First Grade English: Statements, Questions, Commands & Exclamations

Sentences do not all talk in the same tone of voice! Just as you can speak calmly, ask a curious question, give an important instruction, or shout with joy, written sentences wear four distinct outfits to perform four different jobs. In English grammar, these four jobs are called statements (declarative sentences), questions (interrogative sentences), commands (imperative sentences), and exclamations (exclamatory sentences). In this chapter, you will master the superpowers of all four sentence types.

The Four Sentence Types at a Glance

Each of the four sentence types serves a unique purpose and requires its own special punctuation mark at the finish line.

+-------------------------------------------------------------+
|                 THE FOUR SENTENCE SQUAD                     |
+-------------------------------------------------------------+
|  Type          | Job                   | End Mark | Example |
|  --------------+-----------------------+----------+---------|
|  STATEMENT     | Tells information     | Period   | The cat |
|  (Declarative) | or facts calmly       |   (.)    | is soft.|
|  --------------+-----------------------+----------+---------|
|  QUESTION      | Asks for information  | Question | Where is|
|  (Interrogative| or an answer          | mark (?) | my cat? |
|  --------------+-----------------------+----------+---------|
|  COMMAND       | Gives an order or     | Period   | Feed the|
|  (Imperative)  | polite direction      | or (!)   | cat now.|
|  --------------+-----------------------+----------+---------|
|  EXCLAMATION   | Expresses strong      | Exclam-  | That cat|
|  (Exclamatory) | emotion or excitement | ation (!) | is huge!|
+-------------------------------------------------------------+

1. Statements: Telling Sentences

A statement is a telling sentence. It shares a fact, an idea, or an opinion in a calm, regular speaking voice. "The sun rises in the east." "My favorite color is green." A statement always finishes with a period (.).

2. Questions: Asking Sentences

A question asks something and expects an answer. Questions frequently begin with the 5 W's and an H: Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How. "Where did you put the library book?" "Can you come over to play?" When you say a question, your voice naturally pitches up at the end, and you finish the written sentence with a question mark (?).

3. Commands: Bossy or Helpful Sentences

A command gives a direct instruction or order, telling someone what to do. "Wash your hands before dinner." "Please hand me that red pencil." In a command, the naming subject is usually invisible because the sentence is talking directly to "you"! Commands usually end with a period, but if the command is urgent ("Stop running!"), it can end with an exclamation point.

4. Exclamations: Emotional Sentences

An exclamation expresses powerful excitement, surprise, joy, or shock. "We won the championship game!" "Watch out for that bee!" Exclamations bring the emotional energy of a story to life and always finish with an exclamation point (!).

Voice Pitch: The Vocal Test

You can instantly identify the type of sentence by listening to the melody of your voice when you read it aloud.

+-------------------------------------------------------------+
|                 THE VOICE MELODY SCALE                      |
+-------------------------------------------------------------+
|                                                             |
|   Statement   : Level and steady voice      ------.         |
|   Question    : Pitches upward at the end   ------?^        |
|   Command     : Firm and clear tone         ======.         |
|   Exclamation : Energetic, loud, and joyful !!!!!!          |
|                                                             |
+-------------------------------------------------------------+

Changing Meaning with End Marks

Notice how the exact same words change meaning when you change the punctuation mark! "You are ready." (Statement: I am telling you that you are ready.) "You are ready?" (Question: I am asking if you are really ready.) "You are ready!" (Exclamation: I am celebrating that you are finally ready!)

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Read the following sentences and identify the sentence type (statement, question, command, or exclamation): Sentence A: How many stars can you count in the night sky? Sentence B: Please close the window because it is chilly outside. Sentence C: The brown bear caught a fish in the river. Sentence D: What a magnificent fireworks show that was!

Exercise 2: Write four original sentences about a puppy: one statement, one question, one command, and one exclamation.

Exercise Solutions

Solution to Exercise 1: Sentence A is a question (ends with question mark). Sentence B is a command (gives a polite instruction). Sentence C is a statement (tells a fact calmly). Sentence D is an exclamation (expresses strong excitement).

Solution to Exercise 2: A student could write: Statement: The golden puppy has floppy brown ears. Question: Did the puppy hide his favorite squeaky bone? Command: Please give the puppy a bowl of fresh water. Exclamation: Look at how fast that puppy can run!