V. TYPES OF SENTENCES

Principles of classification: there are two principles used for the classification of sentences.

1. The first principle is according to TYPES OF COMMUNICATION. Applying that principle we obtain a classification into declarative, interrogative, imperative, and exclamatory sentences.

1.1.Declarative sentences assert or deny something, E.g.: A wind had cleared the mist, the autumn leaves were rustling and the stars were shining.

1.2. Interrogative sentences ask a question: Do you like this?


1.3. Imperative sentences express requests, which in different contexts can range from unconditional orders, to commands and entreaties. The meaning is generally signaled by the context and intonation, E.g.: Come up tomorrow morning!

1.4. Exclamatory sentences present some difficulties in their relation to the other three established types of declarative, interrogative and imperative. On the one hand every sentence, regardless of its type may be exclamatory at the same time,
 E.g.:
But he can’t do anything to you! /declarative & exclamatory /
What can he possibly do to you! /interrogative & exclamatory /
Scarlet, spare me! /imperative & exclamatory /

On the other hand, a sentence may be purely exclamatory, i.e. it may not belong to any of the three types listed so far: Oh, for God’s sake! Oh, dear! Good gracious! Jesus Christ!

The established classes of sentences differ not only in the different types of communication but also in some grammatical points. For example, interrogative sentences are characterized by a special word order. In interrogative sentences modal words are rarely used, as the meaning of some modal words is incompatible with the meaning of an interrogative sentence. Thus, modal words expressing full certainty, such as certainly, surely, naturally etc. are not used.

Imperative sentences also show marked peculiarities in the use of modal words. It is quite evident, for example, that modal words expressing possibility, such as perhaps, maybe, possibly etc. are incompatible with the notion of order or request. Modal words are hardly used in imperative sentences at all.

2. The second principle of classification of sentences takes into consideration THE STRUCTURE OF THE SENTENCE. According to their structure sentences are classified into simple and composite sentences. Composite sentences are subdivided further into compound and complex.

2.1. A simple sentence is a sentence containing only one subject-predicate group.

2.2. A composite sentence is a sentence containing more than one subject-predicate group.

2.2.1. A compound sentence is a composite sentence, whose clauses are joined by means of coordination. They are structures of coordination with two or more immediate constituents, which are syntactically equivalent, i.e. none of them is below the other in rank.

2.2.2. A complex sentence is a composite sentence whose clauses are joined by means of subordination. They are structures of subordination with two or more immediate constituents which are not syntactically equivalent. In the simplest case, that of binary structure, one of them is the principle clause, to which the other is joined as a subordinate. The subordinate clause is beneath the principle clause in rank.

3. Sentences can also be classified into two member sentences and one-member sentences. This distinction is based on a difference in the main parts of the sentences.

3.1. In a sentence like: Jane smiled. There are obviously two main parts: Jane which denotes the doer of the action and is called “grammatical subject” and smiled which denotes the action performed by the subject, and is called “grammatical predicate”. Sentences having this basic structure, namely a word or phrase to denote the doer of the action and another word or phrase to denote the action, are termed two-member sentences.

3.2. However, there are sentences which don’t contain two such separate parts. In these sentences there is only one main part. The other main part is not there and it could not even be supplied. Such sentences are termed one-member sentences. Here are a few examples: Fire! Come on! Dusk – of a summer night. There is no separate main part of the sentence, the grammatical subject, and no other separate main part – the grammatical predicate. Instead, there is only one main part / fire, come on, and dusk respectively /.