Declarative Sentence

Definition with Examples

A declarative sentence is a sentence we use in our daily life to convey a message or to express what is in our mind. They are just normal sentences, conveying an information and do not express any strong emotion or interrogation.

Think about the statements you make in your everyday life like, I have to go to school, I am getting late, the chemistry teacher is absent today etc. These statements are declarative statements. That is, a declarative statement is used to express an idea, communicate a desire or tell an opinion or to share information.

Are the declarative sentences the only statements we make in our daily life? No! In our day to day communication with others we also communicate strong emotions, express anger or frustration, ask questions and express various other emotions; but those will be covered under interrogative, exclamatory or imperative sentences.

Declarative sentences are the most commonly used sentences in our daily life. Below given are few examples of declarative sentences-

1) I am going to college tomorrow.

2) We must study well for the exams.

3) Today we have to attend Physics lab.

4) India is the fastest growing economy.

5) I would like to go to the annual fest.

6) My friend is participating in the cleanliness campaign.

7) We should leave early.

8) My dog likes milk and bread.

9) She looked a little nervous during exams.

10) My father is coming to the hostel tomorrow.

All the above sentences are normal declarations, used to convey a message, thought, information etc; they don’t ask any questions neither do they express any strong emotion.

Declarative sentences always end with a full stop (.).

Parts of Declarative Sentences

A declarative sentence is divided into three parts-

  1. a) Subject,
  2. b) Predicate,
  3. c) Punctuation

All the three parts of a declarative sentence are explained below with the help of suitable examples.

  1. a) Subject

A subject in a declarative sentence is a noun or pronoun about whom the information is being conveyed or who constitute the topic of conversation. We will go through few examples of declarative sentences and identify the subjects in them-

  • Ronit is not attending school today.

The speaker is making a statement about Ronit; therefore, ‘Ronit’ is the subject.

  • He is writing a letter to the warden.

A pronoun ‘He’ is executing the verb; therefore, the subject in the declarative sentence is ‘He’.

  • There is a man standing on the door.

The subject is a noun- ‘man’.

  • The market is crowded with people.

‘Market’ is the subject in above declarative statement.

  • The cat is napping on the bed.

‘Cat’ is the subject in the above declarative sentence.

Try forming as many declarative statements as you can and identify the subjects.

  1. b) Predicate

The part of a declarative statement excluding the subject is known as ‘predicate’; that is, a predicate includes the verb and also other information. Read the below sentences-

  • Life becomes easier if you plan it.

Subject- ‘Life’; Predicate- ‘becomes easier if you plan it’.

  • Principal is going to teach us physics today.

Predicate- ‘is going to teach us physics today’.

  • I got late for the meeting.

Predicate- ‘got late for the meeting’.

  • The dog was barking incessantly.

Predicate- ‘was barking incessantly’.

  • People judge by appearances.

Predicate- ‘judge by appearance’.

Practice by forming other declarative statements and determine their subjects and predicates.

  1. c) Punctuation

The punctuation mark of a declarative sentence is what makes the sentence different from other types of sentences. A declarative sentence always ends with a full stop (.) as punctuation; in other words any sentence that ends with a full stop (.) is declarative.

Identifying a Declarative Statement

There are three basic things you should look upon before declaring a statement as declarative; or, even forming a declarative sentence as given below-

  1. a) The Punctuation

A declarative sentence always ends with a period or a full stop (.). If a sentence doesn’t end with a full stop then you are probably looking at some other type of sentence; perhaps an imperative or interrogative sentence.

  • The guard is sleeping.
  • It is raining heavily.
  • It is getting colder every day.
  • The Christmas is arriving fast.
  • I am leaving for my home tomorrow.

All the above sentences are declarative sentences ending with a full stop (.).

Now go through the same sentences with a changed punctuation mark-

  • The guard is sleeping!
  • It is raining heavily!
  • It is getting coder every day!
  • The Christmas is arriving fast!
  • I am leaving for my home tomorrow!

The above statements are not declarative as they end with a different punctuation i.e. an exclamation (!).

  1. b) Only Share Information

The next thing you should look into before identifying or forming a declarative sentence is that- they only share information. A declarative sentence doesn’t make requests or expresses emotions, or give a command; it rather just conveys information.

Imperative sentences (making a request or a command) also end with a full stop; but, should not be confused with declarative statements.

For Example-

  • Please don’t leave the kids alone. (request)
  • Please be kind to others. (request)
  • Pass the salt. (command)
  • Do your homework. (command)
  • Complete all pending home work by tomorrow. (command)

The above statements are not declarative even though they end with a period (.).

  1. c) The Correct Order

Another point to look into before deciding on whether the given statement is declarative or not or even before forming a new declarative statement is – the subject must always come before the verb.

For example, go through the below sentences-

  • She is feeling happy.
  • They are studying for the exams.
  • Teacher is checking the answer sheets.
  • The dog is barking.
  • They are playing cricket.

In all the above declarative statements the subject comes before the verb or the auxiliary verb. If we place the verbs before the statements then the statements no longer remains declarative, like-

  • Is she feeling happy?
  • Are they studying for the exams?
  • Is the teacher checking the answer sheets?
  • Is the dog barking?
  • Are they playing cricket?

The statements become interrogative ending with a question mark (?) and no longer remain declarative. Therefore the correct order of forming a declarative statement is that the subject should always come before the verb.

Worksheet/Activities

MCQs Exercises/Worksheet/Activities on Declarative Statements with Answers:

Complete the below given statements with the choices given to make a declarative statement. Check your answers with those provided at the end of the exercise-

1) _________ going home tomorrow.

