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Linguistics is tedious (Photo credit: Drew Tolson) 1. THE SENTENCE
DEFINITION We use words to denote or point out objects.
We also use words to express our feelings and thoughts.
When we want to do any of these things, we use a word to point out an object or a particular feeling or thought i.e. Mountain, Table, Hunger, Anger.
These words indicate a particular object or feeling or thought.
But, when we want to speak or write about more than one object, more than one idea, we use groups of words.
When we use a group of words, we can express our feelings or thoughts.
But, mere group of words alone will not convey complete meaning.
So, we have to use group of words to convey complete meaning.
This is called ‘SENTENCE’.
For ex; ‘SUN RISES IN THE EAST’.
Here we have complete meaning.
Therefore, ‘A Group of words which makes complete sense is called a sentence’.
Example: Two plus two equals four.
Sachin Tednulkar is a master batsman.
India is a great country.’
VARIOUS KINDS OF SENTENCES
We can always state a fact or that which has happened,
SENTENCE that states which happened ,happens or which will happen. We can also state some general truths.
Example:
My name is Anand) (fact).
Earth is in the Solar System (fact and truth).
Those that are born, shall die (truth).
These types of statements, when we express a fact or a Universal truth, we make Assertive statements.
An Assertive statement is a statement when we make an assertion or statement.
We cannot live on making only assertive statements.
Supposing, I want to go to Bangalore,
How can we express this?
By an Assertive statement?
If we say, ‘I want to go to Bangalore’, your friend will either keep quiet or laugh, because, he would not know what you want. Therefore, we need to ask questions as well, when we need something.
If we are hungry, we go to a hotel and we ask the bearer ‘what is available; then he tells us as what is available.
A statement that contains a question is called an ‘INTERROGATIVE SENTENCE’.
Example: What is your father?
Where do you work?
What do you like to eat?
How are you?
Why are you unhappy?
Where is your brother?
IMPERATIVE These two kinds of sentences are not enough. Suppose you
SENTENCES want to request somebody or command order somebody, then, we use different kinds of sentences. .
Be quiet – command
May I come in ? – Request
‘
A sentence that contains a request or command is called an ‘Imperative sentence’.
EXCLAMATORY SENTENCE. Sometimes, you have strong feelings. Say, somebody steps on your feet in a bus, what do you do?
Do you say, ‘you have stepped on my feet?
No, you say ‘Oh…. Ouch’ Similarly, when you watch a Cricket match, a batsman hits a huge six, what do you say? ‘Wow!, What a shot/six.
A sentence that expresses a strong feeling is called an ‘EXCLAMATORY SENTENCE’’.
Therefore, there are four kinds of sentences.
ASSERTIVE sentence is one that makes a statement of fact/truth.
INTERROGATIVE sentence is one that asks a question.
IMPERATIVE sentence is one that contains a request or command.
EXCLAMATORY sentence is one that expresses strong feelings.
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