Sentence Types: Statements, Questions, Commands

Sentences have jobs too

Every sentence does a job. Three jobs to learn first are the statement, the question and the command. The end mark gives you a clue!

A statement tells 💬

A statement tells us something. It ends with a full stop (.).

• The sky is blue. ☁️
• I have a red ball. ⚽
• My dog can run fast. 🐶

When you read a statement, your voice stays calm and even.

A question asks ❓

A question asks something. It ends with a question mark (?).

• Are you happy? 😀
• Where is my hat? 🧢
• Do you like cake? 🎂

Many questions start with little words like who, what, where, why or is, are, do. Read more in Question Words: who, what, where. When you read a question, your voice goes up at the end.

A command tells you to do 🏃

A command tells someone to do something. It often starts with a doing word (a verb).

• Sit down. 🪑
• Shut the door. 🚪
• Eat your lunch. 🍎

We can add please to make a command kind: Please pass the cup. 🙏

Spot the difference

Look at the same idea three ways:

The door is open. (statement 💬) Is the door open? (question ❓) Open the door. (command ✋)

Say each one out loud. Can you hear how your voice changes?

Play and practise

Play the matching game to give each sentence the right job. Then flip the flashcards and say "statement", "question" or "command" before you check.

Keep going

Try these next:

• End marks: Capital Letters and Full Stops
• Build sentences: Reading Your First Sentences
• Word jobs: Nouns, Verbs and Adjectives

Now you know three kinds of sentences. Well done! 🌟