SENTENCES

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Different types of sentences are used in speaking and writing. A sentence is a

combination of words that convey a meaningful message which may be a statement,

question, command or just an idea. The basic parts of a sentence are subject and

predicate:

A subject of a sentence is a noun or pronoun that performs an action in a sentence.

A subject is also said to be a topic of the sentence.

Examples

i) I will meet you at the train station.

ii) The company had an excellent year.

iii) The report which John complied was presented to the board.

iv) The diameter of this section is more than sixteen feet.

A predicate refers to a sentence structure that shows an action or state taken or

received by a subject in the sentence. It normally comes after a subject in

sentences.

Examples

i) Nancy has been working here for over a year.

ii) Diet and longevity do not seem to be linked.

iii) Many novels were written by Chinua Achebe.

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 iv) The elders of the ruling party were not shocked at the election results.

A phrase and clause are also group of words but they differ from sentences and

from each other in the following ways:

Phrase: A group of words that lacks either a subject or a predicate or both. For

example, ‘While at home’ has neither a subject nor a predicate; and ‘Sunlight in my

study room’ has no predicate.

Clause: A group of words that have a subject and a predicate. They are of two types

which are as follows:

Dependent clause: A group of words which contains a subject and a verb but which

cannot stand alone. For example, ‘Although I am very honest’.

Independent clause: A group of words which have a subject and a verb and which

can stand alone. For example, ‘I am going to office next month.’

TYPES OF SENTENCES

Sentences are categorized basing on two factors namely:

a) Sentence types based on form

b) Sentence types based on function

A. SENTENCE TYPES BASED ON FORM

In this category there are three types of sentences used in speaking and writing:

simple, compound, and complex sentences.

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Simple sentence

Is a sentence that expresses a single complete thought that can stand on its own. A

simple sentence is also an independent clause. A simple sentence contains only one

complete subject and one complete predicate.

Examples

i) Regions in the desert are uninhabited.

ii) A good time was had by all of us.

iii) Frank ate his dinner quickly.

iv) Revenge is a kind of wild justice.

v) Peter and Anne visited the museum last Saturday.

Compound sentence

Is a sentence that expresses two or more thoughts of equal value. A compound

sentence has two or more independent clauses that are joined with conjunctions such

as; but, and, or, for, yet etc. Basically, a compound sentence consists of two or more

simple sentences.

Whenever a sentence expresses more than one thought or idea of equal value it

becomes a compound sentence.

Examples

i) She opened the bag and took out a book.

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 ii) The film ended and the audience went away.

iii) It started to rain so we went inside.

iv) The doctor examined the patient and cured him.

v) Michael wants to see Star Wars but his friends have already seen it.

Complex sentence

Refers to a sentence that expresses one independent thought with one or more

dependent thoughts. It is made up of an independent clause and one or more

dependent clauses joined by subordinators like; although, when, because, as, who,

that, which etc.

Basically, a complex sentence contains one independent idea with one or more

dependent ideas expressed in one or more dependent or subordinate clauses.

Examples

i) Although it was difficult, the class passed the test with excellent marks.

ii) I did not know what had happened when I was away.

iii) That is the man who bought the advertised house last week.

iv) John and I were watching the girl who had long hair.

v) My daughter who was late for class arrived shortly after the bell rang.

PRACTICE

Label each of the following sentences as simple, compound or complex.

i) The son went to play so the father started working.

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 ii) He lost his money but he did not lose his patience.

iii) Roses are beautiful flowers.

iv) We stopped by the roadside for lack of food.

v) The Sun rose and the sky got cleared.

vi) A deer can run very fast for it is very active and have nimble feet.

vii) The students solve the questions easily.

viii) This is the school where you have studied.

ix) I am sure that you will learn these sentences.

x) Nobody goes where demons live forever.

xi) The mother beat the child for his disobedience.

xii) I saw a man who was old and week.

B. SENTENCE TYPES BASED ON FUNCTION

There are four main types of sentences namely: declarative, exclamatory,

interrogative, and imperative; each with its own specific purpose.

Declarative sentences

A sentence that gives information. They are mostly used for sharing facts and

statements. In other words, they declare things and end with a period. Additionally,

declarative sentences can be negative or positive. Here are few examples:

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 i) The Earth moves round the Sun.

ii) The motion was defeated by a large majority.

iii) She was attracted to an open-air job.

iv) The country has changed drastically.

v) The Prime Minister postponed a press briefing last night.

Exclamatory sentences

Is a sentence that expresses strong feelings or excitement. When written, they

always end with an exclamation mark.

Examples

i) How well you look!

ii) How glad I am that you have won a scholarship!

iii) What a good friend you are!

iv) What a great memory he has!

v) How cold the night is!

Interrogative sentences

This refers to all sentences that express questions. Their end punctuation is a

question mark. Here are the few examples:

i) Where did you go yesterday?

ii) Do you have internet access at home?

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 iii) What do you want?

iv) Have they won a gold medal?

v) Where will you be going for your holiday?

Imperative sentences

These are sentences that give requests, demands, and share wish or invitation.

Basically, imperative sentences tell someone what to do. Their end punctuation is

either a period or an exclamation mark if a sentence expresses a strong feeling.

Note: Even if an imperative sentence ends with an exclamation mark, an imperative

sentence cannot be an exclamatory sentence simply because exclamatory sentences

do not express commands.

Examples

i) Open the door for me.

ii) Stop there!

iii) Don’t smoke in the room.

iv) Please post the letter.

v) You had better consult a physician.

PRACTICE

Identify whether each sentence below is declarative, interrogative, imperative or

exclamative.

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 i) Move right to the front of the bus.

ii) What have got to say for yourself?

iii) If it doesn’t rain, I will see you tonight.

iv) Go and try this new flavor.

v) Pass the bottle, please.

vi) They have bought a new house.

vii) How will they find their way to the station?

viii) Turn off the lights and fans when you leave the room.

ix) Clean the cupboard.

x) He does not fully understand their objections.

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