📘 SENTENCES — Complete Study Guide (for WBCS, SLST, PSC, SSC, NTPC, IAS, etc.):
🔹 Definition
👉 A Sentence is a group of words that expresses a complete thought, having at least one subject and one finite verb.
🔹 Parts of a Sentence
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Subject → Person/thing we talk about.
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Predicate → What we say about the subject.
Example:
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The boy (Subject) / runs fast (Predicate).
⚡ In Imperatives, the subject “you” is understood.
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Sit down. (= You sit down.)
🔹 Classification by Function
1. Assertive / Declarative Sentence
👉 States a fact or opinion.
Structure:
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[Subject + Verb + Object/Complement].
Examples:
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She reads books.
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The sun rises in the east.
Identification:
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Ends with a “.”
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Straight subject–verb order.
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No command/wish/question mark.
2. Interrogative Sentence
👉 Asks a question.
Structure:
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[Auxiliary/Wh-word + Subject + Verb + … ?]
Examples:
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Do you like tea?
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Where are you going?
Identification:
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Ends with “?”
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Begins with Wh-word or auxiliary verb.
3. Imperative Sentence
👉 Expresses order, request, advice, suggestion.
Structure:
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[Verb (base form) + Object + …]
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Subject “you” is implied.
Examples:
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Sit down.
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Please help me.
Identification:
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Usually begins with a verb.
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No visible subject.
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Tone = command/request.
4. Optative Sentence
👉 Expresses wish, blessing, prayer, desire.
Structure:
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[May/Wish/If only + Subject + Verb + … !]
Examples:
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May you live long!
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Wish you success!
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If only I were rich!
Identification:
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Begins with “may/wish/if only”.
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Expresses desire, not fact.
5. Exclamatory Sentence
👉 Expresses strong feelings/emotions.
Structure:
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[What/How + adj/adv + Subject + Verb + … !]
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[Interjection + !]
Examples:
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What a beautiful flower it is!
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How sweetly she sings!
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Alas! He is dead.
Identification:
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Ends with “!”.
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Often starts with “What/How/Interjection”.
🔹 Classification by Structure
1. Simple Sentence
👉 Contains only one finite verb, i.e., one clause.
Structure:
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[Subject + Predicate]
Examples:
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He plays cricket.
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Birds fly in the sky.
Identification:
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One subject + one predicate.
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One finite verb only.
2. Compound Sentence
👉 Contains two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, so, yet, for).
Structure:
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[Clause 1 + Coordinating Conjunction + Clause 2]
Examples:
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He worked hard and he passed.
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I called him but he didn’t come.
Identification:
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Two main clauses, equal in importance.
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Connected by FANBOYS conjunctions.
3. Complex Sentence
👉 Contains one main clause and one or more subordinate clauses.
Structure:
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[Main Clause + Subordinating Conjunction + Subordinate Clause]
Examples:
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I know that he is honest.
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She cried because she failed.
Identification:
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Main clause + dependent clause.
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Subordinating words: because, if, when, that, although, since, etc.
4. Cleft Sentence
👉 Sentence split for emphasis.
Structure:
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[It + be + emphasised word/phrase + who/that + clause]
Examples:
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John broke the glass.
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→ It was John who broke the glass.
Identification:
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Begins with “It is/was … who/that …”
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Used to highlight one part.
5. Pseudo-Cleft Sentence
👉 Uses Wh-clauses for emphasis.
Structure:
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[What/Where/When + Clause + be + emphasised part]
Examples:
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What I need is a cup of tea.
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Where she lives is unknown.
Identification:
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Begins with “What/Where/When”.
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Second clause gives the focus.
🔹 Special Sentence Types
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Negative Sentence → He is not happy.
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Affirmative Sentence → He is happy.
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Conditional Sentence → If you study, you will pass.
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Emphatic Sentence → I do know the answer.
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Inverted Sentence → Never have I seen such beauty.
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Elliptical Sentence → Thanks! Stop!
🔹 Exceptional Rules
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Every sentence must have a finite verb.
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❌ “The boy on the roof.”
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✅ “The boy is on the roof.”
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One sentence may belong to two categories:
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“May God bless you!” → Optative + Exclamatory.
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Imperatives may look like simple statements but imply “You”.
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Go home = (You) go home.
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