What is a Sentence? (4 Types of Sentences)

It may astound you to realize that every thought you've ever communicated was a sentence. In fact, all thoughts you think are basically sentences.

What's fascinating is, given the ubiquity of the sentence, you would suspect most would have no problem defining it.

Nevertheless, my suspicion is that most would find it difficult to offer a concise explanation of the word, if pressed.

What is a sentence?

Sentences are a set or series of words that include:

Subject What the sentence is about — the sentence topic (either a noun or a pronoun).
Predicate Says what the subject is doing or its current state (contains the sentence verb)

What are the types of sentences?

We group sentences according to their function and structure. These categories are not mutually exclusive; i.e., an interrogative sentence may also be complex, and so forth. The 4 types of sentence structures are:

4 types of sentences by function

Types of sentences (by function)	Examples
Declarative Declarative sentences make a statement or assert something—they provide information. They can be affirmative or negative and vary in length and complexity.	I love chocolate. Two plus two makes four. In my opinion, Fellini's 8 1/2 is entirely too long.
Interrogative Sentences that ask a question; often start with question words (who/what/where/when/why/how) or an inverted auxiliary verb. They seek information or clarification.	Where do you live? What time is it? When should we leave?
Imperative Sentences that give commands, instructions, or requests. The subject (you) is often implied rather than stated; tone can be polite or forceful depending on wording.	Go to bed early tonight and get some rest. Call me as soon as you get home. Don't forget to send me a copy of the assignment!
Exclamative Sentences that express strong feeling or emotion; they often end with an exclamation mark and may use exclamatory structure to emphasize emotion.	That hurts! I lost my phone!

Declarative sentences

Declarative sentences provide information or make a statement. They are the most common type of sentence and are used to express facts, opinions, observations, or ideas.

Declaratives all express a statement or a fact in a straightforward manner, without posing a question or giving a command. They can be affirmative or negative, and the typical punctuation ending is a period.

Interrogative sentences

Interrogatives are question-sentences that ask a question. They typically begin with a question word (who, what, when, where, why, how) or an auxiliary verb (is, are, can, do, will) and end with a qeuestion mark ?

Interrogatives ask about something specific, and seek information or further clarification from those being addressed. The tone of an interrogative can range from curious to demanding, depending on the situation.

Imperative sentences

Imperative sentences are sentences that give a command or make a request. They are usually structured without a subject (you) and begin with a verb or a verb phrase.

These sentences are used to give commands, make requests, or offer advice to the listener or reader. They can be forceful or polite, depending on the tone and context of the situation.

Exclamatory sentences

Exclamatory sentences are sentences that express strong feelings or emotions. They are usually structured with an exclamation point at the end and can be formed with a variety of words and appear in various context.

These sentences express strong emotions, such as surprise, joy, fear, or admiration. They can be used to emphasize a point, convey excitement, or simply express a feeling in an enthusiastic way.

Worksheet: Types of sentences

Practice identifying the correct sentence type for each sentence according to its function.

What is a Sentence? (4 Types of Sentences)