There are four main sentence functions in the English language: Declarative, interrogative, imperative, and exclamative.When we describe a sentence based on its function, we are talking about its purpose. If you want to identify the functions in a sentence, just ask yourself, 'What is the point of this sentence? What is it trying to…
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There are four main sentence functions in the English language:Declarative, interrogative, imperative, and exclamative.
When we describe a sentence based on its function, we are talking about its purpose. If you want to identify the functions in a sentence, just ask yourself, 'What is the point of this sentence? What is it trying to do?' This article will explore the definition and examples of sentence functions.
What is a Sentence Function?
What is a sentence function? (That's an interrogative sentence)
A sentence function is the purpose of a sentence. (That's a Declarative sentence)
How wonderful! (That's an exclamative sentence)
Read on to find out more. (And that's an imperative sentence)
Sentence functions are sometimes referred to as sentence types.
What are the four main sentence functions?
Now that we know what a sentence function is, let's delve a little deeper into the four main sentence functions.
First, take a look at the basic purpose of each sentence function.
Declarative sentence (makes a statement) E.g. It's warm in Thailand.
Interrogative sentence (asks a question) E.g. Where is Thailand?
Exclamative sentence (makes an exclamation) E.g. How beautiful is Thailand!
Imperative sentence (gives a command) E.g. Stop talking about Thailand!
Let's look at each sentence function in more detail, with examples of how a certain type function in a sentence appears.
Declarative
Declarative sentences are the most common of all sentence functions. We use declarative sentences to:
Make a statement.
Give an opinion.
Provide an explanation.
Give facts.
We use declarative sentences every day - in informal writing, formal writing, poetry, literature, daily speech, advertising - just about everywhere!
Let's take a look at some examples of declarative sentences.
I like singing.
I don't like singing.
It's cold because he forgot to put the heating on.
The capital of India is New Delhi.
Fig 1. Example of declarative sentence
Interrogative
Interrogative sentences are used to ask questions and typically require an answer. There are a few different types of interrogative sentences:
Interrogative sentences usually begin with a WH question word (who, what, where, when, why, and how) or an auxiliary Verb (are, do, can, may, etc.), and always end with a question mark (?).
Interrogatives that start with a subject are usually tag questions and are commonly used in colloquial speech. For example, 'Butterflies are insects, aren't they?', Or, more informally: 'Butterflies are insects, right?'
Let's take a look at some examples of interrogative sentences.
Where is the bathroom?
Have you seen the latest episode of The Crown?
You don't eat meat, do you?
Do you prefer tea or coffee?
Imperative
Imperative sentences are mainly used to give a command or make a demand and can be presented in several ways.
Giving instructions.
Offering advice.
Making a wish on behalf of someone else.
Extending an invitation.
Giving a command.
There is often no subject present when forming imperative sentences because the subject is assumed to be you, the reader, or the listener. Imperative sentences can end in either a full stop (.) or an exclamation mark (!), depending on the urgency of the command.
Here are some examples of imperative sentences:
Sit down!
Set the oven to 180 degrees.
Try the other door.
Have a nice day.
Please, take a seat.
Fig 2. Imperative sentence
Exclamative
Exclamative sentences are used to express strong feelings and opinions, such as surprise, excitement, and anger. Exclamative sentences must contain the words What or How and usually end with an exclamation mark (!).
Here are some examples of exclamative sentences:
'Lord, what fools these mortals be!' (William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream, 1605)
What a nice surprise!
Oh, how lovely!
Not all sentences that end with an exclamation mark are exclamative sentences. Sentences that do not contain the words What or How are simply different sentence functions driven by emotion and given an exclamation mark to highlight that emotion; we call these exclamations. Declarative sentences made with emotion and ending with exclamation marks are called exclamatory sentences.
Sentence functions and sentence structures, what's the difference?
What is the difference between a sentence function and a sentence structure? Sentences can be defined in two ways: by their purpose and by their structure. Be careful not to confuse sentence functions with sentence structures!
