Sentence (linguistics)

In linguistics, a sentence is a unit of language, characterised in most languages by the presence of a finite verb. For example, "The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog." The shortest legal sentences in the English language are "I am" and "I do" - although with some bending of the rules, the imperative "Go!" can be considered the shortest correct sentence.

Related Topics:
Linguistics - Language - Finite verb - The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog - Imperative

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Traditionally, each sentence is regarded as having a subject, an object and a verb, even if one of these is implied. See grammar for more details. The objects that modify the noun phrase collectively form the predicate of a sentence. An incomplete sentence is called a sentence fragment.

Related Topics:
Subject - Object - Verb - Grammar - Noun phrase - Predicate - Sentence fragment

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the English language, linguists classify sentences into one of four types based on their structure:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Simple sentence
• Compound sentence
• Complex sentence
• Compound-complex sentence

Sentences can also be classified based on their purpose:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

; Declarative sentences (Declarations)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

: Used to state a fact or argument that does not require a response from the listener. For example:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:: I am going home.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

; Interrogative sentences

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

: Used to ask a question that expects an answer from the listener. For example:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:: When are you going to work?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

; Rhetorical questions

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

: Appears in the form of a question that is not expected to be answered by the listener and generally used emphasize a statement or argument. For example:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:: Who am I to question his authority?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

; Exclamatory sentences (Exclamations)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

: Used to make a forceful or emphatic statement or argument. Can also be an interjection. For example:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:: This is such a wonderful day!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:: Wow!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

; Imperative sentences (Imperatives)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

: Used to give a direct command or request to the listener. Can also appear in the form of a question. For example:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:: Go do your homework.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:: Would you please pass the bread?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~