Types of Sentences

Sentences can be classified according to purpose or function, according to grammatical structure and
according to rhetorical structure. In this lesson, you will learn how your choice of function and structure
can affect the meaning want to convey.

According to Function or Purpose

1. Declarative Sentence. It is a sentence that declares or asserts a statement or a fact and ends
with a period.

Examples
A young woman wearing a red hat entered the door.
Honesty is the best policy.
The children got on their bikes and pedaled slowly.

2. Interrogative Sentence. This is a sentence that asks a question and ends with a question mark
(?)

Examples:
Why did you choose to enroll in this university?
How do you see yourself five years from now?
Can you help me with my luggage?
Are you running for honors?
When are you flying to New Zealand?

3. Imperative Sentence. It is a sentence that gives a command or makes a request. Usually, the
subject in the second person is unexpressed.

Examples:
You should join.
Help me finish this project.
Please pass the salt.
Get me a glass of water, please.
Run to the woods.

Take note that the second, third, fourth and fifth sentences do not have a subject written before the
predicate or verb. This does not mean that they are not sentences. For sure, you have learned in the
previous years that the pronoun you used as a subject in a sentence giving a command may be omitted.
Also, it is understood that the subject in an imperative sentence that is unexpressed is in the second
person.
 4. Exclamatory Sentence. It is a sentence that expresses a strong or sudden feeling or emotion and
ends with an exclamation point (!).
Examples:
What a beautiful morning!
Hurray, we won the game!
You stepped on my toe!
Oh my! No way!

According to Grammatical Structure or Syntax

1. Simple Sentence. This type has only one independent clause expressing a single complete
thought. Its subject and predicate may be single or compound or both.

Examples:

S.S. S.P.

The pedestrian crossed the street.

C.S. S.P.

Boys and girls joined the marathon.

S.S. C.P.

The pedestrian crossed the street and joined the marathon.

C.S. C.P.

The boys and girls crossed the street and joined the marathon.

Take note that in the first sentence. The pedestrian crossed the street, there is only one subject and one
predicate. In the second sentence, Boys and girls joined the marathon, a compound subject (meaning
not only one but two or more subjects) is used, but the predicate is simple. In the sentence, The
pedestrian crossed the street and joined the marathon, a simple subject and a compound predicate (two
or more predicates) are used. The last sentence, The boys and girls crossed the street and joined the
marathon made use of both compound subject and predicate.

2. Compound Sentence. This sentence contains two or more independent clauses (independent
which means that a clause has a subject and a predicate and can stand by itself joined by
coordinating conjunctions, e.g.and, or, but (with or without the comma), conjunctive adverbs,
e.g. therefore, thus, however, and separated by punctuations, eg. comma, semi-colon. Each
clause is related to each other but is independent of the other and can stand alone.
 Examples
Independent Clause Independent Clause
I have to attend her party, or my friend might not talk to me anymore.

Independent Clause Independent Clause

Dan will take a PAL flight; Janine will take a Cebu Pacific flight.

Independent Clause Independent Clause

The social worker offered help, but the woman refused to accept the offer.

Independent Clause Independent Clause

Marites studied her lessons well; therefore, she passed the examination.

Independent Clause Independent Clause

The food was good and the service was excellent.

Notice that all the clauses in the given sentences are related in idea but can stand alone. Some
clauses can be an addition or contrast of ideas, but they are related and are sentences by
themselves. In the first sentence, I have to attend her party or my friend might not talk to me
anymore, the first clause is related to the second clause but is not dependent on the other. This
means that each clause, I have to attend her party and My friend might not talk to me anymore
can stand alone as a sentence. Each expresses a complete idea on its own.

3. Complex Sentence. This sentence contains one independent clause and one or more
dependent or subordinate clauses. Being a clause, a dependent or subordinate clause has a
subject and a predicate. But unlike independent clauses, they cannot stand alone. Subordinating
conjunctions like although, though, if, whether, after, before, as soon as, etc., are used to signal
or begin a subordinate clause and may be used as a noun, an adjective or an adverb.

Examples

DC IC

If you drink, do not drive.

IC DC

The streets were flooded because it rained hard yesterday.

DC IC

When you see them, tell them the good news.

 IC DC DC

That tall, athletic man is the brother of my cousin who is standing by the door and who is wearing a
sports jacket.

DC IC

As soon as heard the news, I jumped for joy.

Take note of the italicized words in the examples given. All these words are subordinating conjunctions
that signal that a subordinating or dependent clause follows. These subordinating clauses have a subject
and predicate of their own, but cannot stand alone without the independent clauses. For example, in
the sentence, If you drink, do not drive, only the clause do not drive can stand even without the
dependent clause because it expresses a complete thought. If you drink depends on the independent
clause to express its idea

4. Compound-Complex Sentence. This sentence contains two or more independent clauses and
one or more dependent clauses.

Examples:

IC IC DC

Janine wants to go, but she has to catch a flight early this evening because she has to attend a
convention.

DC IC IC

If the flights to the Philippines will be cancelled because the weather is bad, Jess will have to rebook

IC

his ticket or he will have to meet his girlfriend in Hong Kong instead.

DC IC DC IC

If you drink, don't drive; if you drive, do not drink.

DC IC IC

Although Mr. Vargas enjoys watching TV late, he has to sleep early or he will miss his flight at 4am.

IC IC DC

The sense organs gather bits and pieces of information and the brain files them until they are
needed.
 Notice the conjunctions in boldface, and and or. These are coordinating conjunctions used to
connect independent clauses. The conjunctions in italics - because, if, although, and until are
subordinating conjunctions used to connect or signal that a dependent clause follows or that the
clause is dependent or subordinate to the independent clause. The sentences given contain two or
more independent clauses and one or more dependent or subordinating clauses.

According to Rhetorical Structure

1. Loose Sentence. This is a sentence which gives the main idea before the end of the sentence is
reached. The main idea is stated at the outset.

Main Idea Minor Idea

The missing jewelry was found after the investigators searched the place.

Main Idea Minor Idea

The hotel has expanded its business by adding a spa and a fitness gym.

Main Idea Minor Idea

The typhoon aged with wrath, blowing roofs of houses and uprooting trees.

2. Periodic Sentence. This is a sentence in which the principal clause is not completed before the
end of the sentence. The suspense is withheld and the main idea is revealed at the end.

Examples

Minor Idea Main Idea

After the investigators searched the place, the missing jewelry was found.

Minor Idea Main Idea

By adding a spa and a fitness gym, the hotel expanded its business.

Minor Idea Main Idea

Blowing roofs of houses and uprooting trees, the typhoon raged with wrath.

3. Balanced Sentence. This is a sentence in which the ideas are emphasized by parallel structure,
and in which similar or contrast between two ideas are emphasized.
Examples:

As a student, he is responsible, but as a sibling, he is not.

The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rocks the world.

Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country. (John F.
Kennedy)