70. We have seen that sentences are classified according to purpose, as declarative, interrogative, imperative, or exclamatory.
A declarative sentence is one that states, or declares, something.
An interrogative sentence is one that asks a question.
An imperative sentence is one that expresses a command or an entreaty.
An exclamatory sentence is one that expresses sudden or strong feeling.
71. We have seen also that sentences may consist of one clause or of several, and that clauses may be independent or dependent. Sentences are therefore classified according to structure, as simple, compound, or complex.
A simple sentence is one that contains but one independent clause.
A compound sentence is one that contains two or more independent clauses.
A complex sentence is one that contains one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.
Exercise 1.—Write a complex declarative sentence, a compound interrogative sentence, a complex imperative sentence, and a simple exclamatory sentence.
Exercise 2.—Classify the following sentences according to both purpose and structure. Give the reasons for your classification. Tell what the dependent clauses modify. Tell also the subject and predicate of each clause.
1. The oxen sagged along in their great clumsy way.
2. Give me quickly my seven-league boots, that I may go after those boys and catch them.
3. How sweet and demure the girls looked!
4. Within sight of that tall elm tree were passed my happiest years.
5. Did you ever know a child who was not interested in animals?
6. My grandfather never skipped over an advertisement, even if he had read it fifty times before.
7.
Woodman, spare that tree!Touch not a single bough!8. Must I keep order along the whole line?
9. All the trees and the bushes and the bamboos and the mosses and the juicy-leaved plants wake with a noise of growing that you can almost hear.
10.
How dear to my heart are the scenes of my childhood,When fond recollection presents them to view!11. Sometimes it is impolite to tell the truth, and then one can only say nothing or talk of the weather.
12. Toll ye the church bell sad and slow.
13. Some boys go scowling always through life, as if they had a stone bruise on each heel.
14. Proud bird of the mountain, thy plume shall be torn!
15. Mowgli had the good conscience that comes from paying debts.
16. Cease to do evil; learn to do well.
17. The first was a brass band, the second was a string band, the third was a rubber band, and the fourth was a man who played on the jew’s-harp.
18.
Lo, all our pomp of yesterdayIs one with Nineveh and Tyre!19. On Sunday the hens went silently about, and the roosters crowed in psalm tunes.
20.
Up! up! my friend, and quit your books,Or surely you’ll grow double!21. Is the world growing better or are we moving in a circle?
22. Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth.
23. When a man has heard the great things calling to him, how they call and call, day and night!
24. O ye who have young children, if it is possible, give them happy memories.
Find an interjection in this exercise.
What independent elements do you find in sentences 7, 14, and 24? What is the base word of each?