Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Function
A declarative sentence is used to indicate a statement. Most sentences used in communication are
declarative:
He wanted to leave, but he couldn't go.
An interrogative sentence is used to indicate a question. An interrogative sentence is noted by its
ending punctuation, a question mark:
Did he really want to leave?
An exclamatory sentence is used to indicate an exclamation, or an expression of thought mixed
with strong emotion. Like an interrogative sentence, an exclamatory sentence is noted by its
ending punctuation, an exclamation point:
He wanted to leave!
An imperative sentence is used to indicate a request or a command. An imperative sentence will
always use the second-person "you" form in the subject and the predicate:
Accept the first bid, not the second one.
Subject + Verb
I swim. Joe swims. They swam.
Simple Present
Once a week, Tom cleans the house.
Once a week, the house is cleaned by Tom.
Simple Past
Sam repaired the car.
The car was repaired by Sam.
Simple Future
Someone will finish the work by 5:00 PM.
The work will be finished by 5:00 PM.
Present Perfect
Many tourists have visited that castle.
That castle has been visited by many tourists.
Past Perfect
George had repaired many cars before he received his mechanic's license.
Many cars had been repaired by George before he received his mechanic's license.
Future Perfect
They will have completed the project before the deadline.
The project will have been completed before the deadline.
Present Continuous
Right now, Sarah is writing the letter.