Maybe you have a query regarding what is a sentence in English grammar right? Well, the sentence is a basic part of any language whether it is English or anything else. We human beings express ourselves or interact with each other by producing several sentences. A sentence is formed through the combination of several words or parts of speech such as noun, pronoun, preposition, adjective, verb, etc.
A sentence must have a minimum one subject (noun, pronoun) and one verb. Now the question is what is a sentence in English? Let us analyze what is the definition of a sentence in English grammar elaborately? First of all, let’s see what scholars think about the sentence in English grammar?
J.C. Nesfield: A combination of words that makes a complete sense is called a sentence.
Wren and Martin: A group of words which makes a complete sense is called a sentence.
Now we can say a group of words which contains a subject (what or whom the sentence is about) and a predicate (what is said about the subject) and acknowledges the proper meaning and understanding is called a sentence in English grammar. For Example:
Note: A sentence can be longer than a single subject and a single predicate.
English sentences are of five kinds. They are:
A sentence that depicts a fact or statement is called an Assertive sentence. Usually, these type of sentences always state the fact or declare something. For example:
Note: All the sentences explain the facts. So a sentence that describes the statement of someone or something is called an Assertive sentence.
Pattern: Subject+verb+object+extension
A sentence that demands a question is called an Interrogative sentence. Interrogative sentences always ask for questions for any reason. For example:
Note: Every Interrogative sentence opens with an auxiliary verb and end with an interrogative mark”?”
Pattern: Interrogative sentence can be formed into three ways:
1. If a sentence contains with “be” verb (am, is, are, was, were), “have” verb (have, has, had) and modal verb (shall, should, will, would, can, could, may, might, etc.) then the verb will place before the subject.
2. If a sentence contains no helping verb (mentioned above) then do, does and did will place before the subject.
3. If a sentence contains with who, which, whom, whose, what, why, when, where, how much, how many, etc. then those pronouns will place before the subject.
A sentence that describes a command, request or asks to do something is called an Imperative sentence. For example:
Note: Usually Imperative sentence opens with a “verb” or “let” and the subject remains implicit.
Pattern: Verb+object+extension
A sentence that expresses any wish or player is called an Optative sentence. For Example:
Note: Optative sentence opens with “may” in some cases “may” can be implicit. For example: Long live the man.
Pattern: May+Assertive=Optative sentence.
A sentence that expresses feeling or emotion is called an exclamatory sentence. An exclamatory sentence always takes the exclamatory symbol (!)
Note: If an exclamatory sentence contains with ‘how’, or ‘what’ then the verb will place after the subject and sentence’s ending.
Pattern: Hurrah! alas! ah! wow! etc.+ Assertive= Exclamatory sentence.
Caution: Every sentence can be divided into two parts:
1. Affirmative: A sentence that agrees with something or someone is called an affirmative sentence.
2. Negative: A sentence that disagrees with something or someone is called a negative sentence.
We can make a sentence negative in three ways:
(1) If a sentence forms with ‘be’ verb (am, is, are, was, were), ‘have’ verb (have, has, had) and ‘modal’ verb (can, could, shall, should, will, would, may, might) then ‘not’ will place after those verbs. For example:
Note: ‘Not’ is placed after all the auxiliary verbs.
(2) If a sentence forms without helping verb (mentioned above) then ‘do’ verb (do, does, did) will place according to tense and number and the main verb remains unchangeable. ‘Not’ will place in the middle of both ‘do’ verb and ‘main’ verb. For example:
Note: ‘Do’ verb is placed according to the tense and number.
(3) We can transform a sentence from affirmative to negative by using ‘no’ before a noun and ‘not’ before an adjective. For example:
After completing the lesson we will able to understand what is the definition of a sentence in English grammar. Not only that we will also learn classifications, examples and patterns of all sentences in English. However, you are suggested to follow all the details about Sentences in English carefully.
Read more: Direct and Indirect Speech Rules and Examples
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