Functions of sentences
There are four types of functions performed by sentences: declarative, interrogative, imperative, or exclamatory.
A declarative sentence makes a declaration or statement which is in contrast to a command, a question, or an exclamation. This is the most common type of sentences. The subject comes before the verb in a declarative sentence which always ends in a full stop/period.
Examples:
- My parents like to watch bullfights.
- She said I don't love dogs as much as she does.
- He is not as friendly as he looks.
- That hotel restaurant serves minced crocodile meat.
An interrogative sentence asks a question and ends in a question mark. This distinguishes it from the other types of sentences – declarative, imperative, and exclamatory – by the inversion of the normal subject-verb order with the verb or verb phrase coming before the subject.
Examples:
- Is a long-time smoker like you able to do that – blow smoke rings?
-
Do you expect me to believe what you just said?
(The auxiliary verb appears before the subject.)
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Who is coming along with us to the haunted castle tonight?
(One of the question words [who, what, where, when, why, and how] who is used here to ask a question as the subject is unknown. The question word who does not invert with the auxiliary verb is .)
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Is there enough money for us to dine in that restaurant?
(In this yes/no question which is answered with either yes or no , the auxiliary verb is inverted with the subject.)
An imperative sentence gives an instruction, expresses a command or issue a request. The subject is not normally shown in an imperative sentence, while the verb used is always in the base form; that is, a verb without any endings such as –s, -ed or -ing: Stop here! / Not : Stopped here! The implied subject is understood to be you . Imperative sentences vary in length; they can be as short as a single word: Look! An imperative sentence ends with a full stop/period or an exclamation mark.
Examples:
- Bake it in the oven until golden brown. (Instruction)
- Make a full report to your superior before the end of the week. (Command)
- Please get me a carton of frozen yogurt on your way home. (Request)
- Will you kids stop shouting. (Question phrased as a request)
- Don't just stand there; do something, anything to show you are busy..
An exclamatory sentence is not unlike a declarative sentence conveying strong feeling such as excitement, surprise, anger or shock. It typically ends with an exclamation mark ( !).
The following are examples of exclamatory sentences expressing the various emotions.
Examples:
- Wait! I’m coming along. (Excitement)
- We thought you weren’t coming! (Surprise)
- But you said you would pay me back today! (Anger)
- We read how the grandmother was treated. Shocking! (Shock)
- I won the bet again! (Happiness)
- I’m really going to miss you a lot. (Sadness)
- What a terrible waste of time waiting for the rain to stop! (Frustration)