There are four engines of communication. The end mark — a period, question mark, or exclamation point — tells you the job a sentence is doing.
✍️The Four Sentence Types
Declarative makes a statement · ends with .
It declares a fact or an opinion — it just tells you something.
ExampleThe library opens at nine.
Interrogative asks a question · ends with ?
It interrogates — it asks for information or an answer.
ExampleWhat time does the library open?
Imperative gives a command · ends with . or !
It gives a command or request, often hiding the subject (you).
ExamplePlease return the books.
Exclamatory shows strong feeling · ends with !
It bursts with emotion — surprise, excitement, or fear.
ExampleWe found the missing book!
🧩Every Sentence Has Two Parts
A complete sentence needs both a subject and a predicate. Missing one? That's a fragment, not a sentence.
🏗️Building Bigger Sentences
Simple
One independent clause. Dogs bark.
Compound
Two complete thoughts joined by , and / but / or.
Complex
An independent clause + a dependent clause. We left when it rained.
🔑Key Terms
📄DeclarativeA sentence that makes a statement and ends with a period.
❓InterrogativeA sentence that asks a question and ends with a ?.
👉ImperativeA sentence that gives a command or makes a request.
❗ExclamatoryA sentence expressing strong feeling and ending with a !.
🧍SubjectWho or what the sentence is about.
🏃PredicateWhat the subject does or is — usually the verb part.
⭐Remember: look at the end mark! A period = declarative, a ? = interrogative, and a ! often means exclamatory. The sentence's job decides its punctuation.