A sentence has different functions.
Sentences are categorized by their purpose. They may be
declarative
interrogative
exclamatory or
imperative (command)
A declarative sentence makes a statement. It offers information.
An interrogative sentence asks a question. It seeks information.
An exclamatory sentence expresses an emotion, usually a strong emotion.
An imperative sentence gives a command. It tells someone to do something.
Statement (declarative)
The function of a statements is to describe, inform, deny, or explain. It ends with a period (.).
Examples:
- The couple huddles together in the cold weather, wrapped in a single blanket, shivering, but waiting eagerly for the bus to take them to the board meeting.
- The public board meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. in the county courthouse to discuss the change in regulations regarding the use of county equipment.
- Nobody would be allowed to use any form of county equipment, including pencils and paperclips, without express permission from a county commissioner who has served on the board for at least six months.
- The new regulation is intended to protect county property and save the taxpayer money.
- Only the future will determine its success.
Question (interrogative)
The function of a question is to ask something or to verify something. Questions end with a question mark (?).
Question words
Often they begin with question words (“who,” “what,” “when,” “where,” “why,” or “how”).
Examples:
- Who is allowed to attend the meeting?
- What time did you read that the meeting begins?
- When will they discuss the change in regulations?
- Where will the meeting take place?
- Why are they proposing this new regulation?
- How do they intend to enforce it?
Tag questions
Questions can also be statements with tag questions on the end, either negative or positive.
Negative tags follow positive sentences. Positive tags follow negative sentences.
Examples:
- This new regulation is a little extreme, isn’t it?
- Board meetings always begin at 7:00 pm, don’t they?
- They can’t do that, can they?
- They don’t really care about paper clips, do they?
- It will work, won’t it?
Reversed subject and verb
Questions can also be sentences with a question mark at the end and the word order of subject and verb reversed, often adding a helping verb.
Examples:
- Will the public board meeting begin at 7:00 pm?
- Does the new regulation include pencils and pens?
- Has the new regulation been approved yet?
- Can it be enforced?
- Will it work?
Surprise questions
Sometimes a question looks or sounds like a statement until the speaker’s voice rises at the end or the reader encounters the question mark.
Examples:
- This new regulation includes pencils and paper clips?
- Board meetings always begin a 7:00 p.m.?
- They can do that?
- Paper clips count?
Exclamation (exclamatory)
An exclamation mark at the end usually indicates heightened emotion.
Exclamation marks should be used sparingly in fiction, mostly in dialogue. They are not appropriate for non-fiction.
Examples:
- Ouch!
- He hit me!
- Don’t do that!
- I have told you a million times not to hit people!
- The sky is falling!
Interrobang/interrabang
If an exclamation appears to have a question of doubt, the interrobang (“?!” or “!?”) is gaining favor in occasional informal dialogue.
Most people will not expect to see an interrobang as they read.
- The county commissioners are instigating a new policy to protect pencils and paper clips?!
- The sky is falling?!
Command (imperative)
The function of a command is to issue an order, generally from someone with authority, anyone from your two-year-old child to a five-star general.
Occasionally, a command will be accompanied by “please.”
Examples:
- Tie my shoe!
- Take this message to the admiral.
- Hit a home run!
- Please bring me that book from the top shelf, the brown one with the bookmark.
Request by someone with authority
Some commands appear to be requests or suggestions, but the authority of the speaker denies the listener a choice.
Examples:
- I would like you to round up the cows in the north pasture before dark. (Employer)
- I want you to take this message to the captain. (Sargent)
- You really ought to read The Message by Eugene H. Peterson. (Minister/priest)
