types of sentences homework

• English Grammar
• Grammar Exercises
• Types Of Sentences Exercises

Types of Sentences Exercises

Sentences are of four main types – assertive/declarative , interrogative , imperative and exclamatory . Understanding how each type of sentence varies from the other and how to use them in different contexts is one of the essential steps in the English language learning process. Working out grammar exercises is one way to clearly learn the structure and use of the different sentence types .

Table of Contents

Exercise 1 – identify the type of sentence.

• Exercise 2 – Punctuate
• Frequently Asked Questions on Types of Sentences

Types of Sentence Exercises with Answers

Try out the following exercises. Once you are done, check the answers to find out if you have identified the sentence types correctly.

Read the following sentences and identify the type of sentence.

• Please shut the windows and doors.
• Do you like chocolate pastries?
• My name is Astrid Gracy.
• Where are you going?
• Such a beautiful place!
• Go and try this new flavour.
• Today is Monday.
• Please clean your cupboard today.
• Turn off all the lights and fans when you leave the room.
• May I come in?
• How would you like your coffee?
• I love reading storybooks.
• Never tell lies.
• The Earth revolves around the Sun.
• Alas! We lost the trophy.
• Hurray! We won the competition.
• Asia is the largest continent.
• Always respect your elders.
• Do you know where Peter lives?
• Get out of the classroom.

Answers for Exercise 1  

• Imperative Sentence
• Interrogative Sentence
• Declarative Sentence
• Exclamatory Sentence
• Assertive / Declarative Sentence

Exercise 2 – Punctuate 

Go through the following sentences and punctuate them appropriately.

• Wow, such a beautiful dress
• Do you want to go to the cafe
• Please bring me a cup of tea
• Simran is an intelligent girl
• Did you meet Mr Stephen Hawking
• Alas, my dog died
• The rainbow is so beautiful
• You should respect the views of others
• Captain America saved the little boy
• Please follow the traffic signals
• Can you tell me the time
• What a splendid match
• Emily Bronte wrote Wuthering Heights
• Do not run in the corridors
• Always help the poor

Answers for Exercise 2

1. Wow! Such a beautiful dress.

2. Do you want to go to the movies?

3. Please bring me a cup of tea.

4. Simran is an intelligent girl.

5. Did you meet Mr Stephen Hawking?

6. Alas! My dog died.

7. The rainbow is so beautiful.

8. You should respect the views of others.

9. Captain America saved the little boy.

10. Please follow the traffic signals.

11. Can you tell me the time?

12. What a splendid match!

13. Emily Bronte wrote Wuthering Heights.

14. Do not run in the corridors.

15. Always help the poor.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many types of sentences are there.

There are four types of sentences, i.e. Assertive/Declarative, Imperative, Exclamatory and Interrogative.

Are assertive and declarative sentences the same?

Yes, both assertive or declarative sentences are sentences that state facts, opinions or thoughts, and end with a full stop. For example, “Lotus is our national flower.”

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your Mobile number and Email id will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Request OTP on Voice Call

Post My Comment

• Share Share

Register with BYJU'S & Download Free PDFs

Register with byju's & watch live videos.

• Reading Comprehension Worksheets
• Inferences Worksheets
• Context Clues Worksheets
• Theme Worksheets
• Main Idea Worksheets
• Reading Games
• Summary Worksheets
• Online Tests
• Figurative Language Worksheets
• Short Stories with Questions
• Nonfiction Passages
• Genre Worksheets

BECOME A MEMBER!

Four types of sentences worksheet.

Looking for practice with the four types of sentences? Check out this worksheet! Students practice identifying declarative, imperative, exclamatory, and interrogative sentences. Then they explain how they know.

• Author's Purpose Worksheets
• Characterization Worksheets
• Conflict Worksheets
• Fact and Opinion Worksheets
• Figurative Language Activities
• Figurative Language Poems with Questions
• Genre Activities
• Irony Worksheets
• Making Predictions
• Mood Worksheets
• Nonfiction Passages and Functional Texts
• Parts of Speech Worksheets
• Poetic Devices
• Point of View Worksheets
• School Project Ideas
• Setting Worksheets
• Simile and Metaphor Worksheets
• Story Structure Worksheets
• Text Structure Worksheets
• Tone Worksheets
• ALL PAGES AND WORKSHEETS

3 Types of Sentences

Our 3 Types of Sentences lesson plan teaches students how to write better sentences using compound and complex sentences. Students also learn how to vary their sentence types within paragraphs.

Included with this lesson are some adjustments or additions that you can make if you’d like, found in the “Options for Lesson” section of the Classroom Procedure page. One of the optional additions to this lesson is  to expand the activity worksheet by planning a “Sentence Game” tournament. You can also add more words to the activity or have students write out each sentence that they create as a part of the “Sentence Game”.

Description

Additional information, what our 3 types of sentences lesson plan includes.

Lesson Objectives and Overview: 3 Types of Sentences helps students write better sentences, using compound and complex sentences when necessary, and teaches students to vary sentence structure when writing essays, stories, or other text. Students will practice identifying different types of sentences with an interactive game, played with a partner, in which they construct sentences to win points. They will also practice identifying sentence types on their own, practice their creative writing by constructing short stories using only one type of sentence at a time, practice inserting commas when needed, and identify conjunctions in a pre-written story. At the end of the lesson, students will be able to define, use, and contrast simple, compound, and complex sentences. This lesson is for students in 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, and 6th grade.

