We use sentences to convey our thoughts. Sentences have several different purposes in communication.
A declarative sentence makes a statement; it declares something to be true or in existence. We always end a declarative sentence with a period – the dot at the end of a sentence.
Look at these examples of declarative sentences:
The sky is blue.
Today is Monday.
I ate a banana for breakfast.
Mom bought some steaks to cook for dinner.
Each of these sentences makes a statement.
These declarative sentences are also called telling sentences because they tell us something.
Notice that each sentence has a subject and a verb. A subject is the person or thing who is doing something. A verb is the action that is being done in the sentence. In a declarative sentence, the verb follows the subject.
Look at this declarative (or telling) sentence:
Bob is mowing our lawn.
Bob is the subject of the sentence. Bob is doing the action.
The verb (or action) in this sentence is mowing. The subject Bob is doing the action of mowing.
Look for the subject and the verb in each of these declarative sentences:
I played basketball after school.
My teacher gave us an assignment.
We celebrate Valentine’s Day in February.
A declarative sentence is a telling sentence. It makes a statement. Every declarative sentence has a subject and a verb.
▶It’s your turn. Find the subject and the verb in this declarative sentence: John rode his bike to school. Did you find the subject John and the verb rode? Good for you!