Sentence TypesUnderstanding types of sentences and

sentence structures

There are four types of sentencesThe most common type of sentence is the

DECLARATIVE sentence.

A declarative sentence “declares” or states something.

To declare: أعلن•聲明•declarar

Examples:I am hungry.

Class starts at 6:00 pm.

Summer ends next month.

The days are getting shorter.

Imperative SentencesImperative sentences give a command – tell

someone to do something.Often times, imperative sentences do not

have a stated subject, but the subject is implied to be “you”.

Imperative: imperativo•迫切إلزامي•

Examples of Imperative SentencesClose the door.

Get ready for school.

Pass me the pepper.

Each of these examples have “you” for the subject.

Analyzing the imperative sentence:What is the subject and the verb of the

following sentence?

“Don’t forget to take out the garbage tonight.”

---Remember negatives are adverbs. We are left with “do” and “forget” as the verbs.

---The subject is the implied “you” . . . . . . . so

Finishing up . .

(You) don’t forget to take out the garbage.

Interrogatory SentencesInterrogatory sentences is another way of

saying a sentence that asks a question.

They will always be followed by a question mark:

Examples:Did you do the homework?Are you going to make dinner tonight?Did you enjoy the movie?

Finding the subject and verbTo find the subject and verb of a question, restate the sentence as a declarative sentence:

Did you do the homework? = You did do the homework.

Are you going to make dinner tonight? =You are going to made dinner tonight.

Did you enjoy the movie? = You did enjoy the movie.

Exclamatory SentencesAn exclamatory sentence adds emphasis or

emotion to either a declaratory or imperative sentence.

It will always be followed by an exclamation point (!)

Examples:Don’t go in the kitchen! I just washed the

floor.Watch out!I got an A on my test!

Sentence StructureSentence structure is divided into four types:

Simple sentences

Compound sentences

Complex Sentences

Compound/Complex Sentences

What is a sentence?A sentence will always:

1) Start with a capital letter2) Have a subject3) Have a verb4) Have a complete idea5) End with a period (.), a question

mark (?), or an exclamation point (!)

Which of these is not a sentence?We are going to get rain on Saturday.

Stop!

Because traffic was heavy.

Why were you so late?

The answer is . . . “Because traffic was so heavy.”

It starts with a capital letterIt has a subject (traffic)It has a verb (was)It ends in a period

BUT - - - it doesn’t have a complete thought or idea. Because traffic was so heavy . . . What? I was late? I drove a different way? I decided not to go?

Dependent and Independent ClausesAn INDEPENDENT clause is another word

for a complete sentence. It is independent, or free, of anything else. It has a completed idea.

Clause: جملةCláusula條款

Dependent ClausesA DEPENDENT clause do not complete an

idea. You can recognize it because it starts with a dependent word.

Examples of Dependent words: Because While During Although Since

Notice how there is no complete idea or thought:Because I had already taken that class.

Since it was only four o’clock.

While the baby was sleeping.

If I only had more money.

FragmentsDependent clauses are considered to be

fragments. A fragment is something that is not complete.

Do you understand the difference between dependent and independent clauses?

Simple sentencesA simple sentence is a single independent

clause. It has one idea.

Examples:1) Mario and Sam drove to New York City.2) I wish it would rain.3) My garden needs to be watered.4) Sarah studied and wrote her paper.5) Mo and Sam sanded and painted the

cabinets.

Compound SentencesCompound sentences are two (or more)

independent clauses joined by a conjunction or semicolon.

Example:Simple sentences: Mary cooked dinner. Mike

did the dishes.

Compound: Mary cooked dinner, and Mike did the dishes. OR

Mary cooked dinner; Mike did the dishes.

Comma usageWhen you connect two independent clauses

together with a conjunction, put a comma before the conjunction.

It was raining, and I forgot to close the windows.

Your turnLet’s practice compound sentences.

Complex SentencesA COMPLEX sentence contains

One Independent Clause, andAt least one Dependent Clause

EXAMPLES: If I had more money, I would take a vacation.

Because I was running late, I skipped dinner.

Comma UsageNOTICE:

When a sentence starts with a dependent clause, you use a comma to separate it from the independent clause.

When a sentence starts with an independent clause, you DON’T use a comma to separate .Because it was raining, I arrived late for work.I arrived late for work because it was raining.

Your turnLet’s practice some complex sentences:

Compound/Complex SentencesThese will contain at least:

Two independent clausesAt least one dependent clause

Example:

I drove to school because it was raining, and I couldn’t find a parking spot.