adminA sentence is the largest grammatical unit and communicates a complete thought, whether it is an assertion, question, command or exclamation. Sentences are formed from subject phrases and finite verbs, or clauses, that must be arranged in a specific order to make sense. The subject of a simplex sentence is always a noun phrase and the predicate is usually a finite verb. However, gerund forms of verbs may be used in some languages and subjects can often be omitted.
Declarative sentences are statements that express fact, offer explanation or convey information. They are written in the present tense and end with a period. In English grammar, declarative sentences can be divided into two types: declarative sentences that begin with a noun (declarative sentences) and declarative sentences that start with an adjective (declarative-adjective sentences).
Interrogative sentences are questions that ask for information or opinion. They can be direct or indirect and start with interrogative pronouns such as “who,” “what,” “where” and “why.” They may also feature auxiliary verbs, which transform sentences into questions by changing the meaning of a noun or verb in the sentence.
Imperative sentences are commands, requests, invitations or warnings. They do not have a subject and instead give instructions to an implied second person. For example, the sentence, “Wash the dinner plates,” implies that the person who is meant to wash the dishes is you! Imperative sentences can be a useful form of persuasion, but they should not be used in formal writing. Imagine eating the same food every night for a year! You would eventually get tired of it. The same applies to reading the same type of sentence over and over again. Sentence variety makes reading more interesting and improves comprehension.
