| 释义 |
Declarative, interrogative, and imperative statements Each sentence in English provides some type of information. For example, a sentence can be a statement, a question, a request, a command, a denial or a response, etc. In English the choice and order of the parts of a sentence help us express these meanings.Most statements and denials are in the declarative. An important feature of declarative sentences is that they have a subject that comes before the verb.- Our dog eats any old thing.
- Our dog won’t just eat any old thing.
- The dog has already been fed.
- The dog hasn’t been fed yet.
- We have already won several races.
- We haven’t won any races yet.
Most questions are in the interrogative. An important feature of interrogative sentences is that they normally have a subject that comes after an auxiliary verb.- Does your dog eat any old thing?
- Has the dog already been fed?
- Hasn’t the dog been fed yet?
- Have you won any races yet?
- Haven’t you won any races yet?
If the subject does come first it will be a special question word.- Who won the race?
- Which team was it?
- Exceptionally, we can ask questions using the declarative. We do this by using a special tone of voice.
- You’re telling me he has a new car? I don’t believe it.
- It’s raining again? That makes three days running.
Many commands are in the imperative. Commands in the imperative have no word that acts as a subject, though the subject is understood to be you. Commands in the imperative can sometimes sound rude or impatient.- Eat up quickly. We have to go!
- Leave me alone.
- On your marks, get set … go!
- We can make a request, which is a type of command, sound more polite by using the interrogative.
- Would you feed the dog, please.
- Would you mind shutting the door.
- Could I have that now, thank you.
Not all imperative sentences are orders or commands. They can be social expressions.- Have a nice day.
- Get well soon.
- Help yourselves to coffee.
There is also a subjunctive form. This is rarely used in English now. It may be used when you want to talk about an improbable or unlikely situation.- If I were Prime Minister, I’d spend more money on education.
|