TYPES OF SENTENCES

There are two definitions about sentence. First, a sentence is a group of related
words, including a subject and a predicate that expresses a complete thought in its
context and end with a period, a question mark, or an exclamation mark. Second, a
sentence is a full predication containing a subject plus a predicate with a finite verb .
There are some differences in classify a sentence. There is a book which classifies a sentence
in two ways, one by type and one by the number of formal predication. Here is the diagram.

On the other hand, in two others book state that the type of sentence are simple
sentence, compound sentence, complex sentence and compound -complex sentence.

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And there are some books that classify a sentence in three ways. Look at the following
diagram.
 Here we just discuss about the types of sentences based on the third diagram, although
there are some ways to classify the type of sentence.

A. Types, classified according to purpose

1. Declarative sentence
Declarative sentence is a sentence that states a fact, inferences, value
judgment, or hypothetical idea. This sentence has the form of affirmative sentence or
negative sentence, active sentence or passive sentence. Here are the examples:

- The child drank a glass of milk.

- They don’t like a dog.
- Gethuk is made from cassava.

In a declarative sentence, every sentence is always preceded with a capital

letters and ends with a period in writing and a drop in pitch in speech.

2. Interrogative sentence
Interrogative sentence is a sentence that asks a question about information or
other important thing. The sentence ends with a question mark.

- Do you type a letter?

- What kind of flower do you like?
- Why do people like to go to grocery stores?
- Am I a student?

3. Imperative sentence
Imperative sentence is a sentence that gives a command or states a request. In
this sentence, only the predicate is expressed. Imperative sentence is grouped in three
parts: command, request and prohibition.

a. Command
- Come to my house.
- Walk down for about 200 meters.
- Be serious in learning.
b. Request
- Would you like to come to my party?
- Could you close the window?
c. Prohibition
- Don’t smoke in the classroom.
- Don’t be angry too easily.

4. Exclamatory sentence
Exclamatory sentence is a sentence in which the speaker shows surprise or
strong emotion, generally by using how or what to set up an unusual word order. The
exclamatory phrase is followed by the subject and the balance predicate. The
exclamatory sentence ends with an exclamation mark.

- What beautiful eyes she has!

- How high the price is!

B. Types, classified according to structure

1. Simple sentence
Simple sentence is a sentence that includes only one independent clause and no
subordinate clause. A simple sentence may have a compound subject, a compound
finite verb, or both.
 - They walk.
- The competition was on Sunday morning.
- I type my report.
- He was driving carefully.
- Jacob and Ron play football every day.
- Alice goes to library and borrows some books.

2. Complex sentence
Complex sentence is a sentence that includes one independent clause and at
least one subordinate clause. A complex sentence always has a subordinator such as
because, since, after, although, or when or a relative pronoun such as that, who, or
which. Trough complex sentence, we can put prominence on the idea in a clause. We
can also show, among other things, contrast, preference, reason, and consequence.

- The students are studying because they have a test tomorrow.

- The government still tries to find the best way how they can increase the tax for the
income of the country.
- Although it was raining, the city held the parade as scheduled.

3. Compound sentence
A compound sentence contains two or more independent clauses joined by a
coordinator. The coordinators are as follows: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so, on the
other hand, or else, as well as.

- It is fairly easy for educated people to get some good jobs, on the other hand it is
fairly difficult for uneducated people to get good ones.

- You can ride your motorcycles there by yourself or you can contract me to pick you
up anytime.

4. Compound-complex sentence
Compound complex sentence is a sentence with at least two independent
clauses and at least one subordinate clause.

- The government has increased the price of some fuel products and decreased the
financial aid that is actually needed by most people.

- When the staff members held an informal meeting and the speakers put forward
their opinions, all participants argued seriously.

C. Types, classified according to rhetorical arrangement

1. Cumulative sentence

Cumulative sentence is a sentence in which phrasal and clausal modifiers are

placed after the independent clause.

“Maria Rosa ran, dodging between beehives, parting two stunted jasmine bushes
as she came, lifting her knees in swift leaps, looking over her shoulder and laughing
in a quivering, exited way.”

2. Periodic sentence
 Peridic sentence is a sentence in which phrasal and clausal modifiers are placed
before the independent clause.

“ And because men are all members of one great whole and the sympathy which
is in human nature will not allow one member to be indifferent to the rest or to
have a perfect welfare independent of the rest, the expansion of our humanity, to
suit the idea of perfections which culture forms, must be a general expansion”

3. Balanced sentence
Balanced sentence is a sentence in which the independent clauses are roughly
parallel in structure and either similiar antithetical in thought.

“ In Ann Arbor, city and university interests have rarely colided; in Cambridge,
on the other hand, rethorical collisions are a way of life.”

REFERENCES

Andrew Inman, Billie and Gardner, Ruth.1979. Aspects of Composition. United States of
America: Harcourt Brace Javanovich
Bram, Barly. 1995. Write Well Improving writing Skills. Yogyakarta:Kanisius
Frank, Marcella.1972. Modern English a practical reference guide. Englewood, New Jersey:
PRENTICE- HALL Inc
Pardiyono.2006. 12 Writing Clues for Better Writing Competence.Yogyakarta:ANDI
Top 20 Grammar for Great Writing
Web

Name : Tria Rosyida

NIM : 932206910
Class : Writing I Class C