Communicative vs. informative
While communication is traditionally defined as the transfer ofCommunicative sentences
These types of sentences are more intended for the speaker's sake than for any potential listener. They are meant more for the speaker's immediate wants and needs. These sentences tend to be less intentional (out of frustration for example), in general more literal, more primitive, and are usually about the here and now. Because of these features, it is generally speculated that this is pretty much the basis or limitation of any form of animal communication. (Speculated because scientists will never truly be able to understand non-human forms of communication like we do our own; although studies with "talking" primates have clued us in to a certain degree.)Exclamative
An exclamative is a sentence type in English that typically expresses a feeling or emotion, but does not use one of the other structures. It often has the form as in the examples below of H + Complement + Subject + Verb but can be minor sentences (i.e. without a verb) such as H + Complement''How wonderful!''. In other words, exclamative sentences are used to make exclamations: ''What a stupid man he is! How wonderful you look!'' (from https://www.ucl.ac.uk/internet-grammar/clauses/discours.htm)Imperative
An imperative sentence gives anything from a command or order, to a request, direction, or instruction. Imperative sentences are more intentional than exclamatory sentences and ''do'' require an audience; as their aim is to get the person(s) being addressed either to do or to not do something. And although this function usually deals with the immediate temporal vicinity, its scope can be extended, i.e. you can order somebody to ''move out as soon as you find yourself a job''. The negative imperative can also be called the ''prohibitive'' and the inclusive plural imperative, the ''hortative''. It is debatable whether the imperative is only truly possible in the second person. The vocative case of nouns can be said to indicate the imperative as well since it does not seek information, but rather a reaction from the one being addressed. An imperative can end in either a period or an exclamation point depending on delivery. * ''Look at me.'' * ''After separating them from the yolks, beat the whites until they are light and fluffy.''Informative sentences
Informative sentences are more for the mutual benefit of both the listener ''and'' the speaker, and, in fact, require more of an interaction between both parties involved. They are more intentional or premeditated, less essential, more cooperative, and they aim to either provide or retrieve information, making them quintessential abstractions. But perhaps the most differentiating quality that distinguishes informative sentences from the communicative is that the former more naturally and freely make use ofDeclarative
The declarative sentence is the most common kind of sentence in language, in most situations, and in a way can be considered the default function of a sentence. What this means essentially is that when a language modifies a sentence in order to form a question or give a command, the base form will always be the declarative. In its most basic sense, a declarative states an idea (either objectively or subjectively on the part of the speaker; and may be either true or false) for the sheer purpose of transferring information. In writing, a statement will end with a period. * ''The internet connection working again.'' * ''She must be out of her mind.''Interrogative
An interrogative sentence asks a question and hence ends with a question mark. In speech, it almost universally ends in a rising inflection. Its effort is to try to gather information that is presently unknown to the interrogator, or to seek validation for a preconceived notion held. Beyond seeking confirmation or contradiction, sometimes it is approval or permission that is sought as well, among other reasons one could have for posing a question. The one exception in which it isn't information that is needed, is when the question happens to be rhetorical (see allofunctional implicature section below). While an imperative is a call for action, an interrogative is a call for information. * ''What do you want?'' * ''Are you feeling well?''Declarative vs. affirmative vs. positive
A declarative statement is not synonymous with an affirmative one, nor need it be true. Declaratives may be phrased positively or negatively (assert or negate), affirm or refute a proposition (support or undermine), be honest or dishonest (speak frankly or deceive), or may be true or false (inform accurately or misinform). All qualify as declarative sentences. ''Declarative'' refers to a sentence's function or purpose, while ''affirmative'', ''positive'' and ''true'' deal with a sentence's topicality, grammatical polarity, and veracity, which is why the different terms can overlap simultaneously. Though not as erroneous as the above misnomer, there is a clouding that can occur between the slight distinction of the affirmative, and theSee also
*Notes
References
Sources
* Laurie E. Rozakis, ''The Complete Idiot's Guide to Grammar and Style''. 2003. * George Yule, ''The Study of Language''. 2005. * Steven Pinker, ''The Language Instinct''. 1994 {{ISBN, 0-06-095833-2 * https://www.ucl.ac.uk/internet-grammar/clauses/discours.htm Semantics