B. Foundations of Language · Handwriting, Spelling and Sentences

Four Sentence Types: Interrogative and Imperative Verbs

B3.1 B3.2 B3.3About 40 minutes

Learning goals

I can name and write declarative, interrogative, imperative and exclamatory sentences.
I can turn a statement into a question by moving or adding a helping verb.
I can find the imperative verb in a command and explain who the hidden subject is.
I can choose the right end punctuation and the right sentence type for my purpose.

Words to know

declarative sentence
A sentence that tells something. It ends with a period.

interrogative sentence
A sentence that asks a question. It ends with a question mark.

imperative sentence
A sentence that gives a command, an instruction or a request. It ends with a period or an exclamation mark.

exclamatory sentence
A sentence that shows strong feeling. It ends with an exclamation mark.

helping verb
A verb that helps the main verb, like is, are, do, does, did, can, will, have.

Remember from Grades 2 and 3

You know four kinds of sentences: telling, asking, command and exclamation. In Grade 4, you'll learn their grown-up names, and you'll look closely at how the verbs work in questions and commands.

Sentence type	Its job	Ends with	Example
Declarative	tells something	.	The ice on the pond is thick.
Interrogative	asks a question	?	Is the ice on the pond thick?
Imperative	gives a command, instruction or request	. or !	Stay off the thin ice.
Exclamatory	shows strong feeling	!	What thick ice this is!

The four sentence types

Remembering the names

Declarative declares (tells). Interrogative sounds like interview, where people ask questions. Imperative gives orders, like an emperor. Exclamatory exclaims!

Interrogative verbs: how questions are built

In many questions, a helping verb jumps in front of the subject:

The bus is late. → Is the bus late?
You can skate backwards. → Can you skate backwards?
They have finished. → Have they finished?

If the statement has no helping verb, add do, does or did, and the main verb goes back to its plain form:

Your sister plays hockey. → Does your sister play hockey?
We went to the fair. → Did we go to the fair?

Question words (who, what, where, when, why, how) usually go first: Where did you put my mitts?

Two ways to build a question. Left: the helping verb is moves in front of the subject. Right: there's no helper, so add does and use the plain verb play.

Worked example

Let's turn statements into questions

Turn each statement into a question: (a) The library is open. (b) Omar likes bannock.

(a) Find the helping or linking verb: is. Move it in front of the subject the library: Is the library open?
(b) likes is the only verb, and there's no helper to move. Add does in front of the subject.
Change likes back to its plain form: like. Does Omar like bannock?
End both with a question mark.

(a) Is the library open? (b) Does Omar like bannock?

Imperative verbs: commands and instructions

An imperative sentence tells someone to do something. It usually starts with the verb, in its plain form:

Put on your snow pants.
Mix the flour and the water.
Please close the door.

Who is supposed to do it? You! The subject you is hidden (we say it's understood). Put on your snow pants really means (You) put on your snow pants.

Imperatives are perfect for instructions and recipes. Add please to make a polite request.

In an imperative sentence the subject you is hidden (understood), and the sentence starts with the verb.

Worked example

Let's find the imperative verbs

Find the imperative verb in each step of these instructions for a bird feeder:

Spread sunflower butter on a pine cone.
Roll it in birdseed.
Hang it from a branch.

Each sentence gives an instruction. Look for the verb at the start.
Step 1: Spread. Step 2: Roll. Step 3: Hang.
Who does each step? You (the hidden subject).

The imperative verbs are spread, roll and hang. The subject of each is the understood you.

Command or exclamation?

A command can end with ! when it's urgent or loud: Stop! Watch out! It's still imperative, because it tells someone to do something. Ask first: Is it telling someone to do something? If yes, it's imperative.

Exclamatory sentences

An exclamatory sentence shows strong feeling: surprise, joy, fear or excitement. Many start with What or How:

What a huge snowbank that is!
How fast you skate!
We won the championship!

Use exclamation marks sparingly. If every sentence shouts, none of them stand out!

Tricky one

I wonder if it will snow. has a question idea inside, but it's telling what I wonder. It's declarative, so it ends with a period, not a question mark.

Just for fun

Here is an imperative sentence: Smile.

Did you do it? Then the imperative worked!

Hands-on activity

Sentence type game show

You need: 4 pieces of paper and a marker. Play with someone at home.

Write one end mark on each paper: . (declarative), ? (interrogative), . or ! with the word Command (imperative), and ! with the word Feeling (exclamatory).
One person says a sentence about your home or day, using a clear voice.
The other person holds up the right card and says the sentence type's name.
Score a point for each correct answer. Switch roles after 5 sentences.
Bonus round: write a short set of instructions (4 or 5 imperative sentences) for something you know how to do, like making toast or tying a skate. Underline each imperative verb.

Grown-ups: if the instructions involve the stove or toaster, do it together.

Your turn

What type of sentence is this? Did you finish your project?

What type? Please hang up your coat.

What type? Moose can swim.

What type? What an amazing goal that was!

Turn into a question: The game is starting.

Turn into a question: Grace walked to school.

Find the imperative verb: Stir the soup slowly.

More practice: warm-up

What end mark does a declarative sentence use?

What end mark does an interrogative sentence use?

Who is the hidden subject in an imperative sentence?

Add the end mark: Where are my skates

Add the end mark: How cold it is today

More practice: on your own

Turn into a question: You have seen the northern lights.

Turn into a question: Your cousin lives in Iqaluit.

Turn this statement into a command: You should wear a helmet.

Is I wonder whether the rink is open a question? What end mark does it need?

Look out! Is it imperative or exclamatory? Explain.

Challenge

Write one sentence of each type about a snow day.

Turn into a question in two ways, one with a question word: The puppy hid under the bed.

You're writing instructions for a younger child on how to brush their teeth. Which sentence type will you use most, and why? Write two steps.

Check your understanding

Quiz

Which sentence is interrogative?

Which sentence is imperative?

What is the hidden subject of Close the window.?

Which is the correct question form of Leah plays the fiddle.?

Which sentence is exclamatory?

What end mark does I wonder if the bus is late need?

For parents and teachers

Big idea: B3.1 asks Grade 4 students to identify and construct various sentence types and forms; B3.2 names interrogative and imperative verbs specifically. Children learn that in questions a helping verb moves before the subject (or do/does/did is added), and that commands start with a plain verb and an understood you.

How to help at home:

Turn everyday statements into questions together: "The dog is hungry" → "Is the dog hungry?"
Have your child write instructions for a family task (feeding a pet, setting the table) and underline the imperative verbs.
Read recipes and board-game rules together: they're full of imperatives.

Common difficulties:

Keeping -s or -ed after do/does/did (Does she likes...? Did we went...?). Point out that the helper carries the tense.
Calling every ! sentence exclamatory. Ask first: is it telling someone to do something?
Adding ? to indirect questions (I wonder if...?).