4 Main Types of sentences With Their Examples

Sentences play a crucial part in defining information. A single word is not as meaningful as a group of words, phrases that make a sentence.

Before you start writing, try to learn the main things regarding sentence types. Learn why to use a particular sentence over another? Also understand the best practices, use cases and all. There are four main types of a sentence and each has its own unique characteristics.

Senior content writers conclude that structuring a sentence is not just a matter of grammar, it also requires a proper style and flow. In this guide, you will learn:

• The importance of meaningful sentences
• 4 major types of sentences
• How these types enhance writing
• More relevant examples

Importance of understanding different types of sentences

It is imperative for a person to understand the main four types of sentences. The types help you find which sentence to use while writing. That way you can write better while improving readability and easierness.

Here are some key benefits why one should learn about these different sentence types:

• It helps writers understand their audience's point of interest. Writing simple sentences that are short in words creates strong sentences. 
• Use of complex sentences will help in explaining your ideas in more detail.
• It adds a variety that makes a text more interesting and less boring.
• Use of short and long sentences make your writing more informative.
• Use of various sentence patterns can also make your writing more creative. 

Besides this, you'll find new ways to express your words and develop your own unique style. It also enables you to write compound complex sentences in an easy way.

What are the four main types of sentences?

The four main types of sentences include:

Sentence type	Purpose	Punctuation mark	Example
Declarative	States a fact or opinion	Period (.)	The sun rises in the east.
Interrogative	Asks a question	Question Mark (?)	Where are you going?
Imperative	Gives a command	Period (.) or Exclamation Mark (!)	Close the door.
Exclamatory	Expresses strong emotion	Exclamation Mark (!)	What a beautiful day!

Now, you have a general idea about the types of sentences with examples, let’s start discussing each type individually.

Also read: Sentence Structure guide to enhance your skills to the next level.

1. Declarative sentences

Declarative sentences are best to start a communication in simple words. It starts with a subject like, koala snoozing on the treetops. A declarative sentence is a common type of a sentence that explains the information of anything in more clear words. It uses a neutral tone which is easy to understand for everyone. You can say that declarative sentences are simple sentences that end at full stop (.) and are easy to read.

For example, "Sam plays on the mat." 

In this sentence:

"Sam" is the subject

"plays" is the verb

"the mat" is the object

The rule for declarative sentence writing is:

Subject + Verb + Object

The declarative sentences are further divided into two types that are positive and negative.

Positive	Negative
The sun is shining.	The sun is not shining.
She loves avocados.	She doesn't love avocados.

When you want to write effectively, it's important to use a mix of positive and negative declarative sentences together.

Positive declarative sentences show affirmative statements. In the example, she loves avocados, and her love for avocados is the positive declarative sentence form.

Whereas, negative declarative sentences express denial or contradiction. For example, “She doesn’t love avocados” confirms her dislike for it.

So, the next time you write, remember to use declarative sentences more clearly.

2. Interrogative sentences

Are you ok? Please, bring a cup of coffee for me! The conversation that starts with a question is included in interrogative sentences. An interrogative sentence name suggests that it is for interrogation or asking questions. It is the second type of sentence to ask a question, to clarify things and get to know the answer. These types of sentences end with a question mark (?) and are differently written from declarative sentences.

The rule for interrogative sentences is:

Auxiliary verb + subject + main verb + object

Here the auxiliary verb is different from a simple verb. Such as, "do," "does," "did," "is," "are," "was," and "were") comes at the start of the sentence, followed by the subject, main verb, and object.

For example, "Did the girl play with dolls?"

In this sentence:

"did" is the auxiliary verb

"the girl" is the subject

"play" is the main verb

dolls" is the prepositional phrase acting as an adverbial

The interrogative sentences also has several types, such as:

Types	Examples
Yes/No questions	Did you finish your tea?
Wh- questions	Where did you go for your birthday party?
Tag questions	You liked mangoes, didn't you?
Choice questions	Would you prefer tea or coffee?

Here the Yes/No questions lead to a simple "yes" or "no" response, while Wh- questions require more detailed answers. 

Tag questions are used to confirm information, and choice questions offer a set of options.

3. Imperative sentences

Completing it as soon as possible! is a sentence that we most often hear in a workplace or even in academic settings. An imperative sentence is another type of a sentence. It tells someone to do something. Simply, it is like giving a command, instruction or making a request to do that thing.

Imperative sentences are short and end with a full stop or an exclamation mark (!). Sometimes, it is used to instruct forcefully and has a great intensity in it.

The writing rule for imperative sentences is:

Verb + object (optional)

This structure adds a clear and concise instruction in the sentence.

For example: "You did a really good job!"

In this sentence:

"did" is the verb

"really" is an adverb.

Some imperative sentences either end with a full stop (.) or an exclamation mark (!). It is further divided into two forms that depend on the intensity of the command. Such as:

Affirmative	Negative
Tie your shoes.	Don't tie your shoes!
Please help me carry this bag.	Do not touch that small bag!

When using imperative sentences, write in a good tone, aligning with the context of the situation.

In formal settings, you can use "please" before the command, because it softens the tone and shows respect. Whereas, use of an exclamation mark will clearly show that you are stating a serious sentence.

It becomes easier for you when you use an AI tool to rewrite your sentences. For example, sentence rewriter remake your sentences with more clarity and meaningful information.

Moreover, its advanced algorithms write sentences that are more simple, qualitative, and clear in terms of sentence structuring.

4. Exclamatory sentences

It is obvious to understand the clear meaning of sentences, but exclamation creates an urgency in the simple sentence. An exclamatory sentence expresses emotions and feelings.

For example, joy, excitement, fear, surprise, or anger are few emotional conditions. But they are used to convey feelings in a short sentence.

Exclamatory sentences end with an exclamation mark (!) that shows your emotions in a sentence.

The rule for exclamatory sentence is:

What / How + adjective / adverb + subject + verb

This structure is used to express strong feelings about the action or reaction of something.

For example, "What delicious pasta you made!"

In this sentence

"what" is the exclamatory word

"delicious" is the adjective

"pasta" is the subject

"you made" is the verb phrase.

Emotions	Example
Happiness	I won a gold medal!
Surprise	I can't believe it!
Anger	I'm so mad at you!
Fear	Help, there's a lizard in my room!

When using exclamatory sentences, it's crucial to use them appropriately.

Such as in the first example, “I won a gold medal!”, it is an emotion of happiness that you expressed at the moment. Otherwise, overusing exclamatory sentences can make your sentences complex.

Although the primary purpose of complex sentences is to combine dependent and independent clauses, it requires careful writing. Writing complex sentences is crucial and adds more value to your content.

Final words

Sentences are crucial in starting a conversation in a more effective way. In this article, we discussed 4 main types of sentences along with their examples. They are quite helpful in making your writing meaningful.

Once you learn each type and their characteristics to write a sentence, it becomes more understandable.

Therefore, start practicing these four types of sentences and make your writing more interesting!

Frequently asked questions

What is a hook in a sentence?

Hook sentences start with questions or quotations that attract the reader to continue reading.

What are the five elements of a sentence?

The five elements of a sentence are the subject, verb, object, complement, and adverbial.

What are the types of simple sentences?

The types of simple sentences are declarative, interrogative, imperative, and exclamatory.

How do you rewrite a sentence to make it better?

To improve a sentence, simplify the structure, use active voice, choose precise words, and eliminate unnecessary details.

Additional tools

• AI Paragraph Writer
• Paragraph Expander

Other sources

• Types of sentence for better understanding
• A Dictionary of Grammatical Terms in Linguistics