What is a Declarative Sentence?

S2-SA1-0092

Grade Level:

Class 1

NLP, Law, History, Social Sciences, Literature, Journalism, Communication

Definition

What is it?

A declarative sentence is a sentence that makes a statement or expresses an opinion. It tells us something, gives information, or shares a fact. These sentences always end with a full stop (.).

Simple Example

Quick Example

Imagine you are telling your friend about your school day. You might say, 'Today, our class had a fun cricket match.' This sentence tells your friend a fact about your day and ends with a full stop, making it a declarative sentence.

Worked Example

Step-by-Step

Let's identify declarative sentences:

Step 1: Look at the sentence: 'The auto-rickshaw takes me to school.'
---Step 2: Does it tell us something or state a fact? Yes, it tells us about going to school.
---Step 3: Does it express a command, ask a question, or show strong emotion? No.
---Step 4: Does it end with a full stop (.)? Yes.
---Answer: 'The auto-rickshaw takes me to school.' is a declarative sentence.

Why It Matters

Understanding declarative sentences is crucial for clear communication, whether you're writing a news report, a story, or a social media post. Journalists, lawyers, and writers use them constantly to present facts and arguments clearly. It helps you express your thoughts precisely in any field.

Common Mistakes

MISTAKE: Ending a declarative sentence with a question mark (?) or an exclamation mark (!). | CORRECTION: Always end a declarative sentence with a full stop (.).

MISTAKE: Confusing a declarative sentence with a command. | CORRECTION: A declarative sentence states something (e.g., 'You are a good student.'), while a command tells someone to do something (e.g., 'Study well!').

MISTAKE: Writing a sentence that is incomplete or doesn't make a clear statement. | CORRECTION: Ensure your declarative sentence has a subject and a verb and conveys a complete thought.

Practice Questions

Try It Yourself

QUESTION: Is 'My favourite food is dosa.' a declarative sentence? | ANSWER: Yes

QUESTION: Which of these is a declarative sentence: 'What is your name?' or 'My name is Rohan.'? | ANSWER: 'My name is Rohan.'

QUESTION: Change this sentence into a declarative sentence: 'Are you going to the market?' | ANSWER: 'I am going to the market.' (or 'You are going to the market.')

MCQ

Quick Quiz

Which of the following is a declarative sentence?

What a beautiful day!

Please close the door.

The train arrived late.

Did you finish your homework?

The Correct Answer Is:

Option C, 'The train arrived late.', makes a statement and ends with a full stop, making it a declarative sentence. Options A, B, and D are an exclamatory sentence, a command, and an interrogative sentence, respectively.

Real World Connection

In the Real World

When you read news headlines like 'India wins cricket series against Australia.' or 'New mobile data plans launched.' these are declarative sentences. They give you factual information directly. Even the messages you send on WhatsApp to tell friends something are usually declarative sentences.

Key Vocabulary

Key Terms

STATEMENT: something that is said or written to give information | FACT: a piece of information that is true | OPINION: a personal belief or judgment | FULL STOP: the punctuation mark (.) used at the end of a sentence

What's Next

What to Learn Next

Great job understanding declarative sentences! Next, you can learn about interrogative sentences, which ask questions, and imperative sentences, which give commands. Knowing all these types will make your writing even better!