There are four basic types of main clause: declaratives (statements), interrogatives (questions), imperatives (orders/instructions) and exclamatives (used for exclamations).
In the examples below, x is any other element in the clause (e.g. object, predicative complement):
Declarative clauses
Declarative clauses most commonly function as statements. The usual word order is subject (s) + verb (v) + x. Declaratives can be affirmative or negative. They make statements about how things are and how they are not.
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Sometimes we use declaratives as questions or requests:
A:Those are the only tickets left?(question)
B:Yes, just those two.
A:You could pass me the spoon.That would be helpful. (request)
B:This one?
Interrogative clauses
Interrogative clauses most commonly function as questions. The usual word order is (wh-word) + auxiliary/modal verb (aux/m) + subject + verb + x:
What[AUX] [S]are you[V]doing?
[AUX]Does[S]she[V]play[X]tennis well?
[M]Can[S] [V]I come[X]with you?
Interrogative clauses can be affirmative or negative.
affirmative | negative |
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See also:
Questions
Negation
Imperative clauses
Imperative clauses most commonly function as commands, instructions or orders. The usual word order is verb + x. We do not usually include the subject in an imperative clause. We use the base form of the verb:
Come on. Hurry up!
Leave me alone!
Let’s go.
Put it in the microwave for two minutes.
Imperative clauses can be affirmative or negative. We make negative imperatives with auxiliary verbdo + not. The contracted formdon’tis very common in speaking:
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We usedo notin more formal contexts:
[instructions on a jar of coffee]
Do notmake coffee with boiling water.
We can use the short formdon’tas an imperative answer, or as a reaction to something:
A:Shall I open the window?
B:No,don’t.I’m freezing. (No, don’t open the window.)
Imperatives with subject pronoun
Sometimes we useyou(subject pronoun) with an imperative clause to make a command stronger or to strengthen a contrast. It can sometimes sound impolite:
Don’tyouever read my letters again.
[talking about washing up dishes]
Youwash, I’ll dry.
In informal speaking, we can use an indefinite subject (e.g.someone,somebody,no one,nobody,everyone,everybody) with an imperative:
No onemove.Everyonestay still.
Invitations
We often use an imperative to make an offer or invitation:
Havesome more cake. There’s plenty there.
Imperatives withdo
We sometimes usedofor emphasis in an imperative clause, especially if we want to be very polite:
Dosit down, please.
Imperatives withlet
In speaking we usually uselet’sfor first person plural imperatives (us) to make a suggestion. In more formal situations we uselet us:
Let’sgo and eat.
Now,let usall get some sleep.(more formal)
For third person imperatives (him, her, it, them) we form an imperative clause withlet:
A:Mr Thomas is here to see you. Shall I send him in?
B:Let himwait. I’m busy.
See also:
Imperative clauses (Be quiet!)
Let,let’s
Exclamative clauses
Exclamative clauses usually have one of the following word orders:
What+ noun + subject + verb
How+ adjective or adverb + subject + verb
Auxiliary or modal verb + subject + verb (i.e. interrogative word order)
We use exclamative clauses most commonly to express surprise or shock. In writing we use an exclamation mark:
What a lovely sister you are!
How beautiful that house was!
Wasn’t she great!
Didn’t he sing well!