Explore the Different Types of Sentences with Examples

A sentence is a specific arrangement of words that, when spoken, conveys an entire thought. The first word in the sentence should be capitalized and followed by appropriate punctuation to ensure it does not continue without meaning.

Sentences are the building blocks of all languages. A sentence has a subject and predicate, which means it can make sense as an idea on its own.

This guide will teach you about the different types of sentence structure and function. You'll also find plenty of examples for understanding each type better.

What Is a Sentence?

A sentence is the most important unit in any language. The correct way to write a sentence is to start with an uppercase letter and end with any punctuation mark. You can end it with periods (.), exclamation marks (!), or question marks (?).

The sentence is defined as a larger group of words that are combined to form an idea. This should be done through the use of statements, questions, or exclamations.

A sentence consists of a subject and a predicate.

A subject announces in a serious tone of voice what the sentence is about. A predicate declares how they feel or think about it.

Types of Sentences on the Basis of Function

To express your ideas effectively, you need to choose the right sentence type. There are four types of sentences categorized by a purpose: declarative, interrogatory, imperative, and exclamatory.

Your first order with us is FREE!

Order Now

What Is a Declarative Sentence?

A declarative sentence is a sentence that makes a statement or expresses an opinion. It can make a declaration that is either true or false depending on the situation, and it should always end with a period.

Declarative Sentence Examples

• He is studying English.
• She owns a cat.
• This is my favorite book.
• He was born on June 12, 1990.
• He is watching a movie.

What Is an Imperative Sentence?

The imperative sentence is a request or command that should be taken seriously. It should end with an exclamation mark or a period.

Imperative Sentence Examples

• Close the door.
• Do your homework.
• Stop it!
• Do not stop!
• Give him tea.

What Is an Interrogative Sentence?

Interrogative sentences ask questions. Punctuated with a question mark, they're direct questions that require an answer from the listener.

Interrogative sentences usually start with pronouns or auxiliary verbs.

Imperative Sentence Examples

• Where is the key?
• What is your favorite book?
• Whose cat is that?
• Are you hungry?
• What happened?

Your first order with us is FREE!

Order Now

What Is an Exclamatory Sentence?

Exclamatory sentences express strong emotions, such as surprise or excitement. It ends with an exclamation point.

Exclamatory Sentence Examples

• How she lied!
• How good she sings!
• I love this book!
• I can’t believe he lost!
• Happy anniversary!

What Is a Conditional Sentence?

A conditional sentence is a sentence that shows action and its consequence by following an if-then structure.

Conditional Sentence Examples

• I will answer if she calls me.
• If you will clean, I will cook.
• If you sleep, you dream.
• If you are happy, I am happy.
• If it is raining, we don’t drive.

You can mix all these types of sentences to make your writing more interesting and dynamic. This kind of sentence variety can improve the overall quality of your writing.

Types of Sentences on the Basis of Structure

And if we categorize the sentences according to their function, there are four types of sentences. These include simple, complex, compound, and compound-complex.

What Is a Simple Sentence?

A simple sentence is the most basic kind of sentence in the English language. It consists only of a subject and verb, with nothing else to cloud its meaning or intent.

Simple Sentence Examples

• Christian waited for the bus.
• The bus was late.
• He opened the door.
• I don’t like coffee.
• Alex talks very fast.

What Is a Complex Sentence?

A complex sentence has at least one independent clause and one dependent clause. The two clauses are different in that the first can be its own sentence, but the second cannot because it relies on context from other sentences to make sense.

Complex Sentence Examples

• Because it started raining, the football match was canceled.
• I was hungry, so I ordered food.
• The cat jumped on his lap while she was having breakfast.
• He returned the laptop after he noticed it was not working.
• I want to eat something before I watch a movie.

What Is a Compound Sentence?

A compound sentence is a type of sentence based on at least two independent clauses. It is generally separated by a comma, semicolon, or coordinating conjunction.

Compound Sentence Examples

• Alex made the sugar cookies; Jessica decorated them.
• She said she was not there yesterday; many people saw her there.
• It was getting dark, and we weren't near the home yet.
• I like my job. I really enjoy going to work every day.
• He didn't want to go to the doctor, yet he went anyway.

Your first order with us is FREE!

Order Now

What Is a Compound-Complex Sentence?

A compound-complex sentence is a sentence in which there are two or more clauses and at least one dependent clause.

Compound-Complex Sentence Examples

• Micheal doesn’t like action movies because they are loud, so he doesn’t watch them.
• He likes to sleep in, but he can get up early if he has work to complete.
• The cat sat down on top of the remote control.
• Sarah cried when her dog got sick, but he soon got better.
• Why did my professor yell at me? I got angry, so I quit.

Hopefully, this short guide helps you understand the different types of sentences and how to identify them.

Learning grammar in a new language can be difficult. But if you break it down into manageable parts, it should not take long before you are able to pick up the basics.

You can also contact professionals at CollegeEssay.org if your grammar is not good and you face difficulty composing English papers.

From a college essay to a full-length thesis and dissertation, you can count on us.