Declarative Sentences [English Lesson]

Hello English learners! Today’s topic is Declarative sentences. What do I mean by this? In English, like most languages, punctuation is important. The type of sentence effects the punctuation at the end of the sentence.

If it has a period, a question mark or an exclamation mark depends on the type of sentence.

You should know, as an English student, that there are four types of sentences:

1. Declarative sentence
2. Interrogative sentence
3. Imperative sentence
4. Exclamatory sentence

For this post, we are only going to discuss Declarative sentences.

A declarative sentence usually makes a statement.

Do you know when a country goes to a new land and puts a flag on that new land claiming the land? The person says something like “I declare this land in the name of XYZ country!”

Then they put the flag into the land and the country magically becomes property of that country.

Well, let me tell you, this does not work! I have put several flags in my neighbor’s yard and my neighbor keeps telling me that I don’t own their property!

Anyway, a declarative sentence does the same type of thing. It proclaims something to the world. It makes a speech about something important.

In general, declarative sentences provide information.

Here are some examples:

• Brian likes Nutella. 
• The bus leaves at 8 o’clock in the morning. 
• A tsunami destroyed the town.

Notice that a declarative sentence ends with a period. (a little dot)

It does not end with any other type of punctuation at the end.
To be able to write a declarative sentence in inverted order just start with the fact that you wish to present.

Put the subject of the sentence after the verb in a declarative sentence.

• Over the fence the ball flew. (The ball flew over the fence.)
• Next to that shop is my favorite bakery. (My favorite bakery is next to that shop.)
• This is a little different than normal speech. English speakers will understand you.

This technique of using inverted order is best for stories. When you want to change the rhythem or pattern of your sentences to make the reader pay attention, then you can use this technique.

Otherwise, it seems very weird for us native speakers.
Here are declarative sentences about music:

• That type of music is called jazz. 
• He can play Beethoven on the piano. 
• My favorite instrument is the violin.

Here are declarative sentences about snow:

• Snow often turns black after cars run over it.
• Snow can get into your socks and shoes. 
• Only one-third of the people in the world will ever get to see snow in their lifetime.

Here are declarative sentences about Christmas:

• Christmas is celebrated on December 25th. 
• The weather in the Southern Hemisphere during Christmas is very hot. 
• The first recording of Christmas was in Rome in 336.

Here are declarative sentences about college entrance examinations:

• College entrance examinations take a lot of time to prepare for.

There are two types of college entrance examination in the United States of America; there is the ACT and the SAT.

If you fail your college entrance examination, you won’t get into university.
Next, I am going to write some declarative sentences about winter:

• Winter in Brazil is during the months of May until August. 
• Winter is classified as when less of the sun’s rays hit directly on Earth, which accounts for the cold weather. 
• Napoleon was caught by the Russian winter and killed most of his army.

Here are declarative sentences beginning with here:

• Here is the best ice cream parlor in the world. 
• Here is how to solve this problem. 
• Here is the best route to go when traveling through this jungle.

Here are declarative sentences beginning with there:

• There is where you will find the road that will take you to the highway. 
• There is where Waldo is hiding. 
• There is where you should be painting.

Here are declarative sentences followed by an incomplete question:

I ate 50 cookies yesterday.

50 cookies? 

I go to the swimming pool every Saturday. 

Every Saturday?

And that is it for the post on Declarative sentences. Try writing your own sentences in the comments below.

Check out other posts at www.myenglishteacher.eu

See you next time!