English Grammar Understanding the Basics - Evelyn P. Altenberg, Robert M. Vago 2010
Lesson 45: Identifying sentences by function
Unit 15: The functions of sentences
Part III: Getting started with sentences
As you’ve seen, in language we combine words to form phrases. We also combine phrases to form sentences, and there are various kinds of sentences. For example, there are statements and questions, simple sentences and combinations of sentences, and negative sentences and positive sentences. In Part III, we begin to explore different kinds of sentences, looking at the functions of sentences (Unit 15), how sentences can be combined (Unit 16), and the relationships between different sentences (Unit 17). Our goal is to help you recognize some of the more common and important sentence types.
Unit 15: The functions of sentences
Lesson 45: Identifying sentences by function
One way that a sentence can be described is according to the job that it’s doing in a conversation. Compare these sentences:
1. That clown was funny.
2. Is she a physician?
3. Please wash the dishes.
4. What an exciting movie!
You know that sentence 1 is making a statement, sentence 2 is asking a question, sentence 3 is giving a command, and sentence 4 is expressing a strong emotion. These functions are summarized in Quick tip 4 5.1.
Quick tip 4 5.1
Sentences that make a statement are called declaratives; sentences that ask a question are called interrogatives; sentences that give a command are called imperatives; sentences that express strong emotion are called exclamations.
Here are a few more examples:
5. Edward’s parents live on a farm. (declarative)
6. Have you accepted the fact that she’ll never move? (interrogative)
7. Don’t believe a word she says! (imperative)
8. That’s silly! (exclamation)
Test yourself 45.1
Identify each of the sentences below as either declarative, interrogative, imperative, or exclamation.
Sample: How old are you now? interrogative
Getting started (answers on p. 206)
1. I’m shocked!
2. Rose and Charles are getting married in that house.
3. What a surprising announcement!
4. The weather was awful yesterday.
5. Watch out for that car!
More practice (answers on the website)
6. Didn’t we have fun together?
7. What a performance!
8. Would you want to rent a movie tonight?
9. That was ridiculous!
10. Write that down, please!
Let’s take a closer look at questions:
9. Do you like learning about sentences?
10. What do you like best?
11. You would rather be listening to music, wouldn’t you?
These sentences demonstrate three different kinds of questions. Sentence 9 is an example of a yes/no question, because it can be answered with just a ’’yes’’ or ’’no.’’ Here are some more yes/no questions:
12. Did you enjoy the music?
13. Is the television working?
14. Are you interested in applying for that job?
Quick tip 45.2
A yes/no question is one that can be answered by ’’yes’’ or ’’no.’’
Sentence 10 is called a wh- question because it begins with a wh- word, or question word.
Quick tip 45.3
A wh- question begins with one of the following wh- words (question words): when, where, what, why, which, who, whom, how. Example: Where is the meeting?
Notice that how is a wh- word, even though it doesn’t begin with wh-.
Wh- questions cannot be answered with a ’’yes’’ or ’’no.’’ Imagine the following bizarre dialogues:
15a. What time is it?
15b. Yes.
16a. Where are you going?
16b. No.
17a. Which dress should I wear?
17b. Yes.
You get the point.
Here are some more examples of wh- questions:
18. Why did they buy that house?
19. When should we meet?
20. How does that work?
The third kind of question, called a tag question, is demonstrated by sentence 11 above. Here are some more tag questions:
21. He’s having a great time, isn’t he?
22. It rained last night, didn’t it?
23. Mrs. Williams was working hard, wasn’t she?
In tag questions, there’s a regular statement followed by a tag; the tag is underlined in these examples.
Quick tip 45.4
A tag question contains a statement followed by a tag, such as could you? aren't they? hasn't he? Example: She is leaving soon, isn't she?
Test yourself 45.2
Decide if each question below is a yes/no question, wh- question, or tag question.
Sample: Why did he call his attorney? wh- question
Getting started (answers on p. 206)
1. He’s not really crazy, is he?
2. Which is yours?
3. Are you interested?
4. Is the evidence against him compelling?
5. We have seen this before, haven’t we?
More practice (answers on the website)
6. How did you respond to his question?
7. When did they leave last night?
8. Are you leaving already?
9. Joan is an accomplished woman, isn’t she?
10. Is there anything left in the cookie jar?