What Are the Four Types of Sentences?

Every sentence we write or say has a purpose - to share information, ask a question, show strong feeling, or give a command. English has four sentence types, each with its own purpose and end punctuation.

The Four Types at a Glance

Declarative: Makes a statement - Period (.) - The dog is sleeping on the porch.

Interrogative: Asks a question - Question mark (?) - Did you finish your homework?

Exclamatory: Shows strong emotion - Exclamation point (!) - I can't believe we won the game!

Imperative: Gives a command or request - Period (.) or ! - Please close the door.

1. Declarative Sentences

A declarative sentence makes a statement - it tells, explains, or describes something. It is the most common type of sentence.

Examples:

My favorite color is blue.

The library opens at nine o'clock.

Frogs are amphibians.

Declarative sentences always end with a period.

2. Interrogative Sentences

An interrogative sentence asks a question. It always ends with a question mark (?). Many interrogative sentences begin with question words: who, what, where, when, why, how, did, is, are, can, will.

Examples:

Where is the nearest water fountain?

Can penguins fly?

What time does school start?

3. Exclamatory Sentences

An exclamatory sentence expresses strong emotion - excitement, surprise, anger, joy, or fear. It ends with an exclamation point (!).

Examples:

I got a puppy for my birthday!

That was the scariest movie ever!

Watch out for the bee!

Be careful not to overuse exclamation points - they lose their impact when every sentence has one.

4. Imperative Sentences

An imperative sentence gives a command, direction, or request. The subject of an imperative sentence is always "you" (implied) - it is not written in the sentence because the speaker is addressing the reader or listener directly.

Examples:

Turn left at the stop sign.

Please hand in your papers.

Don't touch the hot stove!

Imperative sentences end with a period for polite requests and an exclamation point for urgent commands.

Grade-by-Grade Progression

Kindergarten – 1st: Declarative and interrogative sentences; capital letters and periods vs. question marks

2nd Grade: Adds exclamatory and imperative; matching punctuation to sentence type

3rd – 5th: Writing all four types with variety; identifying and correcting punctuation errors

Practice Activities

Sort a set of sentence strips by type - students hold them up to show declarative, interrogative, exclamatory, or imperative.
Rewrite the same idea as all four sentence types (e.g., "It is raining." → "Is it raining?" → "It's pouring out there!" → "Grab your umbrella.").
Punctuation repair: give students a paragraph where all end marks are removed and ask them to put the correct punctuation back.
Write a dialogue between two characters that uses all four sentence types naturally.
Play "What kind am I?" - teacher reads a sentence aloud and students hold up a card (D, I, E, or Imp) to identify the type.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a declarative sentence?

A declarative sentence makes a statement or shares information. It ends with a period. Example: The sun rises in the east.

How is an imperative sentence different from the others?

An imperative sentence gives a command or makes a request. The subject is the implied 'you,' so it does not appear in the sentence. Examples: Close the door. Please sit down.

Can an imperative sentence end with an exclamation point?

Yes. An imperative sentence ends with a period for a calm request (Please pass the salt.) but ends with an exclamation point when the command is urgent or forceful (Stop right now!).