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Major Types of Sentences Explained (Plus Conditionals)

Some of the very first things you learn when you learn to write are the types of sentences used in the English language. After all, you can’t write correctly if you don’t know anything about sentences and about how each one is used (or what it is used for). In this blog post, we will discuss each sentence type and will show you an example of each one. In addition, you will learn how to differentiate between phrases and sentences. In just 5 minutes, you will learn enough to never ask the “what type of sentence is this” question. Even if you’re not going to try freelance writing jobs, this information will be useful at some point.

Phrase Vs Sentence: A Short Explanation

OK, so how many types of sentences are there? Before you get an answer to this question, we need to make sure you understand the difference between a sentence and a phrase. There are many types of phrases (noun phrases, verb phrases, etc.) and there are many types of questions. You need to know when to use any one of them if you want to learn how to write in proper English.

Here is everything you need to know when it comes to phrase vs sentence. A sentence has a subject and a predicate. Yes, it can have several clauses, but it must have a subject and a predicate. Any group of words can form a sentence, so length doesn’t matter at all. Example: “You are here.” Example using a clause: “He went fishing but didn’t catch anything.”

A phrase is basically a group of words that does not have a predicate. Why? Because the phrase does not have a verb nor a subject. Of course, this means phrases can’t be used alone. They must be used as part of a sentence (all types of sentences, in fact). Example: “Waiting for the train to stop.” Used in a complete sentence: “He took a step back, waiting for the train to stop.”

The 4 Main Types of Sentences

Now that you know the difference between a phrase and even a simple sentence, it’s time to discuss sentence types. In the English language, there are just 4 types of sentences. Each one has a different role and each one uses different punctuation marks. So, what are the four types of sentences? Let’s tell you everything you need to know about each of the four types of sentences:

  • Declarative sentence – this is a simple statement that has one sole purpose: to relay specific information. Of the four types of sentences, declarative sentences are the most common in the English language. Keep in mind that a declarative sentence always – always – ends with a period. Example: “Mary has two dogs and a cat.”
  • Imperative sentence – this sentence is used to send an instruction, issue a command, offer some advice, or make a request. This is why this type of sentence is commonly referred to as a directive sentence. It provides direction to the person it is addressed to. Most often an imperative sentence ends with a period, although it can also end with an exclamation point (especially sentences that issue a command). Example: “I need you to get out of the room now!”
  • Interrogative sentence – this sentence is used when you want to ask a direct question. Of the 4 different types of sentences, this is one of the most useful. Without it, you would not be able to engage in an interesting conversation or ask questions to gather information. As you’ve probably guessed it, an interrogative sentence always – always – ends with a question mark. Example: “Do you have any idea what the weather will be like tomorrow?”
  • Exclamatory sentence – when you need to convey to your readers your excitement or great emotion, you need to use an exclamatory sentence. Feelings like surprise, excitement, anger, and happiness should be expressed using an exclamatory sentence. The proper way to end such a sentence is, of course, with an exclamation mark. Example: “I just got an A+ on my math essay!”

So, What Are the 3 Types of Conditional Sentences?

What are the 4 types of sentences? Now you know! There is however, another very interesting question we get from our readers several times every week. What are the 3 types of conditional sentences? First, let’s explain what a conditional sentence is, because it is not part of the 4 sentences types discussed above.

Conditional sentences (also called If Clauses or Conditional Clauses) are used when the action in the main clause can happen only if the condition in the If clause is met. In other words, they describe what a certain condition results in. For example: “If I go to the theater, I will take you with me.” There are actually 3 conditional sentences types:

  1. If + Simple Present, Simple Future. Of course, the order of the clauses is not fixed. Here are some examples of this type of conditional sentence: “You will miss the train if you don’t hurry.” “If it’s sunny tomorrow, we will have a barbecue in our back yard.”
  2. If + Simple Past, Present Continuous Conditional or Present Conditional. Again, you need to be aware that the order of the clauses is not fixed. You may rearrange the pronouns, but you need to be careful to change the punctuation as well. Examples: “If he ran faster, he would have won the tournament.” “If I found his number, I would call him in 5 minutes.”
  3. If + Past Perfect, Perfect Continuous Conditional or Perfect Conditional. This conditional sentence allows you to change the order of the clauses as you see fit. However, be careful about punctuation if you do so. Examples: “If she had left, you would have not seen her at the party.” “You would have passed the bar exam if you had studied more.”

The Importance of a Good Sentences Types Quiz

The list of types of sentences with examples we provided above should help you identify each sentence type and make it clear how each type is formed and used. However, you should go a step further and take at least one excellent sentences types quiz. Studies have shown that students who take quizzes learn almost twice as fast. You can find plenty of these quizzes online or you can simply get in touch with us and ask our team to send you some. Remember, not all quizzes you find on the Internet are correct, so be careful because grammar is important.

Need Some Great Types of Sentences Worksheets?

Many students ask us “what are the 4 types of sentence structure” or “how do I end the four sentences types” every week. We hope this blog post explains not only the four most important types of sentences in English, but also the conditional clauses. As you can see, it’s not very difficult to learn how to form the four types of sentences or how to use them. However, to make sure you get an A+ on your next test, we would advise you to get some types of sentences worksheets. It’s a lot easier to learn using worksheets and it can be very fun too. Just get in touch with our experienced team of academics if you need some excellent worksheets that are 100% accurate and very well made. We’re here to help you learn English faster, after all.

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