In English, sentences are the building blocks of the English language. They allow us to convey our thoughts effectively. The purpose of using different types of sentences is to make our communication more effective and engaging.Â
In this article, you will learn different types of sentences based on their structure and functions. Also, you will learn how to use them correctly with example sentences.
A sentence is one that conveys a complete thought. It usually contains a subject and a verb to be a complete sentence. The order of the sentence is that the subject comes first, then the verb, and then the rest of the parts.
For example;
- He plays.
- He cooks food.
- It’s raining.
These are simple sentence structures. Thre are more different and complex structures in English. We will learn different types of sentence structure below.
Types of Sentences in English
Sentences are divided into two main types:Â
- Types of sentences based on function
- Types of sentences based on structure
Each type is then further divided into different types of sentences that we will discuss later in this article.
1. Types of Sentence Based on Function
There are four types of sentence structures based on their function in English communication. They are;
- Declarative
- Imperative
- Exclamatory
- Interrogative
We will talk about these four types of sentences in detail below.
1. Declarative Sentences
A declaratory sentence is a sentence that
- Makes a statement
- Provides an explanation
- Conveys one or more facts
Declarative sentences are among the most common sentences in the English language. You use them every day. They end with periods.
Examples:
- I forgot to wear a hat today.
- Your pizza is doughy because you didn’t cook it long enough.
- Spiders and crabs are both members of the arthropod family.
2. Imperative Sentences
Imperative sentences are used to order or give a command. The subject in these types of sentences is implied. You do not need to mention the subject because it is always implied. The reason is that the reader or listener always knows that you are ordering him to do or refrain from doing something.
Take a look at the following imperative sentence examples;
Examples:
- Please close the door.
- Take your umbrella with you.
- Get off my lawn!
- After the timer dings, take the cookies out of the oven.
- Always pack an extra pair of socks.
3. Exclamatory Sentences
Exclamatory sentences are a type of sentence in which we express our emotions, excitement, and feelings. As the name suggests, these sentences help us explain exclamatory remarks in the sentences. See the following example sentences:
Examples:
- Hey!
- High voltage! Do not touch!
- This is Sparta!
- What a beautiful garden this is!
- I can’t believe we won the match!
4. Interrogative Sentences
Interrogative sentences are sentences in which we ask for information. These sentences mostly include question words, which are a clear identification of an interrogative sentence.
Examples:
- What time does the class start?
- Are you coming to the party?
- How many pet iguanas do you have?
- May I sit here?
- Aren’t there enough umbrellas to go around?
5. Conditional Sentences
Conditional sentences are sentences in which one thing is conditioned upon the happening of another thing. For instance, one action depends on another action to occur.
Examples
- If it rains, we will stay indoors.
- I would travel more if I had enough money.
- If you study hard, you will pass the exam.
- If I were taller, I could reach the shelf.
- When you eat ice cream too fast, you get brain freeze.
2. Types of Sentence Based on Structure
Sentences are also divided into different types based on their sentence structure. These types of sentences include:
- Simple Sentences
- Complex Sentences
- Compound Sentences
- Complex-Compound Sentence
1. Simple Sentence
A simple sentence is a sentence in which a subject and a verb are required to make a complete thought.Â
A few examples of simple sentences include:
- How are you?
- She built a garden.
- We found some sea glass.
2. Complex Sentence
In contrast to a simple sentence, a complex sentence contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause. While an independent clause can be its own sentence, a dependent clause can’t. Dependent clauses rely on the independent clauses in their sentences to provide context.
Dependent cluases appear after a conjunction or marker word or before a comma. Marker words are words like whenever, althoguth, since, while, and before. These words illustrate relationship between clauses.
Examples:
- I stayed at home because it was raining.
- She smiled when she saw the surprise.
- Although he was tired, he finished the assignment.
- Before you enter my house, take off your shoes.
- Matt plays six different instruments, yet never performs in public.
3. Compound Sentences
A compound sentence has two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, so, yet).
Examples:
- I wanted to play outside, but it started to rain.
- She loves reading books, and he enjoys watching movies.
- The shop was closed, so we went to another one.
- I was thirsty, so I drank water.
- She searched through her entire closet; she could not find her denim jacket.
4. Compound-Complex Sentences
A compound-complex sentence has at least two independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.
Examples:
- I was reading a book when the phone rang, and I quickly answered it.
- She missed the bus because she woke up late, but she still made it to class on time.
- We decided to go hiking since the weather was nice, and we had a wonderful time.
- I needed a new computer, so I got a laptop because they’re portable.
- The students were excited; they could go home early because of the power outage.
Conclusion
In the English language, sentences are divided into two types based on their structure and functions. Learning both types of sentences helps you understand how to form different types of sentences and use them in speaking and writing.
Therefore, learning types of sentences is essential for beginners who want to improve their English language skills. These sentences help you make your own sentences following the grammar rules and avoid common grammar mistakes in your speaking and writing.
I hope this article helped you learn the different types of sentences in English.
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