Classroom Procedure

Every lesson plan provides you with a classroom procedure page that outlines a step-by-step guide to follow. You do not have to follow the guide exactly. The guide helps you organize the lesson and details when to hand out worksheets. It also lists information in the orange box that you might find useful. You will find the lesson objectives, state standards, and number of class sessions the lesson should take to complete in this area. In addition, it describes the supplies you will need as well as what and how you need to prepare beforehand. For this lesson, the supplies you will need are the handouts and scissors. To prepare for this lesson ahead of time, you can find three sentences for the lesson opening, pair students for the activity, gather the supplies, and copy the handouts.

Options for Lesson

Included with this lesson is an “Options for Lesson” section that lists a number of suggestions for activities to add to the lesson or substitutions for the ones already in the lesson. The first suggestion is to expand the activity worksheet by planning a “Sentence Game” tournament. You can also add more words to the activity or have students write out each sentence that they create as a part of the “Sentence Game”. If you’d like the lesson to include a quiz, you could use the practice worksheet as one. You could also have students use some of their current reading material and identify the type of sentences used for additional practice. To expand the homework assignment or add another opportunity for practice, you could have students write short stories using only one type of sentence. A third of the class would write their stories only in simple sentences, a third in compound, and a third in complex. You could then have them exchange stories with each other and have them rewrite each other’s stories using a different kind of sentence. They could even vote on the best story at the end!

Teacher Notes

The teacher notes page includes a paragraph with additional guidelines and things to think about as you begin to plan your lesson. It notes that while students will have read and used complex and compound sentences already, they likely do not know how to define or identify them. Learning how to do that will help students become better writers. This page also includes lines that you can use to add your own notes as you’re preparing for this lesson.

3 TYPES OF SENTENCES LESSON PLAN CONTENT PAGES

What is a sentence.

The 3 Types of Sentences lesson plan includes four content pages. The lesson begins with a definition of a sentence. A sentence is a set of words, which usually includes a subject and a predicate (verb), and expresses a statement, question, exclamation, or command. Everyone speaks, writes, and reads different kinds of sentences. You likely use different kinds of sentences for different things. For example, if you are texting someone, you’re likely using short and simple sentences, while the sentences you use to speak to your friends in person are longer and more complex. Different kinds of writing and speaking require different kinds of sentences, but you still have to make sure you’re using proper punctuation and grammar rules. Writers who use different types of sentences produce more interesting pieces of writing. The three main types of sentences are simple, compound, and complex.

Simple Sentences

Students will then learn about simple sentences, which includes a subject, verb, and a completed thought. We use them most often when texting or talking to other people, but we use them everywhere! Simple sentences tend to be short, but can also include compound subjects and verbs, prepositional phrases, and more. Using too many simple sentences in your writing can be confusing for the reader, as it will not flow smoothly. We also call simple sentences independent clauses, especially when they’re used as one part of a compound or complex sentence. Sentences that are independent clauses can stand on their own. The lesson then includes some helpful examples of basic simple sentences with compound subjects, verbs, or other elements. For example, the simple sentence “Noah ran home” can become “Noah and Elizabeth walked and ran home from school yesterday,” when some additional elements, like a compound subject, are added.

Compound Sentences

The next section of this lesson discusses compound sentences, which are made up of two independent clauses. We connect compound sentences using coordinating conjunctions. The list of coordinating conjunctions includes the following seven words: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so. Students can use the helpful mnemonic “FANBOYS” to remember them. Like simple sentences, using too many compound sentences on their own does not make for good writing. While compound sentences are useful, using too many can get confusing for a reader. The lesson then includes some examples of compound sentences that use coordinating conjunctions. One example is “Noah ran home from school today, but he will ride his bike to school tomorrow,” which uses the coordinating conjunction “but.” In all of the examples, if you remove the coordinating conjunction, you would create two separate sentences.

Complex Sentences

Finally, students will learn about complex sentences. These are made up of an independent clause and one or more dependent clauses. Dependent clauses, unlike independent ones, cannot stand alone. They depend on the independent clauses to create a complex sentence. Complex sentences can include multiple dependent clauses. Dependent clauses begin with subordinating conjunctions. Some common subordinating conjunctions include: after, although, as, because, before, since, though, until, and while. Complex sentences contain more information than simple or compound sentences, and can illustrate relationships between different parts of a sentence more clearly. Some subordinating conjunctions are useful for putting events in order, such as “after” and “before.”

If you use a dependent clause at the beginning of a sentence, you have to use a comma to separate clauses. However, you shouldn’t use a comma if the independent clause comes first. The lesson includes examples to illustrate both of these scenarios. It also includes examples of complex sentences that use subordinating conjunctions, with the correct comma placement. The lesson concludes with an example of a sentence that combines the three types of sentences. When combining the different types, it’s very important to make sure to use the right punctuation and to make sure to write as clearly as possible. Finally, the lesson reminds students that there are three main types of sentences (simple, compound, and complex) and that it’s important to use all of them when writing. Using various types of sentences makes your writing more interesting and easier to read!

