The Sentence

Good children obey their parents, expresses a thought about children. A thought expressed by means of words, either orally or in writing, is a sentence.

Notice how the thoughts are expressed in the following sentences:

1. The book is on the table.

2. Have you read the book?

3. Bring me the book.

4. Give us this day our daily bread.

5. How grand the music was!

A sentence is an expression of a thought by means of words.

The first sentence asserts or declares something about the book, and is a declarative sentence.

A declarative sentence is a sentence that asserts or declares something.

The second sentence asks a question about the book and is an interrogative sentence.

An interrogative sentence is a sentence that asks a question.

The third sentence expresses a command; the fourth, a request or an entreaty. These are called imperative sentences.

An imperative sentence is a sentence that expresses a command, a request or an entreaty.

The fifth sentence expresses a strong feeling of pleasure, and is called an exclamatory sentence.

An exclamatory sentence is a sentence that expresses some strong feeling or emotion.

Tell which of the following sentences are declarative, in-terrogative, imperative, or exclamatory:

1. The boys played in the street.

2. Have you seen your mother to-day?

3. Study your lessons carefully.

4. How wonderfully we are made!

5. How did you enjoy your visit to Boston?

6. Be good, sweet child, and let who will be clever.

7. Milton was the author of " Paradise Lost"

8. Little children should always be polite to the aged.

9. The top of the mountain was outlined against the sky.

10. How sleep the brave that sink to rest By all their country's wishes blest!

11. The sunlight tinges the tops of the distant hills with gold.

12. The gray mist, rising from the sea, hides the ships from our view.

13. Keep good company or none.

14. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is, for brethren to dwell together in unity!

Find in your reader three declarative sentences, three interrogative sentences, three imperative sentences, and three exclamatory sentences.

Write three sentences of each kind.