Types of Sentences in English with Example Sentences

What Are Sentences?

A sentence is a group of words that provides a full idea and makes complete sense about something. There must be at least one subject and predicate in complete sentences, the required parts of an independent clause. A subject is the first unit of information that contains a noun; the predicate adds something to the information and contains a verb or phrase.

Here we have more details about sentences according to subject and predicate.

Sentences: Simple, Compound, and Complex

Simple Sentence:

A sentence in which there is only one Subject and one Predicate is called a Simple sentence.

For Example:

1. His bravery won him integrity.

Compound Sentence:

A sentence that is made up of (two or more) Principal or Main Clauses is called a Compound sentence.

For Example:

1. The sun was set so we couldn’t see our way.
2. Morning came on, rain fell heavily, and we all got very wet.

1st sentence contains three Clauses of the same order.

Moreover, sentence 2 contains three Principal or Main Clauses.

• Morning came on
• Rain fell heavily
• We all got very wet.

These types of sentences are also called Compound sentences.

Complex Sentence:

A sentence that consists of one Principal Clause and one or more Subordinate Clauses is called a Complex sentence.

For Example:

They relaxed when night came.

• They relaxed.
• When night came.

Each part comprises a Subject and a Predicate of its own and makes part of a large sentence. Hence, it is called the Principal or Main Clause.

The Clause, when night came, cannot make good sense. It is dependent on the Main Clause, they rested. Hence, it is called a Second or Subordinate Clause.

Types of Sentences

There are four types of sentences in English grammar that are given below:

• Declarative
• Interrogative
• Imperative
• Exclamatory

These types allow us to express our ideas clearly. You can add interest to your writing by using a variety of sentences.

1. Declarative Sentences:

It is the most common type of sentence. Its purpose is to transmit information. Simple declarative sentences can make basic statements, like:

• The boy walked to school.
• I hate honey.
• My father is a doctor.
• He needs to eat cookies, but there were no cookies left.
• We are planning to visit China, and we’ll spend a day in Beijing.
• Roy doesn’t know how to drive, so he joins the driving school.

2. Interrogative Sentences:

Interrogative sentences ask direct questions starting with why, whose, which, what, how, when, who, etc. They are ended with a question mark. For example:

• Why does the moon bright?
• Whose cat is that?
• Will Honey keep all his lottery earnings?
• Who are you man and why are you wandering here?
• How much does it charge?

3. Exclamatory Sentences:

Exclamatory sentences depict feelings or strong emotions. They can be compared to declarative sentences because they provide information, but they are punctuated with an exclamation mark instead of a full stop.

• I said I desired a sandwich!
• How amazing he sings!
• Wow, she just won a silver medal!
• We can start the journey once Jerry reaches!
• Don’t call me whether you have good or bad news!

4. Imperative Sentences:

Imperative sentences are those sentences that tell or advice someone to do something; pass basic instructions or more forceful commands. Normally, imperative sentences are punctuated with periods, but some of the emotional or more forceful commands may end in an exclamation. For example:

• Please close the door to keep out the germs.
• Turn right at the underpass.
• Stop disturbing me!
• Keep your phone away and talk to me!
• You should stop smoking as it is injurious to your health.

You can recognize an imperative sentence as it seems to be missing a subject. Though, the command of each imperative sentence is focused on you. The subject of the command or sentence may be omitted, but “you understood” as the reader knows that each sentence could be written as “you do that” or “you do this.”