexpressed. it is implied rather.

Pattern of imperative sentence:

Subject (Sitent) + verb + object

Example imperative sentence:

- Take care of your family.

- Give me the pen to write my address.

- Do it now or never.

- Be honest and perform Your duties.

- Come here as soon as possible.

- Never tell a lie even you are in a danger.

- Do not laugh at other’s misery.

- Let him go there now.

What is an Optative Sentence:

Optative sentence is a kind of sentence that expresses wish, desire, prayer, etc.

Pattern of optative sentence:

May + Assertive sentence

Example of optative sentence:

- May you live long.

- May Allah bless you and your family.

- Wish you a success.

- Long live our loving Bangladesh.

What is an Exclamatory Sentence:

Exclamatory is a kind of sentence which expresses strong or sudden feeling, emotion like pain, surprise, delight, joy, anger, disgust, etc.

Pattern of exclamatory sentence:

Alas/Bravo/Hurrah/ What/ How.... + the rest of sentence

Example:

- Hurrah! We have won the cricket match.

- Alas! He has failed in the examination.

- Bravo! You have done an excellent job.

- What a gifted girl she is!

- How sweetly the the bird sings!

- What a wonderful country Bangladesh is!

- Were I a child again!

- What a pity! You have missed his call.

Structure of a Sentence:

Based on the structure of a sentence , sentences are of three types, namely:

I. Simple Sentence

II. Complex Sentence

III. Compound Sentence

I. What is a Simple Sentence:

Simple sentence is the kind of sentence which is structured with only one subject and one finite verb.

Simple sentence has only one independent clause and no subordinate clause.

Pattern:

Subject + finite verb + complement

Exmaple of simple sentence:

- Bangladesh is a developing country

- He missed the train.

- We are workers employed in this factory.

II. What is a Complex Sentence:

Are complex sentences a kind of sentence consisting of one principal clause and one or more sub-ordinate clause(s).

Example of complex sentence:

- If you work hard, you will you will be paid more. (Here, ‘if you work hard’ is sub-ordinate clause and ‘you will be paid more’ is main or principal clause.)

Sub-ordinate clause need some conjunctions to be connected with. The conjunctions that the subordinate clause need are: when, who, which, that, how, where, because, while, if, whether, since, as, though, although, until, till, unless, before, after, so that, wherever, whoever, whatever, etc.

Example of complex sentence:

- I know where he went.

- I do not know where he lives in dhanmondi thana.

- if you want to prosper in life, you must work hard.

- We eat good food so that we can live healthy.

IV. What is a Compound Sentence:

A compound sentence is a kind of sentence having more than one principal clauses. This principal clauses are linked by one or more coordinating conjunctions.

The kinds of conjunctions that are used in compound sentences are as follows: 

and, but, or, for, nor, also, however, moreover, so, else, still, as well as, otherwise, yet, thus, not yet, but also, either or, neither nor, on the contrary,accordingly etc.

Example of compound sentence:

- Call me and I will arrive at the station.

- He left this place and you arrived right now

Thank you

Shameem Sarwar

shameem.sarwar@yahoo.com

Video Kinds of Sentences English Grammar Lesson