  1. a) I am
  2. b) Am I
  3. c) Is he

2) ________ wrote a letter to the head of the department.

  1. a) Did he
  2. b) Please
  3. c) She

3) _______ guard was sleeping on duty.

  1. a) Why the
  2. b) The
  3. c) Is

4) ________ was a good movie.

  1. a) He
  2. b) She
  3. c) It

5) ________ sister was sick.

  1. a) Why her
  2. b) His
  3. c) Because her

6) _________ a beautiful car.

  1. a) it is
  2. b) is it
  3. c) what

7) __________ is pursuing a course in economics.

  1. a) Is he
  2. b) He is
  3. c) Who

8) ___________ leaving for Wellington tomorrow.

  1. a) Who is
  2. b) Is she
  3. c) She is

9) ________ to attend the practical today.

  1. a) Are you going
  2. b) Have I
  3. c) I have

10) _________ someone on the door.

  1. a) There is
  2. b) Is there
  3. c) Is

11) ___________ seen the movie many times.

  1. a) He has
  2. b) Has he
  3. c) Who has

12) _________ studying well for the exams.

  1. a) Are they
  2. b) They are
  3. c) Is he not

13) _________ loves shopping for festival.

  1. a) She
  2. b) I
  3. c) It

14) _______ very cold outside.

  1. a) Is it
  2. b) Why is it
  3. c) It is

15) ________ new car is red on color.

  1. a) Is my
  2. b) My
  3. c) Why the

16) _______ going for the annual meet.

  1. a) He is
  2. b) Is he
  3. c) Who is

17) _________ received the best student’s award.

  1. a) Did he
  2. b) Who
  3. c) He

18) ___________ hates doing homework on Sundays.

  1. a) Did she
  2. b) She
  3. c) Who

19) ________ finding it difficult to meet the demands.

  1. a) She is
  2. b) Is she
  3. c) Are they

20) __________ fresh in the morning.

  1. a) Is the air
  2. b) The air is
  3. c) Is it not

Answers:

1)a, 2)c, 3)b, 4)c, 5)b, 6)a, 7)b, 8)c, 9)c, 10)a, 11)a, 12)b, 13)a, 14)c, 15)b, 16)a, 17)c, 18)b, 19)a, 20)b

Identify the Declarative Statements/ (True or False) Exercises/Worksheet/Activities:

Identify the declarative statements from the below given statements and also verify your progress with the answers provided at the end of the exercise. If the statement is declarative, mark it as true; else, mark it as false.

1) The kids are going to school.

2) What a beautiful day!

3) My friend called to wish me good luck.

4) Please don’t judge people on appearance.

5) She is the best teacher in school.

6) Please maintain silence.

7) Cows love greener pastures.

8) Complete the assignment by tomorrow.

9) I am watching a movie.

10) Is she the best teacher in school?

11) The kids love chocolates.

12) Do the kids need longer recess period?

13) He purchased a new bike.

14) Get off my back!

15) Get out from this room.

16) The politician was distributing sweets among the poor.

17) Was it necessary to send him an invitation?

18) Close the door.

19) Switch off the fan.

20) I like strong coffee with lots of sugar on top.

Answers:

1)True, 2)False (Hint: Punctuation), 3)True, 4)False (Hint: Request-imperative), 5)True, 6)False (Hint: Command), 7)True, 8)False (Hint: Command), 9)True, 10)False (Hint: Interrogative), 11) True, 12)False (Hint: Interrogative), 13)True, 14)False (Hint: Punctuation), 15)False (Hint: Command), 16)True, 17)False (Hint: Interrogation), 18)False (Hint: Command), 19)False (Hint: Command), 20)True

Convert to the Declarative Statements Exercises/Worksheet/Activities with Answers:

Place the verb, auxiliary verb and the subject appropriately in the below given sentences to make the sentences declarative. You can change the punctuations or add a suitable noun or pronoun wherever necessary. Answers are given at the end of the exercise.

1) Is it raining outside?

2) Are they expecting better grades this time?

3) Is she participating in the annual fest?

4) Is her car black?

5) It is a beautiful and sunny day!

6) Do I have to complete the home work?

7) Is it working well?

8) Is the principal inspecting the classes?

9) Switch off the lights.

10) Was he listening to the teacher?

11) Were they convinced by the performance?

12) Complete all the pending works by tomorrow.

13) Are we going to the movie today?

14) Is the dog sleeping on the couch?

15) Have you noticed his new attire?

16) Will she cook the dinner tonight?

17) Have they recorded his statement?

18) Am I going to market with him?

19) Is she scared of dogs?

20) Have they been to a hill station?

Answers:

1) It is raining outside.

2) They are expecting better grades this time.

3) She is participating in the annual fest.

4) Her car is black.

5) It is a beautiful and sunny day.

6) I do have to complete the home work.

7) It is working well.

8) The principal is inspecting the classes.

9) I will switch off the lights. (Hint: A command has been changed into a declarative statement)

10) He was listening to the teacher.

11) They were convinced by the performance.

12) I have to complete all the pending works by tomorrow. (Hint: A command is changed into a declarative statement).

13) We are going to the movie today.

14) The dog is sleeping on the couch.

15) You have noticed his new attire.

16) She will cook the dinner tonight.

17) They have recorded his statement.

18) I am going to market with him.

19) She is scared of dogs.

20) They have been to a hill station.

Related Links:

Sentence
Negative Sentence
Interrogative Sentence
Imperative Sentence
Exclamatory Sentence

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