5. TYPE OF SENTENCES

          Objectives

1.       To state types of sentences and their meaning.

2.       To inform students how to use them

 

There are basically three types of sentences namely simple, complex and compound sentences.

1.       The Simple Sentence

Any sentence, which has only one finite verb and expresses one single idea, is called a simple sentence. It could be only one word verb, which conveys meaning to the hearer. E. g. go, out, quick, disappear, etc. A simple sentence could also contain just one Noun phrase as subject and one verb phrase as predicate. Example:

The man (noun phrase) laughed foolishly (verb phrase).

 

In the above sentence, the verb phrase ‘laughed foolishly’ is called INTRANSITIVE verb because the doer suffers his own action. When a verb is used and someone suffers the action of the doer, the verb is called TRANSITIVE.

 

FORMS OF THE SIMPLE SENTENCE

A.       Statement (states facts)

          i.        One hundred kobo makes a naira

          ii.       Abuja is the new capital of Nigeria

 

B.       Question (asks question)

          i.        Are you a student of Newgate College?

          ii.       When will the election start?

 

C.       Imperative (command)

          i.        Hands up

          ii.       Don’t talk

          iii.      Keep quiet

 

D.       Exclamation (Expresses emotion)

          i.        Oh! I’m delighted!

          ii.       Goodness gracious!