What Is a Declarative Sentence in Vocabulary?

Characteristics

• A declarative sentence is a sentence that makes a statement. Declarative sentences always end with a period. If a sentence asks a question, expresses strong emotion, gives a command or makes a request, it cannot be a declarative sentence. If a sentence ends with a question mark or an exclamation point, it is not a declarative sentence.

Distinction

• "Where are you from?" does not qualify as a declarative sentence because it asks a question. Sentences that ask questions are referred to as "interrogative sentences." "Put your clothes in the hamper" does not qualify as a declarative sentence because it gives a command. Any sentence that gives a command or makes a request is referred to as an "imperative sentence." "I can't believe I won!" is not a declarative sentence because it expresses a strong emotion, in this case excitement and surprise. Any sentence that expresses strong emotion is referred to as an "exclamatory sentence."

Types

• There are four types of declarative sentences. A declarative sentence can be "simple," "compound," "complex" or "compound-complex." Simple declarative sentences contain one independent clause (a clause that forms a sentence by itself). A "compound declarative sentence" contains two independent clauses joined together by a conjunction or a punctuation mark. A "complex declarative sentence" contains at least one dependent clause (a clause that has a subject and verb but does not form a complete thought) and one independent clause. A "compound-complex declarative sentence" contains at least one dependent clause and at least two independent clauses.

Examples

• The following are all examples of declarative sentences:

  "She is wearing a red hat." This is an example of a simple declarative sentence.

  "John went to the store but Mary stayed home." This is an example of a compound declarative sentence.

  "While it was raining, the cat stayed inside." This is an example of a complex declarative sentence.

  "Although she was tired, Suzy couldn't go to sleep because the baby was fussy." This is an example of a compound-complex declarative sentence.