Sentence structures are how we form sentences, such as simple sentences, compound sentences, complex sentences, and compound-complex sentences.
Let's break down some sentences based on their function and their structure to highlight the differences.
'Before you come in, take off your shoes.'
Function = imperative sentence
This is an imperative sentence because its purpose is to give a command.
This is a Compound Sentence because it contains two independent clauses.
Sentence Functions - Key takeaways
Sentence functions describe the purpose of a sentence.
There are four main sentence functions: Declarative, Interrogative, Imperative, and Exclamative.
Sentence functions are sometimes referred to as sentence types.
Sentence functions are different from sentence structures.
Frequently Asked Questions about Sentence Functions
There are four different types of sentence according to function:
A declarative sentence (makes a statement)
An interrogative sentence (asks a question)
An imperative sentence (gives a command)
An exclamative sentence (makes an exclamation)
The function of a sentence says what the purpose of the sentence is. For example, the purpose of an imperative sentence is to give a command or make a demand.
'I like cheese.'
'Where did you put the cheese?'
'Step away from my cheese!'
'Wow, what a delicious cheese!'
Final Sentence Functions Quiz
Sentence Functions Quiz - Teste dein Wissen
Question
What are we describing when we talk about sentence functions?
Show answer
Answer
The structure of the sentence.
Show question
Question
What are the four main sentence functions?
Show answer
Answer
Declarative, interrogative, imperative, and exclamative.
Show question
Question
What is the main purpose of a declarative sentence?
Show answer
Answer
To make a statement.
Show question
Question
What is the main purpose of an imperative sentence?
Show answer
Answer
To give a command or demand.
Show question
Question
What is the main purpose of an interrogative sentence?
Show answer
Answer
To ask a question.
Show question
Question
What is the main purpose of an exclamative sentence?
Show answer
Answer
To make an exclamation, i.e. express emotion.
Show question
Question
What type of sentence function is the following sentence: 'Sit down, please.'
Show answer
Answer
Imperative sentence
Show question
Question
What type of sentence function is the following sentence: ‘What big teeth you have!’
Show answer
Answer
Exclamative sentence.
Show question
Question
What type of sentence function is the following sentence: ‘You don't have a pen, do you?’
Show answer
Answer
Interrogative sentence.
Show question
Question
What type of sentence function is the following sentence: ‘I need a holiday.’
Show answer
Answer
Declarative sentence.
Show question
Question
What is the main purpose of a declarative sentence?
Show answer
Answer
To make a statement.
Show question
Question
What punctuation do we end a declarative sentence with?
Show answer
Answer
A full stop.
Show question
Question
What are the two main types of declarative sentences?
Show answer
Answer
Simple and compound sentences.
Show question
Question
What are the two components of a declarative sentence?
Show answer
Answer
Subject and predicate.
Show question
Question
In a declarative sentence which component usually comes first, the subject or the predicate?
Show answer
Answer
The subject.
Show question
Question
Is a reported question and interrogative or a declarative sentence?
Show answer
Answer
A declarative sentence.
Show question
Question
The following sentence is a declarative, true or false?
'There's a cow in the garden!'
Show answer
Answer
True.
Show question
Question
The following sentence is a declarative, true or false?
'She asked me to get milk.'
Show answer
Answer
True.
Show question
Question
Which of the following is a compound declarative sentence?
A. She enjoys watching romcoms and thrillers.
B. Tina likes burgers; her husband likes hot dogs.
C. Do you prefer tea or coffee?
Show answer
Answer
B. Tina likes burgers; her husband likes hot dogs.
Show question
Question
There are both positive and negative declarative sentences, true or false?
Show answer
Answer
True.
Show question
Question
What is the main purpose of an interrogative sentence?
A. To give an instruction.
B. To give information.
C. To request information.
Show answer
Answer
B. To give information.
Show question
Question
Interrogatives typically begin with WH-question words and what type of verb?
Show answer
Answer
Auxiliary verbs.
Show question
Question
Tag questions are a form of interrogatives, true or false?
