Declarative Sentence - Explore Meaning, Definition, Types, Uses and Examples

In the English language, among the types of sentences, declarative sentences are the most used kind of sentence. In this article, you will learn the meaning, definition and types of declarative sentences. Also, take a look at the examples given and try out the practice questions to understand better.

Table of Contents

• What Is a Declarative Sentence?
  • Definition of a Declarative Sentence
• Types of Declarative Sentences with Examples
  • Simple Declarative Sentences
  • Compound Declarative Sentences
• Uses of Declarative Sentences
• Examples of Declarative Sentences
• Check Your Understanding of Declarative Sentences
• Frequently Asked Questions on Declarative Sentences in English

What Is a Declarative Sentence?

A declarative sentence is generally a simple statement that is used to provide information about something or state a fact. It ends with a full stop or a period. It is the most common type of sentence in the English language.

Definition of a Declarative Sentence

A declarative sentence, according to the Cambridge Dictionary, is “a sentence that makes a statement or states a fact.” According to the Collins Dictionary, a declarative sentence is one that is used “to declare, make known, or explain” and according to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, a declarative sentence is one that is “ in the form of a simple statement.”

Types of Declarative Sentences with Examples

A declarative sentence can be a simple or compound sentence and they make the two types of declarative sentences. Now, let us look at these two types in detail.

Simple Declarative Sentences

A simple declarative sentence is in the form of a simple sentence and has just a subject and predicate. It mostly follows sentence patterns like SV, SVO, SVC, SVA, ASVO, etc. Take a look at the following examples for a much better understanding of how they work.

Examples of Simple Declarative Sentences:

• Subject + Verb
  • The dogs / are barking.
  • It / is raining.
• Subject + Verb + Object
  • I / like / mangoes.
  • My brother / had / his breakfast.
• Subject + Verb + Complement
  • The sky / is / blue.
  • This dish / tastes / delicious.
• Subject + Verb + Adjunct
  • She / reached / yesterday.
  • I /am moving / to France.
• Adjunct + Subject + Verb + Object
  • Last week, / I / met / my friend.
  • Yesterday, / Deenu / bought / a bike.

Compound Declarative Sentences

A compound declarative sentence, as the name suggests, is a compound sentence that has two independent clauses linked by a coordinating conjunction. Given below are a few examples for your reference.

Examples of Compound Declarative Sentences:

• I like watching feel-good movies, but my brother likes watching horror movies.
• Sherly is not keeping well, so she decided to take a day off work.
• The results have been announced and I have scored the highest grades.
• I should somehow complete my homework or I will have to face the consequences.
• Kenny had completely no idea about what was going to happen at the event, yet he made it a point to come for the sake of his friends.

Uses of Declarative Sentences

A declarative sentence can be used,

• To provide general information about something casual or day-to-day routine,
• To inform your audience about something specific,
• To state general or scientific facts,
• To explain something.

Examples of Declarative Sentences

Have a look at the following examples of declarative sentences in order to understand how they can be used to perform the different functions as discussed.

Providing information about something casual

• I like dancing.
• Cathy is at the park.
• He lost his cat.

Providing information about your day-to-day activities

• I go to school by bus.
• They start work at 9:30 a.m.
• Everyday, Lisa reads the newspaper in the morning.

Informing your audience about something specific

• Jancy watched KGF 2 on the first day of its release.
• The reception starts at 5 p.m.
• My brother is twenty years old.

Stating general or scientific facts

• The Sun sets in the West.
• Barack Obama was the 44^th president of the United States.
• COVID cases are rising day by day.

Explaining something

• The process of photosynthesis helps plants to create oxygen and energy for its survival.
• Fiction is a genre of literature and it is liked by all.
• There are eight parts of speech in the English language.

Check Your Understanding of Declarative Sentences

Try answering the following questions to form positive declarative sentences by using the general sentence structure – Subject + Verb + Object.

1. Is she coming home?

2. Can Manassa sing?

3. Will he be home for Christmas?

4. Do you like chocolates?

5. Did you bake these cheesecakes?

6. Is it raining in Chennai?

7. Are you sure you can do it?

8. Is Sam the leader of the group?

9. Was the book interesting?

10. Do you speak Spanish?

Check your answers from the list given below.

1. She is coming home.

2. Manasa can sing.

3. He will be home for Christmas.

4. I like chocolates.

5. I baked these cheesecakes.

6. It is raining in Chennai.

7. I am sure I can do it.

8. Sam is the leader of the group.

9. The book was interesting.

10. I speak Spanish.