eng9-4.1· Unit 4: Syntax· ~13 min

Sentence types and word order

Statements, questions, commands and the order of words in a sentence

English sentences belong to four types by purpose: a declarative sentence makes a statement and ends with a full stop (She lives in Baku.); an interrogative sentence asks a question and ends with a question mark (Where do you live?); an imperative sentence gives a command or request and usually begins with the base verb (Close the door, please.); and an exclamatory sentence shows strong feeling (What a beautiful day!). To make yes/no questions we put the auxiliary or 'be' before the subject (Do you like tea? Is she ready? Can he swim?), and wh-questions follow the pattern Wh-word + auxiliary + subject + verb (Where do you live?). When the question word is the subject, we keep normal order and use no extra auxiliary (Who came late?). The basic word order of a statement is Subject + Verb + Object; adverbs of frequency such as always, never and often go before the main verb but after 'be' (She always works hard; She is always late). We also use 'There is/There are' to say that something exists and the impersonal 'It' for weather, time and general statements. For example: 'There is a book on the desk, and it is very interesting.'

Key terms

Declarative sentence — A sentence that makes a statement and ends with a full stop, for example 'She lives in Baku.'
Interrogative sentence — A sentence that asks a question and ends with a question mark, for example 'Where do you live?'
Imperative sentence — A sentence that gives a command or request and usually begins with the base verb, for example 'Close the door, please.'
Exclamatory sentence — A sentence that shows strong feeling and ends with an exclamation mark, for example 'What a beautiful day!'
SVO word order — The basic order of a statement in English: Subject + Verb + Object, for example 'She reads a book.'
Adverb of frequency — A word such as always, never, often, usually or sometimes that goes before the main verb but after the verb 'be', for example 'She always works hard; She is always late.'
Four sentence types by purpose
TypePurposeExample
DeclarativeMakes a statement; ends with a full stopMy sister works in a hospital.
InterrogativeAsks a question; ends with a question markWhere do you live?
ImperativeGives a command or request; begins with the base verbPlease close the window.
ExclamatoryShows strong feeling; ends with an exclamation markWhat a wonderful surprise!
Word order patterns
PatternOrderExample
StatementSubject + Verb + ObjectShe reads a book.
Yes/no questionAuxiliary/'be' + Subject + VerbDo you like coffee?
Wh-questionWh-word + Auxiliary + Subject + VerbWhere does your brother work?
Subject questionWh-word (subject) + Verb (no auxiliary)Who broke the window?
Place and timeVerb + Object + Place + TimeWe saw her at the station yesterday.
✎Building a wh-question with an auxiliary
  1. 1Statement: Start from the statement 'Your brother works here.' (Subject + Verb).
  2. 2Choose the wh-word: To ask about the place of work, use 'Where'.
  3. 3Add the auxiliary before the subject: Use the auxiliary 'does' (he/she/it) and put it before the subject: Where + does + your brother.
  4. 4Use the base verb: After the auxiliary, the main verb becomes the base form 'work': 'Where does your brother work?'
✎Placing an adverb of frequency
  1. 1With the main verb: Adverbs of frequency go before the main verb: 'He always does his homework on time.'
  2. 2With the verb 'be': After the verb 'be' the adverb comes right after it: 'She is always late for school.'
  3. 3Check the position: Do not put the adverb at the end or after the object; 'They often go to the cinema' is correct, not 'They go often to the cinema.'
🚫Common mistake

In a statement keep Subject + Verb + Object: write 'She reads a book.', not 'She a book reads.' or 'Reads she a book.' The object must come after the verb, never before it.

🚫Common mistake

In a question the auxiliary or 'be' must come before the subject: write 'Where does your brother work?' and 'Was Tom late yesterday?', not 'Where your brother does work?' or 'Tom was late?'

🚫Common mistake

Place the adverb of frequency before the main verb but after 'be': write 'My father always drives carefully' and 'She is always late', not 'My father drives always carefully' or 'She always is late.'

⚠️Caution

When the wh-word is the subject, keep normal order and add no auxiliary: write 'Who broke the window?' and 'Who gave you this present?', not 'Who did break the window?' Use 'There is/There are' for existence and impersonal 'It' for weather, time and general statements.

Rules

  1. 1Four sentence types: declarative (statement, .), interrogative (question, ?), imperative (command/request: Open the door.), exclamatory (What a day!).
  2. 2Yes/no questions invert the auxiliary or 'be' with the subject (Do you...? Is she...? Can he...?); wh-questions use Wh-word + auxiliary + subject + verb.
  3. 3When the wh-word is the subject, keep normal order and add no auxiliary (Who came? What happened?).
  4. 4Statement order is Subject + Verb + Object; adverbs of frequency go before the main verb but after 'be' (She always works; She is always late); place comes before time (... at school yesterday).
  5. 5Use 'There is/There are' to say something exists; use impersonal 'It' for weather, time and general statements (It is cold; It is important to study).

Practice

15 easy · 15 medium · 15 hard

10 random questions per test

EasyMediumHardMixed