Understanding Sentences: Types, Classes, and Structures
Understanding Sentences: Types and Classes
The statement, also known as a sentence, is the smallest unit of meaning characterized by expressing a complete thought. It possesses a specific intonation, is separated from other statements by pauses, and is autonomous. The intonation of a sentence expresses the speaker’s attitude or modality.
Sentence Classes
According to their constitution, sentences are classified as:
- Sentences: Expressing a complete thought (e.g., “The car was damaged.”)
- Non-Sentences: Lacking a verb or complete thought (e.g., “Fire!”)
Sentences Based on Speaker’s Attitude
Depending on the speaker’s attitude, sentences can be:
- Assertive: Used to provide information, either affirmative or negative. The final intonation is typically downward and not represented in writing. Assertive sentences are expressed in the indicative mood, and the benchmark function dominates. They are frequent in narrative and scientific texts (e.g., “I’m going to the store.”).
- Interrogative: Requesting a response from the listener. Interrogative sentences are expressed through rising intonation and predominantly use the indicative mood. The conative function, or appeal, is common.
- Exclamatory: Pronounced with greater intensity and represented orthographically by exclamation points. They use the indicative mood, and the expressive function of language is predominant. Exclamatory sentences are common in lyrical texts.
- Desiderative: Expressing a desire for the action expressed by the verb to be fulfilled. They are often in the subjunctive mood and include particles like “hopefully.” Exclamatory intonation is typical, and the expressive function predominates.
- Exhortative and Imperative: Characteristic of orders or advice. They use the imperative or subjunctive mood with a negation. The intonation is downward and not reflected in writing, and the conative function predominates.
- Hesitant: Expressing doubt or indecision. They are often in the subjunctive mood with adverbial expressions like “perhaps.” The intonation is downward and not reflected in writing, and the expressive function predominates (e.g., “Perhaps I’ll make it to dinner.”).
Types of Sentences
Sentences can be simple, consisting of a single clause, or compound, formed by two or more clauses.
Sentence Structure
- Transitive: Require a direct object (e.g., “She baked pears.”)
- Intransitive: Do not require a direct object (e.g., “Plants grow.”)
- Impersonal: Have no subject and can be constructed with atmospheric verbs (e.g., “It rains.”), the verbs “have” and “do” (e.g., “It’s been a month.”), or impersonal and seemingly impersonal verbs.
- Copulative: Consist of a copula (linking verb) and an attribute.
- Verbal: Construct a verbal predicate.
- Active: The subject performs the action of the verb or experiences the state expressed.
- Passive: The subject receives the action. There are two types: passive with a participle (using “to be” + past participle) and reflexive passive (using “se” + 3rd person verb + subject).
Compound Sentences
According to their relationship, compound sentences can be:
- Coordinated: The clauses are at the same hierarchical level and joined by a coordinating conjunction (e.g., “Will you come, or will you stay?”)
- Juxtaposed: The clauses are not joined by a conjunction (e.g., “He arrived, he bathed.”)
- Subordinate: One clause is subordinate to the main clause. The subordinate clause depends on elements of the main clause and functions as a noun phrase, adjective phrase, or adverbial phrase.