Hi Camila,

These are mostly ways of specifying a particular Paris. When you introduce ‘the’ to a name, it identifies it as one particular (the most important/singular, or the specific one in question) example of that name. In some cases, you have additional information to also specify/identify it (the capital, which is in France, French). In some cases, though, you are adding particular emphasis, e.g. using ‘THE’ to make it clear you are talking about that one and not another.

Phil

Paris is beautiful.
The Paris is beautiful.
THE Paris is beautiful (capital letters are heavy stressed).
The Paris which is in France is beautiful.
The French Paris is Beautiful.
Paris the capital is beautiful.
The Paris the capital is beautiful.
The Paris, which is in France, is beautiful.
Paris, which is in France, is beautiful.

Hi Shizuka,

It depends what you want to achieve by labeling the different sentences – in some cases certainly the only difference between an exclamatory sentence and a declarative one will be the punctuation, but they do function differently, as exclamatory sentences do not necessarily require a subject or verb, which makes them quite separate to declarative statements.

But yes, you are correct on that – most such sentences are declarative with only minor exceptions.

Phil

Hi Phil,

But exclamatory sentences are in fact declarative sentences too right? Meaning to say exclamatory sentences are a sub-set of declarative sentences?

Oh my apologies, but what I meant to ask by my earlier question (i.e. “Lastly, apart from the sentences that end with question marks (i.e. the questions), is it right to say that all the other sentences thus far in this article, as well as this very post, are declarative sentences?”) is simply to confirm the idea that since declaratory sentences are the most common type of english sentences, and to demonstrate this point, this article itself and its comments are primarily declarative in nature (since they convey information instead of asking for information), with the exception of minor parts here and there (such as “Thanks!”) which maybe exclamatory (but again exclamatory sentences are yet another sub-category of declarative sentences)?

Regards,
Shizuka

Hi Shizuka,

Firstly, yes, those would still be declarative statements – the fact that they declare doubts doesn’t make them any less true as statements: “I am unsure” is grammatically as truthful a declaration as, for example, “I am 20 years old”. Be careful not to confuse the meaning of what is being declared with the function of the sentence, which is simply to present information.

I’d say declarative sentences could end in a variety of ways. They could be clipped with dashes if interrupted, for example, or ellipses if not quite a complete idea (or to indicate an open-ended thought), or end with an exclamation mark to show emotion or even a question mark if we want to demonstrate doubt (though the line here between a declarative statement and a tag question would be very subjective). It becomes rather subjective if we’re talking about exclamatory sentences; again it will depend a bit on what you’re trying to define or help explain, as if we’re looking at the function of a sentence, the punctuation itself doesn’t change the purpose of the sentence, it’s more evident in the structural grammar, or perhaps the context. We might present something surprising with an exclamation mark, but I’d argue if the function is present information rather than convey emotion then the sentence is declaratory rather than exclamatory. Perhaps that’s my personal take though, again, it depends what you’re trying to achieve by labelling the sentences…

On the last point, well I can’t go through checking every sentence, but your “Thanks!” would be more accurately exclamatory.

Phil

Thanks! I do have some further questions about declarative sentences though. Since the definition of declarative sentences is that these sentences simply “tell us something. They give us information, and they normally end with a full-stop/period” and that declarative sentences are so named because they state or declare to us some information, to me it seems as though normal statements that lack emotions or doubts are definitely or easily recognizable as declarative sentences. But what about statements like “It would be helpful though, if you consider option A”, or “I am unsure about this”, or “this is so confusing and frustrating”. Firstly, are these examples (that I’ve just quoted, and which reflects the doubts/emotions of the speaker – that is, these examples are not strong statements of facts or statements of strong assertion, but rather statements of emotions as well as doubts from the speaker/writer) also considered as declarative sentences?

Secondly, is it always true that declarative sentences end with a period (i.e. full-stop)?

Thirdly, what about the statements above, esp the ones of strong emotion (such as “this is so confusing and frustrating”), is it grammatical to end such sentences with exclamation marks instead of a period? And is it a case where if i end such sentences (of strong emotion or doubt instead of “cold hard facts” kind of nature) with a period, this makes it a declarative sentence, but if i were to end it with an exclamation mark, then it no longer is a declarative sentence?

Lastly, apart from the sentences that end with question marks (i.e. the questions), is it right to say that all the other sentences thus far in this article, as well as this very post, are declarative sentences?

Thanks!

Regards,
Shizuka

Hi Shizuka,
Sorry for the slow reply but yes, all of that seems to be correct, and indeed an accurate concern in (g) – certainly declarative sentences do not have to be in the present tense. It’s a good summary of the points, I should ask you to write articles here!
Phil

I have a question about types of sentence, in particular, about declarative sentences. Would like to seek your advice whether the following is correct:

(a) in general, if we classify sentences by purpose, then the English language has the followings types of sentences: “Declarative, Interrogative and imperative”

(b) English sentences can also be classified by structure, whether the sentence is a simple, compound sentence, complex sentence or compound-complex sentence.

(c) All four of types of sentence structures—simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences—can be made into Declarative, Interrogative and imperative sentences

(d) A declarative sentence is a sentence which makes a statement or argument about what is, was, or will be the case. That is, it talks about that which is/was/will be either objectively true or subjectively true (i.e. asserted to be true).

(e) A declarative sentence can be either positive (e.g. she loves chocolate) or negative (e.g. she does not love chocolate)

(f) Declarative, Interrogative and imperative sentences can be formed in any of the twelve tenses of English

(g) Lastly, I have heard that a declarative sentences must be “written in the present tense and usually ends with a period”. This doesn’t seem to resonate with (f) above, and actually I believe (f) to be correct – that is, declarative, interrogative and imperative sentences can be formed in any of the English tenses.

May I know if the above points are correct? Thanks!

Regards,
Shizuka

Hi Tim,

Yes I think you’re right there with how sentences and paragraphs should connect, and I think that’s a good indicator, when a sentence does not directly connect to the preceding one a new paragraph is probably appropriate.

That’s correct, regarding compound sentences and yes I think that’s a reasonable way to look at a complex sentence, without it being compound-complex, we are essentially expanding on a key idea with extra information when we create complex sentences. (Though of course this in the sense that we are talking about each verb representing an idea grammatically speaking – it might be better to refer to a complete grammatical idea, as we could of course have other ideas that aren’t necessarily clauses, such as ideas conveyed by multiple nouns or prepositional phrases.)

Yes, I guess the main thing is that sentences do play a role in any speech or writing.

Also, I suppose the common guide or rule for writing/speaking is that each sentence within a paragraph should express or convey an idea that is related to the ideas conveyed by the other sentences within the same paragraph, such that collectively all these related ideas (from the sentences) all add up to give the main idea that the paragraph is trying to express, and further, that all these main ideas contributed by the paragraphs should essentially relate back to or support the main theme or idea that the whole essay/article is trying to convey to the reader – right? If the idea expressed by a particular sentence do not relate to the other ideas expressed by the other sentences within the same para, then i suppose the best thing to do would be to start a new para with this particular sentence?

I do have some further queries regarding sentences in general:

For instance, compound sentences basically join two or more simple sentences together, and hence a compound sentence can convey two or more ideas since each simple sentence itself conveys one idea, right?

Regarding complex sentence (which comprises one main clause and one or more subordinate clauses), is it a case where the entire complex sentence still conveys one idea, that is the subordinate clauses themselves do not convey ideas but simply support the idea conveyed by the main clause, and so effectively the entire sentence only conveys one idea?