Power Reading — First Chapter Example

CHAPTER FROM A TEXTBOOK ON ENGLISH

The four kinds of sentences

A declarative sentence makes a statement. It is followed by a period.

EXAMPLE: Arthur is an accountant

An interrogative sentence asks something. It is a question. It is followed by a question mark.

EXAMPLE: Do you have an accountant working for you?

To find the subject of an interrogative sentence, simply turn it into a declarative sentence.

EXAMPLE: You do have an accountant working for you.

An exclamatory sentence shows surprise or excitement. It is followed by an exclamation point.

EXAMPLE: What a thrilling thought!

Sometimes an exclamatory sentence has to be changed to a simple declarative sentence before it is clear what the subject and predicate are.

EXAMPLE:

A. Exclamatory: How Dick and John hate each other!

B. The same sentence into a declarative sentence: Dick and John hate each other, how.

An imperative sentence gives a command. It is followed by either a period or an exclamation point.

EXAMPLE: Tell me where you were!

In an imperative sentence the word you is always understood to be the subject.

Example: (You) tell me where you were!