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!