Sentences can do four kinds of things. For example:
- A sentence can make a statement; as,
The sun rises in the east. The boys made a noise.
A sentence that states or declares something is called a Declarative Sentence. - A sentence can ask a question-, as,
Why were you late yesterday?
Have you done your lesson?
A sentence that asks a question is called an Interrogative Sentence. - A sentence can give an order or make a request; as,
Bali, shut the door. Please do this just now.
Please let me work.
A sentence that expresses a command, a request, or a de is called an Imperative Sentence. - A sentence can express some strong or sudden feeling; as, How beautiful this rose is!
What pleasant weather!
A sentence that expresses some strong or sudden feeling is called an Exclamatory Sentence.
From the above it is clear that —
- Every sentence begins with a Capital Letter.
- A Full Stop (.) is placed at the end of every Declarative or Imperative
- A Question Mark (?) is placed at the end of every Interrogative
- An Exclamation Mark (!) is placed at the end of every Exclamatory
Study the following examples carefully:
EXAMPLES OF ORDERS
- Stand up.
- 2. Get ready quickly.
- Mind your own business.
- 4. Do this work just now.
- Don’t make a noise.
- 6. Don’t spit on the floor.
- Don’t be a fool.
- 8. Let him come in.
- Let me never catch you smoking cigarettes.
EXAMPLES OF REQUESTS
- Please allow me to pass.
- Please let me-go.
- Pray excuse me this time.
- Allow me to sit down.
EXAMPLES OF POLITE QUESTIONS
- May I come in, please?
- Will you please let me use your book?
- Will you have a little more tea?
- Would you mind my coming a little later?
- Could you tell me where Ashok lives?
EXAMPLES OF EXCLAMATIONS
- How hot it is! (= It is very hot.)
- What a noise they are making! (= They are making a very great noise.)
- May you soon be well! (= I hope you will soon be well.)
- Would that my sons were here! (= I wish my sons were here.)
- What a pity she has not come!
- What a sweet voice you have!
- How proud she is of her beautiful face!
- How sad it is !
- What a clever girl you are !
- If only I had been there !
Exercise 1: Rewrite each of the following sentences using the correct punctuation marks:
- all that glitters is not gold
- how sweet this rose smells
- what is the time by your watch
- will you please give me your book
- how dreadful the accident was
- mind your own business
- who has broken this mirror
- what a horrible sight it was
- how foolish I have been
- does the earth move round the sun
Exercise 2: Write these sentences correctly by placing the words in their proper order. Don’t fail to put in the correct punctuation marks:
- a foolish friend, a wise enemy, is, better than (A wise enem^js better than a foolish friend.)
- in the bush, is, worth two, a bird, in the hand
- a leopard, can, change, his spots
- how naughty, today, is, the child
- you, will, please, let me use, your dictionary
- you, would, mind, my staying, a little longer
- showed, the old man, the way, the kind boy
- stands, on the Yamuna, the capital of India, Delhi
- to save, the patient’s, life, the doctor, did, try hard
- a good boy, you are, what