ABSTRACT

Sentences can perform different functions: they can provide or seek information, give instructions, issue commands and much more. There are four clause types that indicate a sentence's function: declaratives, interrogatives, imperatives and exclamatives. However, it's important to acknowledge that – especially in speech – some sentence forms can function in ways that don't seem to correspond with their form. Statements fall into the category of declaratives. Their function is primarily to give information, which they do in a range of ways, such as describing, commenting and explaining. Questions fall into the category of interrogatives. Commands use the imperative form, which uses the base form of the verb. Exclamations fall into the category of exclamatives. They can express strong emotion, such as surprise, anger, delight – or even puzzlement. The national curriculum specifies sentences with different forms, so pupils need to be aware of the differences between one-word interjections, exclamative phrases and sentences.