The Sentence | English Grammar Class 3 PDF Download

Important Terms for Sentence

• A sentence always begins with a capital letter.
• The words of a sentence are placed in a proper order.
• There must be a verb in a sentence.
• A sentence always ends with a full stop, a question mark, or an exclamation mark.

Read the following group of words:

• Sings well very Supriya
• A fruit mango is a
• Play ball with children
• Rails the train on runs

These groups of words do not make any sense. Therefore, they are not sentences.

They will make sense only when arranged in a proper order, as:

• Supriya sings well.
• A mango is a fruit.
• Children play with ball.
• The train runs on rails.

These groups of words make sense and they are giving some meaning, so they are sentences.

Subject and Predicate

Read the following groups of words:

• of gold
• the new pen
• to my door
• dancing birds
• in the west

These groups of words do not make complete sense. They are phrases and not sentences. They do not have a subject or a predicate. A sentence must have a subject about whom we speak, and a predicate what we speak. Thus a sentence should have two parts—a Subject and a Predicate.

What is Subject?
The subject is that part of a sentence which names the person, place, thing or idea that is doing something. The subject are generally nouns, pronouns, determiners or adjectives.

For example:

• The postman brings letters for us.
• Amit and Rajesh are friends.
• She is a beautiful lady.

Example of Subject

Subject of a sentence usually comes before the predicate, but sometimes the subject is put after the predicate.

What is Predicate?
The predicate is that part of a sentence that tells something about the subject. This is the remaining part of the sentence after subject.

For example:

• Gopal is reading a novel.
• Ragini is a good dancer.
• The dog is a faithful animal.

Examples of Predicate

Kinds of Sentences

Sentences are of five kinds according to their meaning and purpose:

1. Assertive Sentence
An Assertive Sentence is a sentence which makes a statement or an assertion. An assertive sentence ends with a full stop.

For example:

• Rana is a good boy.
• Rana reads in class V.

2. Interrogative Sentence
An Interrogative Sentence is a sentence that asks question. Interrogative sentences end with a question mark.

For example:

• Where are your glasses?
• Why are you standing here?

3. Imperative Sentence
An Imperative Sentence is a sentence that expresses a command or a request. Imperative sentences end with a full stop.

For example:

• Johnny! Open your mouth! (Command)
• Please lend me your book. (Request)

4. An Exclamatory Sentence
An Exclamatory Sentence is a sentence that expresses a strong feeling or sudden remark. Exclamatory sentences end with an exclamation mark.

For example:

• How naughty your brother is!
• How I wonder what you are!

5. Optative Sentence
An optative sentence makes a prayer, a wish or a desire. Optative sentences end with a full stop or an exclamation mark.

For example:

• May you win the match! (prayer)
• Would that I was the Prime Minister! (wish)

Note: From the above sentences it is clear that:
Every sentence begins with a Capital Letter.
Every Assertive or Imperative Sentence ends with a Full Stop (.).
Every Interrogative Sentence ends with a Question Mark (?).
Every Exclamatory Sentence ends with an Exclamation Mark (!)
Every Operative Sentence ends with full stop (.) or an Exclamation Mark (!)

Transformation of Sentences

A sentence can be changed from one kind to another without changing its meaning.

An exclamatory sentence can be changed into a declarative sentence and vice versa.

Example: 

• What an amazing scenery (it is)! (exclamatory)
• It is an amazing scenery. (declarative)

2. From Declarative to Interrogative

A declarative sentence can be changed into an interrogative sentence by putting the verb before the subject. 

Example:

• She is very kind. (declarative)
• Isn’t she very kind? (interrogative)

Note: In order not to change the meaning, use “Isn’t”, “Aren’t”, “Hasn’t” and “Won’t”.

When a declarative sentence has two verbs-one helping and one main, it can be changed into an interrogative sentence by putting the subject between the two verbs.

Example:

• She has finished her homework. (declarative)
• Hasn’t she finished her homework? (interrogative)

When a declarative sentence contains the adverb never, it becomes ever in the interrogative sentence. 

Example:

• I never asked you to do it. (declarative)
• Did I ever ask you to do it? (interrogative)

When a declarative sentence contains the adverb no, it becomes any in the interrogative sentence.

Example:

• There is no fun in doing that. (declarative)
• Is there any fun in doing that? (interrogative)