Here is a list of the vocabulary words students will learn in this lesson plan:

• Sentence: a set of words, which usually includes a subject and a predicate (verb), and expresses a statement, question, exclamation, or command
• Simple sentence: includes a subject, verb, and a completed thought
• Independent clause: another term for a simple sentence, especially when it is part of a compound or complex sentence
• Compound sentence: a sentence made up of two independent clauses
• Coordinating conjunction: words used to connect the two parts of a compound sentence
• Complex sentence: a sentence made up of an independent clause and one or more dependent clauses
• Dependent clause: clauses that cannot stand alone, but must be connected to an independent clause
• Subordinating conjunctions: words used to begin dependent clauses

3 TYPES OF SENTENCES LESSON PLAN WORKSHEETS

The 3 Types of Sentences lesson plan includes three worksheets: an activity worksheet, a practice worksheet, and a homework assignment. You can refer to the guide on the classroom procedure page to determine when to hand out each worksheet.

SENTENCE GAME ACTIVITY WORKSHEET

Students will work in pairs for this activity worksheet. They will be opponents for a fun Sentence Game. First, they will cut apart the words on the accompanying page, fold them, and mix them together. They will then take turns choosing one word at a time. If they choose an orange word, they must use the word in a simple sentence, worth one point. If they choose a blue word, they must use it in a compound sentence, worth two points. Finally, if they choose a green word, they must use it in a complex sentence, worth three points. They must say the sentence out loud and correctly to earn the points. Whoever has the most points at the end of the game wins!

You can also have students work in larger teams for this activity if you’d prefer.

3 TYPES OF SENTENCES PRACTICE WORKSHEET

For the practice worksheet, students will complete two exercises. The first exercise has students determine if each sentence is simple, compound, or complex. They must also circle any conjunctions in the sentences. The second exercise has students read three paragraphs and add commas in the appropriate places. They must also circle the conjunctions. Both of these exercises test students’ understanding of the lesson material.

SHORT STORY HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT

The homework assignment asks students to write three different versions of a short story that they come up with. The story can’t change from one version to the next. Students can only use the type of sentences that are designated for each version. Students must write the first version using only simple sentences. They must write the second version using only compound sentences, and the third version using only complex sentences.

Worksheet Answer Keys

This lesson plan includes an answer key for the practice worksheet. No answer keys are provided for the activity worksheet or the homework assignment, as students’ answers will vary.  If you choose to administer the lesson pages to your students via PDF, you will need to save a new file that omits these pages. Otherwise, you can simply print out the applicable pages and keep these as reference for yourself when grading assignments.

Thank you for submitting a review!

Your input is very much appreciated. Share it with your friends so they can enjoy it too!

I am never disappointed with the lessons plan here

This is my go to place for lessons and additional resources. My students really like the word building activity in the back and the homework was sufficient practice. I never write reviews but I hope this review encourages you to buy a subscription as I understand the need for direct and quality resources but with limited time websites like education.com can take a lot of time for find the right items.

Great Lesson

I had very little prep and the kids were engaged in the lesson.

Handy and useful

A great project run for learning and teaching. Thank you

Lessons were quite detailed and explicit. Activities were varied. Thank you

This website is amazing for homeschoolers!

Related products

Careers: Game Designer

Careers: Archaeologist

All about Africa

Careers: Web Developer

Make your life easier with our lesson plans, stay up-to-date with new lessons.

• Lesson Plans
• For Teachers

© 2024 Learn Bright. All rights reserved. Terms and Conditions. Privacy Policy.

• Sign Up for Free

• Walden University
• Faculty Portal

Grammar: Sentence Structure and Types of Sentences

Definitions and examples of basic sentence elements.

The Mastering the Mechanics webinar series also describes required sentence elements and varying sentence types. Please see these archived webinars for more information.

Key: Yellow, bold = subject; green underline = verb, blue, italics = object, pink, regular font = prepositional phrase

Independent clause : An independent clause can stand alone as a sentence. It contains a subject and a verb and is a complete idea.

• I like spaghetti .
• He reads many books .

Dependent clause : A dependent clause is not a complete sentence. It must be attached to an independent clause to become complete. This is also known as a subordinate clause.

• Although I like spaghetti,…
• Because he reads many books,…

Subject : A person, animal, place, thing, or concept that does an action. Determine the subject in a sentence by asking the question “Who or what?”

• I like spaghetti.
• He reads many books.

Verb : Expresses what the person, animal, place, thing, or concept does. Determine the verb in a sentence by asking the question “What was the action or what happened?”

• The movie is good. (The be verb is also sometimes referred to as a copula or a linking verb. It links the subject, in this case "the movie," to the complement or the predicate of the sentence, in this case, "good.")

Object : A person, animal, place, thing, or concept that receives the action. Determine the object in a sentence by asking the question “The subject did what?” or “To whom?/For whom?”

Prepositional Phrase : A phrase that begins with a preposition (i.e., in, at for, behind, until, after, of, during) and modifies a word in the sentence. A prepositional phrase answers one of many questions. Here are a few examples: “Where? When? In what way?”

• I like spaghetti for dinner .
• He reads many books in the library .

English Sentence Structure

The following statements are true about sentences in English:

• H e obtained his degree.
• He obtained his degree .
• Smith he obtained his degree.
• He obtained his degree.
• He (subject) obtained (verb) his degree (object).

