Types of sentence · Grade 3

In Grade 3 you learn: statements, questions, commands and exclamations; exclamations that start with What or How.

There are four types of sentence. A statement tells you something, a question asks something, a command tells someone to do something, and an exclamation shows strong feeling. The first words and the mark at the end help you tell them apart.

Key facts

  • A statement tells you something and ends with a full stop: The cat is asleep.
  • A question asks something and ends with a question mark. It often starts with a question word (who, what, where, when, why, how) or a verb like do, can or is: Can you swim?
  • A command tells someone to do something. It usually starts with a verb, and ends with a full stop or an exclamation mark: Close the door. Stop!
  • In school grammar, an exclamation starts with What or How and ends with an exclamation mark: What a lovely day! How tall you are!
  • Be careful: What time is it? starts with What but asks something, so it is a question.

Worked examples

Example 1

What type of sentence is Wash your hands before lunch.?

Answer: a command

Example 2

What type of sentence is How fast the cheetah runs!?

Answer: an exclamation

Example 3

Punctuate: where is my hat

Answer: Where is my hat?

Example 4

Is it telling or asking? Can you swim? I can swim.

Answer: Can you swim? is asking; I can swim. is telling

Example 5

Turn the telling sentence into an asking sentence: You are hungry.

Answer: Are you hungry?

Other years