Show answer
Answer
True
Show question
Question
Rhetorical questions are a form of interrogatives, true or false?
Show answer
Answer
False.
Show question
Question
Interrogatives can come in positive and negative forms, true or false?
Show answer
Answer
True.
Show question
Question
Which of the following is not an interrogative?
A. You don't eat meat, do you?
B. She asked me to come for dinner.
C. Do you need a lift?
Show answer
Answer
B. She asked me to come for dinner.
Show question
Question
Which of the following is an interrogative?
A. She asked me about the show.
B. Where is the toilet?
C. Who wouldn't want to be a millionaire?
Show answer
Answer
B. Where is the toilet?
Show question
Question
What punctuation do we always use with an interrogative?
Show answer
Answer
A question mark.
Show question
Question
'Close the door please'
This sentence is an example of what?
A. Declarative.
B. Imperative.
C. Exclamative.
Show answer
Answer
B. Imperative.
Show question
Question
'What do you want for dinner?'
This sentence is an example of what?
A. Imperatives.
B.Exclamative.
C. Interrogatives.
Show answer
Answer
C. Interrogatives.
Show question
Question
'Would you like this with milk or without milk?'
What type of interrogative is this?
A. Yes / No interrogative.
B. Tag question.
C. Alternative interrogative.
Show answer
Answer
C. Alternative interrogative.
Show question
Question
'You don't want beans, do you?'
What type of interrogative is this?
A. WH-interrogative.
B. Tag question.
C. Alternative interrogative.
Show answer
Answer
B. Tag question.
Show question
Question
Do rhetorical questions require answers?
Show answer
Answer
No.
Show question
Question
How do you form a basic Yes / No interrogative?
A. auxiliary verb + subject + main verb
B. WH-question word + subject + main verb
C. auxiliary verb + main verb + subject
Show answer
Answer
A. auxiliary verb + subject + main verb
Show question
Question
What is the main function of an imperative?
Show answer
Answer
To give a command.
Show question
Question
Which two punctuation marks are used at the end of an imperative?
Show answer
Answer
Full stop or exclamation mark.
Show question
Question
The following sentence is an example of which type of imperative? 'Look out!'
Show answer
Answer
Warning.
Show question
Question
An imperative sentence is formed using which one of the following?
A. Pronoun
B. Base verb
C. Modal verb
Show answer
Answer
B. Base verb
Show question
Question
You are likely to find imperatives in a recipe book, true or false?
Show answer
Answer
True.
Show question
Question
Which of the following is an example of a wish imperative:
A. Join me for dinner tonight.
B. Watch out!
C. Enjoy your meal.
Show answer
Answer
C. Enjoy your meal.
Show question
Question
Which of the following is an example of advice imperative:
A. Have a nice day.
B. Try oat milk instead.
C. Wait here.
Show answer
Answer
B. Try oat milk instead.
Show question
Question
The following sentence is an imperative, true or false?
'She told me not to sit there.'
Show answer
Answer
False.
This is an example of reported speech.
Show question
Question
The following sentence is an imperative, true or false?
'Please open the door for me.'
Show answer
Answer
True.
This is a request.
Show question
Question
How can we make commands more polite?
Show answer
Answer
By using the words please or do.
Show question
Question
Why do we use exclamative sentences?
Show answer
Answer
We use exclusive sentences to express strong emotions and feelings or our opinions and assessments of a situation.
Show question
Question
Which two words must appear in an exclamative sentence?
Show answer
Answer
What and How
Show question
Question
What punctuation usually comes at the end of an exclamative sentence?
Show answer
Answer
An exclamation mark.
Show question
Question
What is the difference between an exclamation and an exclamative?
Show answer
Answer
Exclamations can be sounds, words, or sentences, whereas an exclamative sentence must contain the words What or How.
Show question
Question
What type of word often goes at the beginning of an exclamative sentence?
Show answer
Answer
An interjection.
Show question
Question
What type of word can follow How to form an elliptical exclamative?
Show answer
Answer
An adjective.
Show question
Test your knowledge with multiple choice flashcards
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