Simple Sentences

A simple sentence contains a subject and a verb, and it may also have an object and modifiers. However, it contains only one independent clause.

Key: Yellow, bold = subject; green underline = verb, blue, italics = object, pink, regular font =prepositional phrase

Here are a few examples:

• She wrote .
• She completed her literature review .
• He organized his sources by theme .
• They studied APA rules for many hours .

Compound Sentences

A compound sentence contains at least two independent clauses.  These two independent clauses can be combined with a comma and a coordinating conjunction or with a semicolon .

Key: independent clause = yellow, bold ; comma  or semicolon = pink, regular font ; coordinating conjunction = green, underlined

• She completed her literature review , and she created her reference list .
• He organized his sources by theme ; then, he updated his reference list .
• They studied APA rules for many hours , but they realized there was still much to learn .

Using some compound sentences in writing allows for more sentence variety .

Complex Sentences

A complex sentence contains at least one independent clause and at least one dependent clause. Dependent clauses can refer to the subject (who, which) the sequence/time (since, while), or the causal elements (because, if) of the independent clause.

If a sentence begins with a dependent clause, note the comma after this clause. If, on the other hand, the sentence begins with an independent clause, there is not a comma separating the two clauses.

Key: independent clause = yellow, bold ; comma = pink, regular font ; dependent clause = blue, italics

• Note the comma in this sentence because it begins with a dependent clause.
• Note that there is no comma in this sentence because it begins with an independent clause.
• Using some complex sentences in writing allows for more sentence variety .

Compound-Complex Sentences

Sentence types can also be combined. A compound-complex sentence contains at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.

Key: independent clause = yellow, bold ; comma  or semicolon = pink, regular font ; coordinating conjunction = green, underlined ; dependent clause = blue, italics

• She completed her literature review , but she still needs to work on her methods section even though she finished her methods course last semester .
• Although he organized his sources by theme , he decided to arrange them chronologically , and he carefully followed the MEAL plan for organization . 
• With pizza and soda at hand , they studied APA rules for many hours , and they decided that writing in APA made sense because it was clear, concise, and objective .
• Using some complex-compound sentences in writing allows for more sentence variety .
• Pay close attention to comma usage in complex-compound sentences so that the reader is easily able to follow the intended meaning.

Sentence Structure Video Playlist

Note that these videos were created while APA 6 was the style guide edition in use. There may be some examples of writing that have not been updated to APA 7 guidelines.

• Structuring Sentences: Types of Sentences (video transcript)
• Structuring Sentences: Simple Sentences (video transcript)
• Structuring Sentences: Compound Sentences (video transcript)
• Structuring Sentences: Complex Sentences (video transcript)
• Structuring Sentences: Combining Sentences (video transcript)
• Common Error: Unclear Subjects (video transcript)
• Mastering the Mechanics: Punctuation as Symbols (video transcript)
• Mastering the Mechanics: Commas (video transcript)
• Mastering the Mechanics: Periods (video transcript)
• Mastering the Mechanics: Semicolons (video transcript)

Related Resources

Knowledge Check: Sentence Structure and Types of Sentences

Didn't find what you need? Email us at [email protected] .

• Previous Page: Main Parts of Speech
• Next Page: Run-On Sentences and Sentence Fragments
• Office of Student Disability Services

Walden Resources

Departments.

• Academic Residencies
• Academic Skills
• Career Planning and Development
• Customer Care Team
• Field Experience
• Military Services
• Student Success Advising
• Writing Skills

Centers and Offices

• Center for Social Change
• Office of Academic Support and Instructional Services
• Office of Degree Acceleration
• Office of Research and Doctoral Services
• Office of Student Affairs

Student Resources

• Doctoral Writing Assessment
• Form & Style Review
• Quick Answers
• ScholarWorks
• SKIL Courses and Workshops
• Walden Bookstore
• Walden Catalog & Student Handbook
• Student Safety/Title IX
• Legal & Consumer Information
• Website Terms and Conditions
• Cookie Policy
• Accessibility
• Accreditation
• State Authorization
• Net Price Calculator
• Contact Walden

Walden University is a member of Adtalem Global Education, Inc. www.adtalem.com Walden University is certified to operate by SCHEV © 2024 Walden University LLC. All rights reserved.

Types of Sentences

Written by tutor nevin b..

There are four types of sentences that are used in writing – declarative, exclamatory, imperative and interrogative. Each type is used in a specific situation and each has its own punctuation mark.

Declarative

Declarative sentences make a statement and they are punctuated by a period. Some examples include:

I went to the store yesterday. The brown dog jumped over the fence. Ms. Jones wore a red shirt.

Exclamatory

Exclamatory sentences contain a strong emotion and end with an exclamation mark. Some examples include:

I love you so much! I am excited to watch this movie! It’s a great day!

Imperative sentences make a command or request. They typically end with a period, but sometimes end with an exclamation mark. Some examples include:

Take out the trash. Please be quiet. Give me your wallet!

Interrogative

Interrogative sentences ask a question and they end with a question mark. Some examples include:

Where did you go yesterday? What is the capital of Maine? Did you finish your homework?

In verbal English, we use the four types of sentences frequently. It is just as important to include different types in your writing. Let’s take a look at an example of a paragraph that only uses declarative sentences.

