In First Writing you learned the end marks for telling, asking and exclaiming. Grammar names four kinds of sentences by what they do. Commands are one of them; their subject is often you, understood (Hard-to-Find Subjects).
| Kind | What it does | Usual end mark | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| declarative | makes a statement | . | The library opens at nine. |
| interrogative | asks a question | ? | When does the library open? |
| imperative | gives a command or makes a request | . or ! | Return your books. Watch out! |
| exclamatory | shows strong feeling | ! | What a huge library this is! |
Key idea
Name the kind by the sentence’s purpose, then choose the end mark that fits. The end mark follows the purpose, not the other way around.
Why it works
Writers mix the four kinds to talk to readers: a question pulls them in, a command tells them what to do, an exclamation shows feeling. Knowing the purpose also settles the end mark.
Worked example: A question word inside a statement
What kind of sentence is “I wonder who won the game”?
- It has the question word who.
- But it only reports a question; no one has to answer it.
- It makes a statement, so it is declarative and ends with a period.
Answer: declarative
Worked example: A command with an exclamation point
What kind of sentence is “Close the door!”?
- It tells someone to do something.
- The exclamation point adds force, but the purpose is still to command.
Answer: imperative
Common mistake
Judging by the end mark alone. “Close the door!” ends with an exclamation point but gives a command. (Some books call a forceful command an exclamatory command; its purpose is still to command.) Ask what the sentence does.