Four Types of Sentences

A group of words that expresses a complete thought is called a sentence. A capital letter begins each sentence. There are four types of sentences.

Declarative

A declarative sentence makes a statement and ends with a period.

  • We were whistling "Dixie" while we worked.
  • I located the Appalachian Mountains on the map.
  • Cotton grows in the Black Belt of Alabama.
  • A team of teachers devised this language arts series.
  • Practice helps us to remember new concepts.
  • Review is an important learning tool.
  • We fly the American flag from sunrise until sunset.
  • The flag flies both day and night above the Capitol.
  • No flag is flown at the White House when the President is absent.
  • The Constitution of the United States of America became the supreme law of the nation on March 4, 1789.
  • The United States has the oldest continuous constitutional government in the world, directed by a written constitution.

Interrogative

An interrogative sentence asks a question and ends with a question mark.

  • Do you whistle while you work?
  • Can you locate the Appalachians on the map?
  • Where does cotton grow?
  • Have you devised a plan for building the clubhouse?
  • Do you have any brothers or sisters?
  • Does his father speak Chinese?
  • When should we take down the American flag?
  • Why is that flag at half mast?
  • Why must the flag not touch the ground?
  • Why do we not have a direct democracy?
  • When was the Constitution written?

Imperative

An imperative sentence expresses a command or a request and usually ends with a period. If a command indicates strong feeling, then the imperative sentence ends with an exclamation point.

  • Whistle while you work.
  • Locate the Appalachian Mountains on the map.
  • Plant some cotton.
  • Do your homework.
  • Please believe me.
  • Raise the American flag at sunrise.
  • Take down the American flag at sundown.
  • Please treat the flag with highest respect.
  • Give the historical background of the Constitution.
  • Please become familiar with the supreme law of the nation.
  • Help me!

Exclamatory

An exclamatory sentence shows excitement or strong feeling and ends with an exclamation point.

  • Hooray, we made it!
  • I found it!
  • What a beautiful cotton sweater!
  • Help!
  • I can't wait until Saturday!
  • What fun it is to learn new things!
  • Wow, that is the biggest flag I've ever seen!
  • I can't wait until the Fourth of July!
  • Hurrah, thousands of flags are waving to honor the United States of America!
  • Wow, March 4, 1789, was an important date!
  • I passed the history test!

Examples

Which of the four types of sentences are these? Tell whether the following sentences are declarative, interrogative, imperative, or exclamatory.

  1. Where is Alaska?
  2. Fast and quick are synonyms.
  3. Learn about the state of Alaska.
  4. It's snowing!
  5. How was your vacation?
  6. Hard work builds strength.
  7. Mow the lawn before you wash the car.
  8. I'm drowning!
  9. Can any birds fly from the moment they hatch?
  10. Some birds are born fully feathered and able to fly.
  11. That eagle has such a huge wingspan!
  12. What are the Articles of the Confederation and Perpetual Union?
  13. Don't let the American flag touch the ground.
  14. We call the United States government a central government, federal government, or national government.
  15. Yippee! The Fourth of July is almost here!

Solutions

  1. Of the four types of sentences, this one is interrogative because it asks a question and ends with a question mark.
  2. This sentence makes a statement and ends with a period. It is declarative.
  3. Of the four types of sentences, this one is imperative. It commands you to do something, and it ends with a period.
  4. This sentence ends with an exclamation point and shows strong feeling. We recognize the exclamatory sentence.
  5. This is an interrogative sentence because it asks a question and ends with a question mark.
  6. This sentence makes a statement and ends with a period. It is declarative.
  7. This sentence commands you to do something, and it ends with a period. Therefore, it is imperative.
  8. This sentence ends with an exclamation point and shows strong feeling. We recognize the exclamatory sentence.
  9. This is an interrogative sentence because it asks a question and ends with a question mark.
  10. This declarative sentence makes a statement and ends with a period.
  11. Of the four types of sentences, this one is exclamatory, showing strong feeling and ending with an exclamation point.
  12. This is an interrogative sentence because it asks a question and ends with a question mark.
  13. This sentence commands you to do something, and it ends with a period. Therefore, it is imperative.
  14. This declarative sentence makes a statement and ends with a period.
  15. These exclamatory sentences show strong feeling and end with an exclamation point.