Last week my family and I went to the amusement park. We had a lot of fun. We went on many rides including the roller coaster and Ferris wheel. I was scared to go on the roller coaster at first but I’m sure glad I went on it. At the end of the day, I was happy but ready to go home.

Now let’s take a look at a similar paragraph that utilizes all four types of sentences.

Last week my family and I went to the amusement park. It was a blast! Have you been on a roller coaster before? It was my first time and I loved it. I was scared at first but I told myself, “Just do it!” and I’m sure glad I did. I had a great day with my family but by the end of the day I was tired and ready to go home. Now tell me about a fun time you’ve experienced!

As you may notice, using different types of sentences makes the paragraph more engaging and entertaining.

Types of Sentences Practice Quiz

Answer the following questions to test your knowledge on types of sentences!

Choose the sentence that has correct punctuation:

This is an interrogative sentence, which means it ends with a question mark.

This is an imperative sentence, because it is a request. Therefore, it should end with a period.

This is a declarative sentence, because it states a fact. Therefore, it should end with a period.

This is an exclamatory sentence, because it expresses an enthusiastically strong emotion. Therefore, it should end with an exclamation point.

• K9 Math tutor. Better to speak Chinese
• How can I change finidng tutor and schedulling to my time zone?
• English Grammar
• I do not understand verb patterns very well but I tried to answer these, are they right?

Sentence Types: Simple, Compound, Complex, and Compound-Complex

• Heather Marie Kosur
• Categories : Help with english grammar & vocabulary
• Tags : Homework help & study guides

Simple Sentences

The first sentence structure in English is the simple sentence. Simple sentences consist of one verb clause. A verb clause is an independent clause that is formed by a subject and a predicate. Verb clauses are also referred to as main clauses or matrix clauses. For example, the following sentences are simple sentences:

• Subject | Predicate
• The dancer | sat on the pie.
• The flower and the pumpkin | have blown away.
• That Max likes cucumbers | surprises his mother.
• Dancing | is my favorite exercise.

Compound Sentences

The second sentence structure in English is the compound sentence. Compound sentences consist of two or more verb clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction or a correlating and coordinating conjunction pair. For example, the following sentences are compound sentences:

• Correlating Conjunction | Verb Clause | Coordinating Conjunction | Verb Clause
• Ø | Jack Sprat did not eat fat, | and | his wife would not eat lean.
• Ø | The storm destroyed our squash, | so we ate eggplant instead.
• Both | the shed fell down | and | the garage blew up.
• Either | you need to study harder | or | you need to drop the class.

Complex Sentences

The third sentence structure in English is the complex sentence. Complex sentences consist of one verb clause and one or more adverb clauses. An adverb clause is a dependent clause that is formed by a subordinating conjunction followed by a clause. The adverb clauses may either precede or follow the verb clause. For example, the following sentences are complex sentences:

Adverb Clause | Verb Clause

Because of the rain, | the museum cancelled the picnic.

Although she studied all weekend, | she still failed the test.

Verb Clause | Adverb Clause

I will join you for lunch | after I wash my hands.

Linus will be sad | if he misses the Great Pumpkin again.

Adverb Clause | Verb Clause | Adverb Clause

Even though he enjoyed the movie, | he will not buy the DVD | because he only watches films once.

After she left work, | the woman stopped at the store | before she went home.

Compound-Complex Sentences

The fourth sentence structure in English is the compound-complex sentence. Compound-complex sentences consist of two or more verb clauses and one or more adverb clauses. In other words, compound-complex sentences are combinations of one or more compound sentences and one or more complex sentences. For example, the following sentences are compound-complex sentences:

Verb Clause | Adverb Clause | Conjunction | Verb Clause

He went to the market | because he needed more milk, | and | then he made pudding.

Adverb Clause | Verb Clause | Conjunction | Verb Clause

Unless the coffee is hot, | I will not drink it, | so | please put on a fresh pot.

Verb Clause | Adverb Clause | Conjunction | Verb Clause | Adverb Clause

I went to the bathroom | before I sat down, | but | my husband visited the facilities | after he watched the movie.

Printable Download

For a printable reference study sheet of the sentence types in English, please download the supplement to this article English Sentence Structure: The Four Types of Sentences in English .

Four Kinds of sentences

Loading ad...

Cynthia Smith

Identifying four kinds of sentences.

• Google Classroom
• Microsoft Teams
• Download PDF

No products in the cart.

• September 1, 2020
• By Homework Help Global

Types of Sentences in the English Language: A Guide to Grammar and Syntax

Whether you’re learning the English language or you want to sharpen your writing skills to produce A+ assignments for your classes, you’ll want to brush up on your grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure skills. If you don’t know how to form a proper sentence or use the right grammar conventions, you may send the wrong message or end up miscommunicating the meaning of what you’re saying.

Ready to learn all about the different types of sentences to help make your writing amazing and blow your professor’s mind? Let’s get started.

Why Sentence Types Matter

Wondering why should you care about sentence types? The more you learn about grammar and proper syntax, the stronger your writing will be. Sentences and grammar are the foundation for proper communication in English. Anywhere you go, you’ll need to be able to form sentences in order to talk to people, write assignments, look for jobs or write cover letters, and generally hold down conversations.

