| Type |
Definition |
Example |
Effect |
| Declarative |
A statement or ‘normal’ sentence with a subject and verb, ending with a full stop. These can be simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex. |
“I am Ozymandias.” |
Conveys straightforward information and can be imbued with any tone (e.g. factual, nostalgic, argumentative) depending on the length, diction, and context. |
| Declarative |
Simple |
A declarative sentence with just one independent clause (i.e. a subject + verb), typically a short sentence. |
“Thought is free.” |
Present information unambiguously, conveying certainty or absolute truth. Short, simple sentences can also be used to vary the rhythm and flow of a passage. |
| Compound |
Two independent clauses joined by a conjunction (remember FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so). |
“Hell is empty and all the devils are here.” |
Creates an association between two ideas which can suggest a cause-and-effect relationship or a relationship of similarity or contrast. |
| Complex |
One independent clause plus one or more dependent clauses (i.e. phrases that can’t be a standalone sentence) that starts with a subordinating conjunction (e.g. although, while, because). |
“When he shall die, Take him and cut him out in little stars” |
Add depth, nuance, and associations to otherwise simple statements, allowing an author to explore more sophisticated ideas. Combining these into compoundcomplex sentences further allows an author to write longer sentences that convey more intricacies or interconnectedness than simple sentences can. |
| Imperative |
A command or request that begins with a verb and is directed at a person. |
“Get thee to a nunnery!” |
Convey authority, control, urgency, desperation, or certainty. Typically these statements come across as either forceful/demanding or pleading/despairing. |
| Interrogative |
A question statement ending in a question mark. This could be a real question or a rhetorical one. |
“Is this a dagger which I see before me?” |
Provoke contemplation and reflection when directed at the audience, or express curiosity, uncertainty, or apprehension when used as character dialogue. |
| Exclamative |
Express strong emotion and end with an exclamation mark. These may be single words or sentence fragments, also known as interjections. |
“O Romeo, Romeo!” |
Heighten emotional intensity and emphasise extreme feeling – this could be anything: surprise, joy, rage, longing, etc. |
| Conditional/hypothetical |
Uses words like ‘if’ or ‘unless’ to describe a possibility or something that depends on a certain condition. |
“If you prick us, do we not bleed?” |
Encourage readers to consider a possible scenario and contemplate hypothetical circumstances in order to make a point |
| Elliptical |
A sentence that omits information, sometimes with the use of an ellipsis (…) or other times with concise grammar. |
“She loves him, and he her” |
Reduces unnecessary words or phrases to distil an idea down to its most simple or elegant expression, or to leave unspoken ideas and emotions implied. |
