Sentences Classified by Their Use as a Whole

Sentences considered as a whole are:

• declarative
• interrogative
• imperative
• exclamatory
• mixed.

Declarative sentences are those that declare something as real and absolute, or as possible, probable, obligatory, or necessary. The declarative sentence forms the main body of every kind of composition. Declarative sentences may be positive or negative.

The mode of declarative sentences may be indicative or potential.

For example

I have found favor in the sight of the king.
It may rain.
We should pay our debts.
The work must be done.

Interrogative sentences are those which ask a question. Interrogative sentences are used
either to obtain information or gain assent.

For example

Doth my father yet live?
Can a mother forget her child?
Who opened the door?
Doth God pervert judgment?

Interrogative sentences are divided into direct and indirect interrogative sentences.
An interrogative sentence is direct when it can be answered by yes or no.
An interrogative sentence is indirect when it is introduced by an interrogative word and cannot be answered by yes or no.

For example

Will you ride to town today? is a direct interrogative sentence.
Who is walking in the garden? is an indirect interrogative sentence.

Imperative sentences express a command, an entreaty, an exhortation, or a prayer.

For example

Let justice be done.
Do extricate my suffering friend.
Let love be without dissimulation.
Thy kingdom come.

An imperative sentence is determined in character by the rank of the parties involved.

Exclamatory sentences express emotion.

For example

The foe has flown!
Was it not strange!
Make haste!

Exclamatory sentences are often fragmentary, partaking of the nature of interjections.

For example

Strange!
Impossible!
To arms!

Mixed sentences are composed of two different kinds of sentences.

For example

Give me a place to stand, and I will move the world.
They entered indeed upon the work; but why did they not continue?

Sentences Classified by Their Clauses

All sentences consist either of a single clause or of two or more united clauses. Sentences
and are divided into:

• simple sentences
• complex sentences
• compound sentences
• compound-complex sentences

Simple sentences are sentences that contain a single independent clause.

For example

The wind blows.
Will you heed the warning?
Obey your parents.
How feeble is man!

Complex sentences contain at least two clauses. One of the clauses is the principal,
independent clause. A complex sentence also includes one or more subordinate clauses.

For example

When the wind blows, the trees bend.
As they advanced, they heard the sound of music.
You speak like one who has never felt the pangs of separation.

Compound sentences contain at least two principal, independent clauses. A compound
sentences may also include subordinate clauses but does not need to have any subordinate clauses.

For example

The wind blows, and the trees bend.
His wish still continued, but his hope grew less.

A clause is:

• a sentence when, independently and alone, it expresses a thought of the speaker.

  For example

  The mists of the morn have passed away.
  Coming events cast their shadows before.

• an element of a sentence, when it expresses a mere idea or part of a thought.

  For example

  If we take no account of our sins on the day on which they are committed, can we hope that they will
  return to us at a inure distant period, that we shall watch against them tomorrow, or that we shall
  gain the strength to resist them, which we will not implore?
  channing

Observe that in this complex sentence, the principal clause does not need to be similar to any of the other clauses. In the the example above, the italicized subordinate clauses are dependent upon the main clause. In this case, compared with any of the other subordinate clauses, each has a different construction.

Note

These distinctions lay the foundation for the division of sentences into simple, complex, and compound. A simple sentence has a single clause. A complex sentence has two or more dissimilar clauses. A compound sentence has two or more similar clauses.

Two or more mere subordinate clauses, whether similar or dissimilar never form a complete
sentence.

Entire sentences, by some affinity in the thoughts expressed, are united into paragraphs
either by conjunctions or by simple succession.

For example

Athens’s power is, indeed, manifested at the bar, in the senate, in the field
of battle, in the school of philosophy. But these are not her glory.