The more types of sentences you learn and practice, the better your writing will become because you can use varied sentences and keep things more interesting. In turn, this helps you build clear and strong communication, whether you’re writing an email or a term paper.

How to Build a Sentence

There are four main types of sentences in the English language. But before we get to that, let’s talk about the construction of a sentence.

Every complete sentence needs two things: the subject and the verb. The verb is the action being performed, and the subject is the person, place, or object performing the action. Usually, the subject is a noun, pronoun, or proper noun.

Here is a very basic example sentence: Jane loves to read books. In this sentence, “Jane” is the subject and “read” is the verb. Jane is the person performing the action, which is reading (the verb). Therefore, this is a complete sentence.

Now, here is an example of an incomplete sentence: Because she reads books. This sentence contains a verb, but it’s missing a subject. Without the subject, we don’t know who reads books and do not have the full context to understand what’s happening.

Incomplete sentences often come up in casual conversations, as most people don’t take the time to speak in full, proper sentences when they are in a deep conversation or telling a story. Therefore, it can be confusing to understand the difference when you’re learning the English language.

Independent and Dependent Clauses

Complete and incomplete sentences are also referred to as independent and dependent clauses.

The independent clause: A complete sentence that can stand on its own and communicates a clear thought. You can spot an independent clause easily by identifying the subject and the verb, or if you aren’t left with any questions.

Here are some examples of independent clauses:

● John was studying for his science test in the coffee shop.

● I forgot it was going to rain today and didn’t pack an umbrella.

● Mike has a meeting this afternoon.

● The grocery store closes at 9 p.m. today.

● Juan has decided to learn English.

● Tom is moving to England next year.

The dependent clause: An incomplete sentence that cannot stand on its own and does not communicate a clear, complete thought. Usually, you can spot a dependent clause because it likely has a transition word or a conjunction at the beginning or end, or leaves you wondering something. Don’t be fooled if your dependent clause contains a subject and a verb – it still has to express a complete thought to count as a full sentence.

Here are some examples of dependent clauses:

● When John was studying for his science test…

● Because I forgot we had an exam today…

● Although she wanted something new…

● As the lights went out…

● Before your dinner gets cold…

● When your father gets home…

Each of these sentences doesn’t express a complete thought and leaves the reader confused. What happened when John was studying for his science test? You forgot you had an exam, so what happened next? Make sure you’re always filling in those gaps through proper, complete sentences – especially in your academic writing.

Independent and dependent clauses are often put together in more cohesive sentences using punctuation such as commas, colons, or semicolons. When they are blended together, they are classified as complex sentences.

Simple, Compound, and Complex Sentences

Before we go into the core types of sentences, it’s important to learn how sentences are classified. The classification of a sentence is formed based on the number of independent and dependent clauses it contains.

In more complex sentences, you should separate dependent and independent clauses within a sentence with a semicolon or colon. If you’re adding a conjunction or transition word, you can use a comma. For more on the right punctuation to use, check out this guide from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill .

Simple Sentences: A simple sentence is a sentence that contains one independent clause and no dependent clauses. Here are some examples:

● Mary takes her dog to the dog park after work.

● Mike loves to watch horror movies.

● My teacher told our class about World War II.

● Macbeth was written by William Shakespeare.

● I want to have pizza for dinner.

Compound Sentences: A compound sentence is a sentence that contains more than one independent clause, but no dependent clauses. Here are some examples:

● Mary likes to take her dog to the dog park after work; she likes to take in some fresh air after a long day at the office.

● She collected all of her sources for her paper; then, she added them to her bibliography.

● I am very sick; I don’t think I’m going to go to work today.

● They ran out of ice cream, but no one had any money to buy more snacks.

● I would have tipped the delivery driver more, but I’m angry it took so long for the food to arrive.

Complex Sentences: A complex sentence is a sentence that contains one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses. Here are some examples:

● I forgot it was going to rain today, so I didn’t bring an umbrella.

● Jenna applied to four different universities, but hopes to attend the University of Toronto.

● Because she forgot to study for the exam, she didn’t get the mark she had been hoping for.

● Although she wanted something new, Hilary decided to buy from the secondhand store to save money.

● Whenever the coffee shop raises their prices, customers don’t spend as much money.

Complex-Compound Sentences: A combination of the two, complex-compound sentences contain more than one independent clause and at least one dependent clause. Here are some examples:

● I forgot it was going to rain today, so I didn’t bring an umbrella; I ended up getting stuck in the rain.

● We got to the movies early, and so we were able to get the best seats; sitting in the middle row makes the whole experience better.

● Though she normally likes to watch horror movies, Mary rented the latest romantic comedy, and was surprised she liked it as much as she did.

● I decided to study abroad next semester, but I need to figure out where to go; there are so many places out there to explore.

● Despite the fact that my father is tall, and his parents are tall, my brother and I are both short.

The Four Types of Sentences

The four types of sentences are declarative sentences, imperative sentences, interrogative sentences, and exclamatory sentences. Each of these sentence types is used for a specific purpose.

We’ll go into more detail below, but here’s a quick summary of what each of the sentence types are used for:

● Declarative Sentences: Used to make statements or relay information.

● Imperative Sentences: Used to make a command or a direct instruction.

