Formation of Declarative and Interrogative Sentences

Given below is the formation of Declarative and Interrogative Sentences in English. It gives a very basic idea of Declarative Sentence Structure and Interrogative Sentence Structure.

Declarative Sentences

AFFIRMATIVE DECLARATIVE SENTENCES:

S + V

He reads. (Singular)

We read. (Plural)

S + V + O

He reads books. (Singular)

We read books. (Plural)

S + V + Adj. + O

He reads good books. (Singular)

We read good books. (Plural)

NEGATIVE DECLARATIVE SENTENCES:

S + H.V. + Adv. (Not) + V

He does not read. (Singular)

We do not read. (Plural)

S + H.V. + Adv. (Not) + V + O

He does not read books. (Singular)

We do not read books. (Plural)

S + H.V. + Adv. (Not) + V + Adj. + O

He does not read good books. (Singular)

We do not read good books. (Plural)

Interrogative Sentences

AFFIRMATIVE INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES:

H.V. + S + V

Does he read? (Singular)

Do we read? (Plural)

H.V. + S + V + O

Does he read books? (Singular)

Do we read books? (Plural)

H.V. + S + V + Adj.+ O

Does he read good books? (Singular)

Do we read good books? (Plural)

NEGATIVE INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES:

H.V. + Adv. (Not) + S + V

Doesn't he read? (Singular)

Don't we read? (Plural)

H.V. + Adv. (Not) + S + V + O

Doesn't he read books? (Singular)

Don't we read books? (Plural)

H.V. + Adv. (Not) + S + V + Adj. + O

Doesn't he read good books? (Singular)

Don't we read good books? (Plural)

Glossary of Terms Used

S = Subject

V = Verb

O = Object

H.V. = Helping Verb

Adj. = Adjective

Adv. = Adverb

Parts of Speech

The term “Parts of Speech” is a gift of Traditional Grammar. A word is categorized under one of the eight Parts of Speech. These Parts of Speech does not tell about the description of a word but about the function and role of a word. Understanding of Parts of Speech is necessary to know when and how to use the right word at the right place. A single word can function differently in different contexts. Like a word can act as a Noun as a verb or as an Adjective depending upon the context.

This can be clarified by an example. Take a word, say, FAST – Now this word can function differently in different contexts.

Fast can function as a:

Part of Speech	Example	Rationale
NOUN	She is observing fast today.	Period of abstaining from food
VERB	Are you also fasting?	Abstaining from food
ADJECTIVE	The clock is fast.	Moving quickly. It is modifying the noun (Clock)
ADVERB	Mac drives the car fast.	Quickly. It is modifying the verb (Drives)

The eight Parts of Speech are:

1) Noun: A word used to name a person, place animal or thing.

As In: I saw a boy running in the park.

America is my dream destination.

We should try to preserve tigers.

The chocolates are in the blue box.

2) Pronoun: A word in place of a noun.

As In: We will not come tomorrow.

How will you manage to make it up?

I have seen the new movie.

She will surely help you.

3) Verb: A word that tells us about the action being done by the subject.

As in: The children were playing in the garden.

Maria is writing a letter to her parents.

My mother cooks real good food.

He is the one who broke the glass.

4) Adverb: A word that qualifies a verb.

As in: Peter was fast asleep.

They quickly fixed the error.

He behaved arrogantly yesterday.

Danny climbed the tree swiftly.

5) Adjective: A word that qualifies a noun.

As in: She was holding a wonderful book.

Monika is wearing a pretty dress.

I will not drink this cold tea.

Who will go to that dangerous place?

6) Conjunction: A word that joins two sentences, phrases or clauses.

As in: I went there but she did not come.

Harry was reading while Dick was sleeping.

The building collapsed because of earthquake.

She ran faster than him.

7) Preposition: A word that shows relation among other words in a sentence.

As in: He will reach here at two o' clock.

The answer sheet is on the bench.

The Principal's office is near the recitation room.

My house is behind the post office.

8) Interjection: A word that expresses a sudden feeling of heart.

As in: Alas! He died.

Oh! What a beautifully painted picture.

Bravo! Well done.

Hurray! Our Team won the match.

Rules For Articles

General Overview of Definite and Indefinite Article

The English structure employ articles depending upon the reference of addressee. The three articles in English – A , An, The – have specific role and function. Use of Definite Article (The) and Indefinite article (A, An) depends on what is being referred to by the addresser. If any group is being addressed then we generally use Definite Article (The) and if we talk about any particularly specific member of the group, then we use Indefinite Article (A, An).

INDEFINITE ARTICLES

Indefinite Articles (A / An) are the modifiers of any member of the class or group. Singular Nouns take indefinite articles when the noun is general. The initial sound of the word following an article determines the use of A and An. As a rule the structure could be as follows:

• a + noun beginning with a consonant sound

As in: a book, a tree

• an + noun beginning with a vowel sound

As in: an apple, an orange

If a noun is preceded by an Adjective then look out for the consonant or vowel SOUND and not LETTER for determining the use of article.

