A sentence It is a word or a group of words that express a complete sense, for which reason it is considered an autonomous element. For example: My brother’s name is Javier.
A written sentence is characterized by always beginning with a capital letter and ending with a period, unless it has question or exclamation marks to replace it.
What are the types of sentences?
Sentences can be classified according to different criteria:
According to the intention of the speaker
- declarative sentences. Also known as enunciative, they seek to inform or express a specific reality, which can be judged as true or false. They could be affirmative or negative. For example: I will start taking English classes. / This month we did not reach the proposed objectives. / The greenhouse effect has irreversible consequences.
- doubtful sentences. They express any doubt or possibility. For example: Maybe I’ll go to the party. / It seems to me that it was Juan who called. / Maybe he was wrong.
- wishful sentences. They express some wish or desire of the issuer, and generally use tenses of the subjunctive mode. For example: I hope Sunday is sunny. / I hope you have a great time at the party. / I would like to go to the beach.
- exhortatory sentences. Also known as imperatives, they are used to give orders, ask for something, beg, beg or prohibit. For example: Come here right now. / Please help me do my homework because I don’t understand it. / No parking.
- Interrogative sentences. They seek to obtain some type of information from the interlocutor. They are also used to make suggestions or requests. For example: Do you want to go to the cinema with me on Saturday? / What time is it? / Can I borrow your coat?
- Exclamation sentences. They reflect an emotion that the speaker is going through, which can be anger, surprise, joy, fear, among others. For example: I got a 10 on the final exam! / What a scare you gave me! / What a beautiful day!
Depending on the number of members
depending on the type of verb
- copulative sentences. They have a copulative verb (to be to be to look like), which functions only as a link, accompanied by an attribute, which is the core of the nominal predicate. For example: The park is flooded. / Marcelo is a lawyer. / The woman looks like a foreigner.
- predicative sentences. They present a verb that expresses an action or a process (unlike linking verbs), which is the core of the verbal predicate. They may be:
According to the number of predicates
- Simple sentences. They have only one predicate. For example: The lawyer won the trial. / The television broke down.
- compound sentences. They have more than one predicate and are classified as:
Depending on the type of subject
active/passive
- active sentences. The subject is the one who performs the action. They are structured as subject + action + object. For example: My boss announced the decision. / The man received the news.
- passive sentences. The subject is patient and receives the action. They are structured as object + action + by + agent. For example: The decision was announced by my boss. / The news was received by the man.
personal/impersonal
- personal prayers. They have a recognizable, explicit or implicit subject. For example: The teacher explained the topic. / We will go on a trip.
- impersonal sentences. They do not have a subject that performs the action. For example: Today it rains. / Tomorrow will be very hot.
Careful: The different classifications do not invalidate each other, but refer to different aspects of the sentence. For example: The man recited the poem. This sentence is declarative, predicative, transitive, bimembered, simple, active, and personal.
Examples of types of sentences
Examples of declarative sentences
- My favourite book is Hopscotchby Julio Cortazar.
- My grandmother loves classical music.
- The car windows are a bit dirty.
- For the Biology exam, you have to prepare a topic and present it.
- The new house is right in front of the central square.
doubtful sentence examples
- Maybe tomorrow they will give us the notes of the practical work.
- Maybe he didn’t mean to hurt you.
- They’ll probably hire us to cover the Olympics.
- It can be a great idea.
- You may be late for the meeting.
Examples of wishful sentences
- I hope everything goes well on the trip.
- I would love to visit Italy and France.
- I hope many people come to the year-end show.
- I dream of learning many languages.
- I would like you to come to my birthday.
Examples of exhortatory sentences
- Don’t reveal the secret I told you.
- Come to reception when you arrive at the building.
- Add the shortening to the mixture and stir.
- I demand that you return my money.
- I ask you to please calm down.
Examples of interrogative sentences
- Could you tell me the time?
- Do you think we should invite your sister to the theater?
- Do you want me to prepare breakfast for you?
- How did you come to make a living from music?
- What did you learn from that adverse experience?
Examples of exclamatory sentences
- What a thrill it gives me to meet again!
- Finally they arrived!
- This is a disaster!
- I knew you would come!
- We all deserve equal rights!
Examples of two-membered sentences
- The house is at the end of the street.
- Life is sometimes not as we expect.
- Last night I dreamed of you.
- The man is tired of living in the city.
- The band gave an unforgettable concert.
Examples of single-membered sentences
- It’s too cold in this house.
- So long!
- It has been raining for three days.
- Forbidden to go out on the terrace.
- There is food in the refrigerator.
Examples of copulative sentences
- The table is served.
- The menu looks rich.
- The truth is irrefutable.
- The day is beautiful.
- This is my father.
Examples of predicative sentences
- The industry fell in the last quarter.
- Two trucks collided on the highway.
- The motorist won the race without difficulty.
- The mathematician solved the equation.
- This winter it will rain a lot.
Examples of simple sentences
- The man went to work on his car.
- The bookstore is closed on Sundays.
- Tomorrow we will go to a restaurant.
- The teacher admonished the whole class.
- Snakes scare me.
Examples of Compound Sentences
- Children play and adults work.
- When the ship sails, we’ll go on deck.
- If they raise taxes, the electorate will be dissatisfied.
- The young man does not know what to do: his beloved no longer loves him.
- Stay at home, the weather is very unstable.
Examples of active sentences
- The government announced new measures.
- José brought food for everyone.
- The truth can sometimes be painful.
- The Mathematics test is next Thursday.
- The soup came out delicious.
Examples of passive sentences
- The assailants were apprehended by the police in the vicinity of the place.
- The bonds were bought at little value.
- The robbery was perpetrated by a criminal gang.
- The car was repaired by the mechanic.
- The actress’s clothes were designed by a major fashion name.
Examples of personal sentences
- The city was flooded by heavy rains.
- The phone hasn’t stopped ringing all morning.
- The cat escaped through the roof.
- We should take care of the planet.
- The police caught the thieves.
Examples of impersonal sentences
- It snowed heavily on the top of the mountain.
- It’s too cold in here.
- Yesterday it rained all day.
- He’s been gone for hours.
- It’s still early.
Interactive test to practice
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