● Interrogative Sentences: Used to ask a question.

● Exclamatory Sentences: Used to express a strong emotion.

Remember, while each of these types of sentences have different purposes and meanings, every complete sentence should always have a subject and predicate, or a noun and a verb. Sometimes incomplete sentences are acceptable in casual conversations or everyday communication, but in your academic writing you should always focus on complete sentences.

1. Declarative Sentences

A declarative sentence is used to provide information about something or make statements and almost always ends in a period. It’s the most basic sentence type that you can use, and can be as simple or complex as necessary to get the point across. You will likely rely on declarative sentences for the majority of your academic writing as they are used to communicate facts, statements, and evidence.

Here are some examples of declarative sentences:

● Mary walked home from school today.

● Leonardo DaVinci was born on April 15, 1452.

● I want to have lasagna for dinner, but I don’t know how to make it myself.

● European settlers came to the Americas in search of new land where they could find more wealth and power.

● In order to reduce the number of people living in poverty, the government should introduce stronger social security programs.

● My mom called me home because my dinner was getting cold.

● The coffee shop isn’t open on Sundays.

● John works Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

● Michael picked out three roses to give to his girlfriend.

● Evidence suggests that the majority of people in New York City use the subway.

2. Imperative Sentences

An imperative sentence is used to make a command, and ends in either a period or an exclamation mark. Essentially, instead of conveying information, an imperative sentence tells someone to do something. It doesn’t always have to be a strong command. Sometimes it can be used to give someone advice, instruct someone on how to do something, or simply address someone. Most of the time, these types of sentences are used in casual conversation or dialogue within fictional or creative writing. You generally won’t use them in academic writing unless you’re quoting dialogue.

When using imperative sentences, you don’t always need to include a subject because most of the time the sentence is being said directly to the subject. However, you can certainly include a subject when addressing someone.

Here are some examples of imperative sentences:

● Please go and wash up before dinner.

● Michael, I hate it when you make me watch boring documentaries.

● Take the next exit on your right.

● Don’t leave the door open or the cat might get out.

● Ask your mother for permission to come on the school trip next week.

● Help me take out the trash.

● Bring your notebook to class next week.

● Tell mom that I won’t be home for dinner.

● Please turn down the music.

● When you’re at the beach, make sure you pin down your towel so it doesn’t blow away.

3. Interrogative Sentences

Interrogative sentences ask questions, and are usually directly spoken or written to the subject. They always end in a question mark. Often, interrogative sentences begin with who, what, where, when, why, how, or do. Like imperative sentences, they don’t always need to include a subject because they are directly spoken to someone, and for this reason they are not always presented as complete sentences.

Here are some examples of interrogative sentences:

● Whose shirt is on the bathroom floor?

● What time does the concert start?

● Did Leo show up at the party last night?

● Where were you when the crime was committed?

● Does Laura know that her car has a scratch on the side?

● How did John get to school this morning?

● Which train should I take to get to Toronto?

● What time will you be leaving tomorrow morning?

● Did you put away your clothes like I asked you to?

● How could we solve the problem of homelessness in Los Angeles?

4. Exclamatory Sentences

An exclamatory sentence is used to convey a strong emotion and most often ends with an exclamation mark. Just like a declarative sentence, an exclamatory sentence makes a statement about something, but with a stronger impression.

Exclamatory sentences are used more often in casual conversation, but occasionally they can find their way into formal writing depending on the specific situation. For example, if you’re writing an essay about a certain book and want to quote the dialogue, you may need to use an exclamatory sentence for evidence. However, for most academic writing, such as an analytical essay or a research paper , they should be avoided.

Here are some examples of exclamatory sentences:

● Wow, that hockey player can skate really fast!

● I can’t wait to see you this weekend!

● Stop talking to me!

● This time tomorrow, we’ll be on vacation!

● I am so tired of studying!

● Have a great day at Six Flags!

● I want to go to Disneyland!

● Michael, stop doing that!

● I am so mad at you right now!

● Wait for me!

English Writing and Grammar Resources For Students

Need more help or have some more questions we didn’t cover here? There are plenty of student resources out there that can help you learn English, brush up on your grammar and punctuation, or even just proofread your work for you to ensure you’re on the right track.

Here are some of the resources we have available at Homework Help Global that can help you become a stronger English speaker, communicator, and/or writer:

● 1-on-1 English tutoring lessons : Get private, 1-on-1 help learning or improving your English grammar, speaking, writing, and more with one of our native English speakers.

● The Homework Help Show English Grammar 101 Series : Tune in for our tutorial videos on basic English grammar, or browse through our other video series for some helpful tips and advice on student life.

● The Homework Help Show Podcast : Listen in to the weekly Homework Help Show podcast, where we share tips and tricks for learning English, advice for your academic assignments and student life, and get insights from other students or alumni.

● Editing and proofreading services : Our academic writers will take a look at your writing and provide you with constructive, helpful feedback to show you where you can improve.

● Homework Help Global’s English Learning Community : Join our exclusive Facebook group, where you can find practice partners, get inside tips and tricks from native speakers, and take advantage of our free resources for learning English.

● Making the Grade: A Guide to Essay Writing Like a Pro : If you’re knowledgeable in English but need help improving your academic writing skills, download our FREE ebook. It’s filled with 150+ pages of tips, guides, and step by step instructions for writing an amazing academic essay for any class you take.