• A / An + Adjective + Noun

As in: A European Student, An Electronic device

We also use articles to bespeak of an alliance to any profession, religion or country.

• She is a nurse.

• Alex is an Indian.

DEFINITE ARTICLE

Use of definite article 'the' is done for specific or particular singular and plural nouns. The indicates that (1) the noun is definite (2) it id denoting a specific member of group. You can understand it better by the following table:

	Indefinite (a or an)	Definite (the)
Singular	a table (any table) an airplane (any airplane)	the table (that specific table) the airplane (that specific airplane )
Plural	some tables (any tables) some airplanes (any airplanes)	the tables (those specific tables) the airplanes (those specific airplanes)

Scope of 'The'

• Do not use 'the' with uncountable nouns when talked about in general.

As in: (No article) Tea is the most common beverage.

• Use 'the' with uncountable nouns by making it more specific using a modifier phrase or clause.

As in: The tea in the kettle has spilled.

• The nouns which denote something unique and one of its kind also take 'the'

As in: The theory of Darwin is known to all.

When to use 'THE'

Do use 'the' before:

1) Names of rivers, oceans and seas (the Thames, the Arctic)

2) Points on the globe (the Equator, the South Pole)

3) Geographical areas (the Middle East, the West)

4) Deserts, forests, gulfs, and peninsulas (the Sahara, the Persian Gulf, the Black Forest, the Iberian Peninsula)

When not to use 'THE'

Do not use 'the' before

1) Names of countries, cities, towns, or states (Britain, Phoenix, Delhi)

2) Names of streets (Washington)

3) Names of countries (America, India) except the Netherlands and the US
Blvd., Main St.)

4) Names of lakes and bays (Lake Titicaca, Lake Erie) except with a group of lakes like the Great Lakes

5) Names of mountains (Mount Everest, Mount Fuji) except with ranges of mountains like the Andes or the Rockies or unusual names like the Matterhorn

6) Names of continents (Asia, Europe)

7) Names of islands (Easter Island, Maui, Key West) except with island chains like the Aleutians, the Hebrides, or the Canary Islands

Structure of an English Sentence

Introduction to Sentence

The syntax of any language, i.e. the sentence structure, is one of the most important features of its formal aspect. Each sentence has has its own role and function, nuances and implications. A Sentence can be termed as “A group of words that come together to convey an idea, event or description.” The sentence boundaries are easily recognized by the capital letter in the beginning and a punctuation mark (period/ full stop, exclamation mark or question mark).

Elements of a Sentence

There are basically eight parts of speech.

Sr. No.	Part of Speech	Description	Example
1	Noun	A word used to name a thing, place, person, quality, or action.	Girl, James, Canada, flowers
2	Verb	An word used to tell about the action of the subject.	Sing, Play, Writing
3	Pronoun	A word used in place of a noun	He , she, it they, we
4	Adverb	A word that modifies a verb	Quickly, lately, apparently
5	Adjective	A word that modifies a noun	Beautiful, red, huge, tiny
6	Conjunction	A word used to conjoin sentences or parts of sentences	And, or, but, while, because,
7	Preposition	A word used to show the relativity	On, after, beside, down
8	Interjection	A word used to show strong feelings	Ah! Oh! Alas! Bravo! Hurray!

Types of Sentences

There are five types of sentences.

• Declarative Sentence: Where you simply state any fact or say something.

As in: The baby is hungry.

Declarative sentences can be further classified into Affirmative Declarative Sentences and Negative Declarative Sentences.

• Interrogative Sentence: Where you interrogate or put up a question.

As in: Is the baby hungry?

• Exclamatory Sentence: Where you express sudden and intense feelings of your heart.

As in : Ah! Poor lady.

• Imperative Sentence: Where you make a wish, an order, a command or give direction.

As in: Please shut the door.

• Conditional Sentence: Where you denote dependencies or conditions.

As in: If it rains, I will not go.

The Four Kinds of Structures in English Writings

1) Simple Sentence: composed of a single independent clause and no dependent clauses.

As: Yesterday we went for shopping.

2) Compound Sentence: composed of two or more independent clauses which may be connected by a coordinating conjunction, a semicolon alone, or a semicolon and a conjunctive adverb.

As: I like apples but my sister likes grapes.

3) Complex Sentence: composed of one independent clause (the main clause) and one or more dependent clauses. The independent clause is in bold.

As: While I was going to the market, I suddenly met my one of my old childhood friends.

4) Complex Compound Sentence: composed of combining a compound sentence with a complex sentence. i.e. by two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses. The independent clause is in bold.

As: While I was going to the market, I suddenly met my one of my old childhood friends, and we together went for watching a new movie at theater nearby.