We have talked about different sentences such as 1)Declarative sentences (a statement), 2)Interrogative sentences (a question) and 3)Imperative sentences (a command). In addition we have 4)Exclamatory sentences (an exclamation). Below you will find examples of all four types and typical features of each.
1) Declarative
The weather is really nice today. I am going to see my cousin later this afternoon. Yesterday I went to watch a football match in Bergen.
The weather is really nice today. I am going to see my cousin later this afternoon. Yesterday I went to watch a football match in Bergen.
Typical features: the subject is placed before the verbal (Subject-Verbal-Object-Adverbial)
Semantically these sentences are used to convey information.
2) Interrogative
How are you today? Is he ill? Where were you last night? He is good looking, isn't he?
Typical features: The verbal is placed before the subject. (Verbal-subject-Object - Adverbial). Sentences can also start with an interrogative word (What - Where - How), or they can end with a question tag as in: He is good looking, isn't he?
Semantically Interrogatives express a lack of information and a request to know more.
3) Imperative
Don't bother about the car. Come here, please. Open the door, please. Close the window!
Typical features: Imperatives usually have no subject and often end with an exclamation mark (!) (V-O-A!)
Semantically Imperatives tell people to do or not to do something.
4) Exclamations
What funny stories you tell! What a lovely girl she is! How beautiful the snow is! How nice of him to help you!
Typical features: Exclamations start with what or how and the order of the Subject and Verbal is normal (What/How - O - S - V!)
Semantilcally Exclamations are used to express the speaker's feelings.
Compound sentences (sentences that are made up of several clauses)
Instead of writing short sentences that all include a subject and a verb we can coordinate them. Here is an example from Access to International English page 31: The leopard mother returned. She called her children. She received no answer. = The leopard mother returned, and she called her children, but received no answer. In this case we have used conjunctions and, but to coordinate several independent sentences. Coordinating sentences is typical for oral language.
However, there are other and more interesting ways to vary your language, especially when writing. Subordinating sentences is one way. In this case we make one sentence the main clause and the other the subordinate clause. When he heard the news, he ran to his neighbor.
Moreover, it is also possible to subordinate a clause using what we call non-finite clauses.
After hammering on her door, he realized she was out. In the first subordinated clause here there is neither a subject nor a finite verb, but we find the present participle (the ing form of the verb) hammering and we understand it relates to he (i.e. the subject in the main clause). Non-finite clauses like this make a text more interesting to read. You can use the -ed participle as well: Having been prepared for days, the party turned out a great success. However, it is crucial that the participle points to the subject in the main clause. In Access to International English page 91 you will find this example of a faulty non-finite sentence: Casually walking down the street, his eyes caught sight of a shiny coin.
Compound sentences (sentences that are made up of several clauses)
Instead of writing short sentences that all include a subject and a verb we can coordinate them. Here is an example from Access to International English page 31: The leopard mother returned. She called her children. She received no answer. = The leopard mother returned, and she called her children, but received no answer. In this case we have used conjunctions and, but to coordinate several independent sentences. Coordinating sentences is typical for oral language.
However, there are other and more interesting ways to vary your language, especially when writing. Subordinating sentences is one way. In this case we make one sentence the main clause and the other the subordinate clause. When he heard the news, he ran to his neighbor.
Moreover, it is also possible to subordinate a clause using what we call non-finite clauses.
After hammering on her door, he realized she was out. In the first subordinated clause here there is neither a subject nor a finite verb, but we find the present participle (the ing form of the verb) hammering and we understand it relates to he (i.e. the subject in the main clause). Non-finite clauses like this make a text more interesting to read. You can use the -ed participle as well: Having been prepared for days, the party turned out a great success. However, it is crucial that the participle points to the subject in the main clause. In Access to International English page 91 you will find this example of a faulty non-finite sentence: Casually walking down the street, his eyes caught sight of a shiny coin.
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