Not Ready to Put The Four Types of Sentences to Use Yourself? Let us Help.

Whether you’re just not comfortable writing in English yet and want to keep your grades up, or you just don’t have time to finish all of the assignments you have on your plate, Homework Help Global has your back.

Our team of experienced academic writers and scholars are highly trained and educated in a variety of fields, from nursing and math to English, history and beyond. We have years of experience helping students complete many types of assignments, from custom essays to presentations , book reports , case studies , and more. Let us take care of the hard work so you can sit back and focus on your life.

Get a free quote for your upcoming assignment or fill out the order form to get connected with a top writer in your field now.

Related Posts

How To Use Chat GPT For Studying, Research, and More!

• December 14, 2023

What Is A Capstone Project and How To Write One

What is APA Style Formatting and How To Do It Right

• April 19, 2023
• How it Works
• Terms of Service
• Refer a Friend
• Privacy Policy
• Free Revisions Policy

First time visitor?

Submit your first order and receive 10% off using this coupon code: NEWCLIENT **For first-time clients only

Resources you can trust

Sentence types and effects

A versatile resource on different types of sentences which could be used for KS3 or KS4, as a support for language analysis or as a guide for students' own creative writing. 

The resource helps students to consider the effect of sentence structure and variety, and to understand how English sentence structure is constructed. By studying different sentence structures, including simple sentences, compound sentences and complex sentences, students can then begin to analyse other aspects of English grammar, such as dependent clauses, independent clauses and subordinate clauses.

This activity could also lead to an examination of the effects of the English punctuation marks, including question marks, exclamation marks, commas and semicolons.

Students match sentences with example and possible effects. Teaching ideas and answers are also provided, for self- or peer-marking in class.

The sentence types include:

simple, compound and complex  sentences

short sentences

incomplete sentences

exclamatory sentences

balanced sentences

suspended sentences.

An extract from the resource:

Type: Simple sentence.

Explanation: Sentence which has one main verb.

Example: The class enjoyed the games.

Possible effects: Straightforward, to the point, changes the pace, could create a sense of urgency.

All reviews

Have you used this resource?

Margaret Snell

Yasmin Lazarus

Resources you might like

Reading & Math for K-5

• Kindergarten
• Learning numbers
• Comparing numbers
• Place Value
• Roman numerals
• Subtraction
• Multiplication
• Order of operations
• Drills & practice
• Measurement
• Factoring & prime factors
• Proportions
• Shape & geometry
• Data & graphing
• Word problems
• Children's stories
• Leveled Stories
• Context clues
• Cause & effect
• Compare & contrast
• Fact vs. fiction
• Fact vs. opinion
• Main idea & details
• Story elements
• Conclusions & inferences
• Sounds & phonics
• Words & vocabulary
• Reading comprehension
• Early writing
• Numbers & counting
• Simple math
• Social skills
• Other activities
• Dolch sight words
• Fry sight words
• Multiple meaning words
• Prefixes & suffixes
• Vocabulary cards
• Other parts of speech
• Punctuation
• Capitalization
• Narrative writing
• Opinion writing
• Informative writing
• Cursive alphabet
• Cursive letters
• Cursive letter joins
• Cursive words
• Cursive sentences
• Cursive passages
• Grammar & Writing

Breadcrumbs

Download & Print Only $6.49

Grade 3 Sentences Worksheets

Sentences worksheets for third grade.

Our grade 3 sentences worksheets focus on comparing sentence fragments and full sentences, using subjects and predicates, writing simple, compound and complex sentences and identifying different sentence types.

Simple sentences

Sentences or fragments? - decide if the text a fragment or a full sentence

Subjects and predicates - identify the subjects and predicates in sentences

Write subjects and predicates - complete sentences by writing subjects or predicates

Compound sentences

Simple or compound? - classify the sentences as simple or compound

Writing compound sentences - combine two simple sentences into a compound sentence

Break-up compound sentences - split the compound sentence into two simple sentences

Complex sentences

Simple or complex? - classify the sentences as simple or complex

Writing complex sentences - expand simple sentences into complex sentences

Compound or complex? - classify each sentence as compound or complex

Simple, compound or complex? - classify sentences as simple, compound or complex.

Types of sentences

Declarative sentences - write statements ending in a period

Imperative sentences - write commands or requests

Interrogative sentences - write questions ending in a question mark

Exclamatory sentences - show strong emotions using exclamation marks

Classify sentences - declarative, imperative, interrogative or exclamatory?

More practice with sentences

Transition words - use transition words to complete a paragraph

Editing sentences - rewrite sentences fixing grammar errors

Sample grade 3 sentences worksheet

What is K5?

K5 Learning offers free worksheets , flashcards  and inexpensive  workbooks  for kids in kindergarten to grade 5. Become a member  to access additional content and skip ads.

Our members helped us give away millions of worksheets last year.

We provide free educational materials to parents and teachers in over 100 countries. If you can, please consider purchasing a membership ($24/year) to support our efforts.

Members skip ads and access exclusive features.

Learn about member benefits

This content is available to members only.

Join K5 to save time, skip ads and access more content. Learn More

• Forgot Password?