What Are Declarative Sentences? Explained

What are declarative sentences? Check out these examples to learn more about this common type of sentence.

English grammar has several types of sentences that students and writers can study. Declarative sentences do not make a question or an exclamatory statement. These sentences end in a period.

These statement sentences are the most common types of sentences used in English writing. They make statements that move the narrative along without questions or strong emotions. Answering the question, “What are declarative sentences?” and studying examples of these sentences will help you use them well. 

What Are Declarative Sentences And How Are They Used?

Declarative sentences can do several things in the English language. This includes:

• Make a statement
• Give information
• Provide facts
• Give an explanation

These sentences usually follow the subject-verb-object pattern and end with a period, not a question mark or exclamation mark. You might also find our guide on filler sentences helpful.

What Are the Types of Declarative Sentences?

Declarative sentences fall into two categories. They are:

1. Simple Declarative

A simple declarative sentence has a subject and predicate and few complications. Some examples of declarative sentences that follow this structure include these:

• The dog is running.
• The school bell rings.
• Ice cream is the best dessert.
• She has blue eyes.

2. Compound Declarative

A compound declarative sentence has two related phrases that join together using a comma and conjunction or a semicolon. Often this is the same as a compound sentence, as long as the two parts are both declarative. Here are some examples of declarative sentences that follow this structure: 

• The dog is running, but the cat is catching up fast.
• Ice cream is the best dessert, but he prefers chocolate cake.
• She has blue eyes, but he has green.

Declarative Sentences vs. Interrogative Sentences

A declarative sentence states a fact or opinion, but an interrogative sentence asks a direct question. For kids in school, these are the easiest two to tell apart. Here are some examples of declarative sentences:

• He is going to the store.
• The doctor will see you now.
• The horse can open the stall door.

These can be switched around so that the subject comes after the verb and have a question mark added to the end to make an interrogative sentence, like this:

• Is he going to the store?
• Will the doctor see you now?
• Can the horse open the stall door?

Declarative Sentences vs. Exclamatory Sentences 

Sometimes, the only difference between a declarative sentence and an exclamatory sentence is the end punctuation. They can have the same word order, but the declarative sentence has less emphasis because it ends in a period, not an exclamation mark. Here are some examples of declarative sentences:

• You will go to the store tomorrow.
• I love pickles.
• I won a new car.

If you add an exclamation mark to the end of these same sentences, they show exclamation and become exclamatory, as in:

• You will go to the store tomorrow!
• I love pickles!
• I won a new car!

Declarative Sentences Vs. Imperative Sentences

Declarative sentences state a fact or opinion. Imperative sentences make a request or command. These are examples of declarative sentences:

• I have a dollar in my pocket.
• Sarah wants to leave early.
• The porter took the suitcases at the door.

These are imperative sentences:

• Please take my suitcase.
• Give me your dollar!
• Leave the party early.

Imperative sentences can have either a period or an exclamation point as their end punctuation mark, depending on how much emphasis you are putting into the statement.

Declarative Questions

Many writers and English language learners are surprised to learn that declarative questions exist. These questions take the subject-verb form, yet they still ask a question. This structure appears in spoken language and dialogue more often than written language, but these examples show how it works:

• Sarah likes ice cream?
• Johnathan will be late?
• Samantha is coming to the party?

If these sentences ended in a period, they would clearly be declarative. Ending them in a question mark does not change this, but simply changes the way the reader reads the sentence. The subject-verb pattern remains consistent. If you found this post helpful, you might enjoy our guide on the grammatical expletive.

 More Examples of Declarative Sentences

The main pattern of a declarative sentence is subject then verb, but they can have adverbs, prepositional phrases and other parts that make them harder to spot. Here are more examples to study:

• Jack jumped over the candlestick.
• He sells seashells by the seashore.
• The little boy ran across the street to catch his ball.
• “And” is a common transition word in the English language.
• Giving love is a rewarding experience.
• The tropical rainforest has many wild creatures and plants.
• Two plus two makes four.
• At the end of the semester, your teacher will give a final exam.
• Last night we watched TV.
• I do not like spinach.
• They haven’t reconciled their problems yet, but they are trying.
• People do not have the ability to live in outer space for long, but many are dreaming of figuring this out someday.

A Final Word on What Are Declarative Sentences

A declarative sentence is a sentence that makes a statement or expresses an opinion. These sentences usually end at a full stop with a period in the end. They do not express strong emotion, rarely ask a question and are not commands.

These sentences show up in almost every paragraph of the English language. As you learn to write English, you will learn to write declarative sentences first. This will give you a good foundation for your future academic and writing efforts.

FAQs About What Are Declarative Sentences