Sentence - grammar english

A group of words combined together in such a fashion to produce a meaning, is called A SENTENCE.

According to JC Neisfield, "A sentence is a combination of words, in which something is said about something else."

According to Cambridge Dictionary, A group of words, usually containing a verb, that expresses a thuoght in the form of a statement, question, instruction, or exclamation and starts with a capital letter when written, is called a sentence.

According to Collins Dictionary, A sentence is a group of words which, when they are written down, begin with a capital letter and end with a full stop, question mark, or exclamation mark.

Most of the sentences contain a subject and a verb.

Example

(a) He is a good boy.

(b) India is a big country.

(c) Pacific is the biggest ocean in the world.

(d) Everest is the highest peak in the world.

(e) Pronoun is used instead of a noun.

Types of Sentence

Sentence is divided into five types.

(1) Assertive Sentence

(2) Interrogative Sentence

(3) Imperative Sentence

(4) Optative Sentence

(5) Exclamatory Sentence

(1) Assertive Sentence

An Assertive Sentence is the most simple statement.

An Assertive Sentence always starts with a subject and ends with a full stop.

Example

(a) Cow gives milk.

(b) He is a laborious student.

(c) Jack is buying fruits.

(d) He does not give me his pen.

Question: How to identify an assertive sentence?

Answer

(a) An assertive sentence always starts with subject.

(b) And an assertive sentnece always ends with a full stop.

Types of Assertive Sentence

There are two types of Assertive Sentences; Affirmative Sentence and Negative Sentence.

(i) Affirmative Sentence

A simple statement that is positive is called Affirmative Sentence.

A affirmative assertion is an Affirmative Sentence.

Example

(a) This pen is blue.

(b) He is an intelligent boy.

(c) He is doing well

(d) One can cover a distance in less time using a bicycle.

(ii) Negative Sentence

Sentence which has a negative sense is called a Negative Sentence.

Sentence by which anything can be denied, is called a Negative Sentence.

Example

(a) I am not going to the school these days.

(b) He did not give his pen to me.

(c) She is not buying vegetables.

(d) He is not watching the cricket match.

(e) I will not go tomorrow.

In all sentences written here, using of word "no" shows denial, and hence are negative sentences.

How to Convert an Affirmative Sentence to a Negative Sentence

An affirmative sentence can be converted into a negative sentence using "not" in the sentence at suitable place.

Example

(a) He is a boy. (Affirmative Sentence)

He is not a boy. (Negative Sentence)

(b) She is reading a book. (Affirmative Sentence)

She is not reading a book. (Negative Sentence)

(c) I am playing a football. (Affirmative Sentence)

I am not playing a foot ball. (Negative Sentence)

(d) He reads. (Affirmative Sentence)

He does not read. (Negative Sentence)

(e) I read. (Affirmative Sentence)

I do not read. (Negative Sentence)

(f) We play cricket. (Affirmative Sentence)

We do not play cricket. (Negative Sentence)

(2) Interrogative Sentence

A sentence, which is used to ask a question, is called an Interrogative Sentence.

An Interrogative Sentence always ends with a question mark (?).

Example

(a) What is your name?

(b) How do you do?

(c) Where do you live?

(d) Which book did you read yesterday?

(e) In which country do you live?

(f) What is the colour of that dog?

(g) Do you need more water?

(h) Whose book is this?

(i) Is John your brother?

Question How to detect an interrogative sentence?

Answer: Sentences end with question mark, are interrogative sentence.

Or, sentences used to ask a question are termed as interrogative sentences.

(3) Imperative Sentence

Sentence which is used to give an instruction, advice, command, an offer or to make a request is called an Imperative Sentence.

Most of the Imperative sentence starts with principal verb. An imperative sentence ends with a full stop (.).

Example

(a) Get out of here. (Command)

(b) Do not play in the sun. (Instruction)

(c) Rely chiefly on your own effort. (Advice)

(d) Have a piece of fruit. (Offer)

(e) Come here. (Command or Instruction)

(f) Complete this work by tomorrow. (Command or Instruction)

(g) Please give me your pen. (request)

(h) Shut up. (Command)

(i) Go to the market. (Command)

(j) Keep silence please. (request)

(k) Feel free to share your problem. (Advice)

(l) Please give me some more days to complete the task.

(4) Optative Sentence

Sentence which is used to show wish or curse, is called Optative Sentence.

An optative sentence generally starts with "may or wish".

Example

(a) May God bless you with a son.

(b) May the king live long.

(c) Wish you a very happy marriage life.

(d) May our cricket team win the world cup.

(e) Wish you a happy journey.

(f) Best of luck.

(g) Go to hell.

(5) Exclamatory Sentence

Sentence used to show sudden or strong expression of happiness, sadness, joy or surprise, etc. is called Exclamatory Sentence.

An exclamatory sentence ends with a sign of exclamation (!), or have at least one sign of exclamation (!).

Example

(a) What is beautiful scene it is!

(b) Hurrah! We won the match.

(c) How lovely the day is!

(d) What a foolish fellow you have been!

(e) Alas! He died of cholera.

(f) Hush! You again failed in school examination.

(g) What a boaring evening it is!

(h) We won!

(i) Oh! It is a dog.