Sentences are groups of words that express a complete thought. Every sentence begins with a capital letter and ends with punctuation.
Always start your sentences with a capital letter and end with the correct punctuation mark.
A statement tells something. It gives information and ends with a period (.).
Think: Am I telling something? If yes, it is a statement.
A question asks something. It ends with a question mark (?).
Questions often begin with words like who, what, when, where, why, or how.
A command tells someone to do something. It usually ends with a period (.) but can also end with an exclamation mark (!).
Commands often leave out the subject. The subject is understood to be “you.”
An exclamation shows strong feeling, such as excitement, surprise, or fear. It ends with an exclamation mark (!).
Exclamations should not be overused. Save them for times when strong feelings are shown.
Good writers know how to use all four types of sentences. Mixing statements, questions, commands, and exclamations makes writing clear and interesting.
Ask yourself: Am I telling, asking, commanding, or showing strong feeling? That will help you choose the right sentence type.