Sentence Types

Understanding different sentence types is essential for the CSSE 11+ English paper. Examiners look for varied sentence structures in your creative writing, and comprehension questions often ask you about how sentences are built. Since SPaG is assessed throughout the English paper — not as a separate test — using a range of sentence types will help you gain marks in every section.

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The Four Sentence Purposes

Every sentence has a purpose. There are four main types based on what the sentence is designed to do:

Type	Purpose	Punctuation	Example
Statement (declarative)	Tells you something	Full stop (.)	The train arrived on time.
Question (interrogative)	Asks something	Question mark (?)	Did the train arrive on time?
Command (imperative)	Gives an order or instruction	Full stop (.) or exclamation mark (!)	Close the door. / Stop right there!
Exclamation (exclamatory)	Expresses strong feeling	Exclamation mark (!)	What a wonderful surprise!

Tip: In the CSSE exam, you might be asked to change a statement into a question, or to identify the type of sentence. Make sure you know the differences and can spot them quickly.

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Sentence Structures

Beyond purpose, sentences can also be classified by their structure. This is about how many clauses they contain and how those clauses are joined.

Simple Sentences

A simple sentence has one main clause with a subject and a verb. It expresses one complete idea.

Examples:

• The dog barked.
• She opened the door carefully.

Simple sentences are clear and direct. They are useful for emphasis and for keeping your writing punchy.

Compound Sentences

A compound sentence has two or more main clauses joined by a co-ordinating conjunction (FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).

Examples:

• The sun was shining, and the birds were singing.
• I wanted to go outside, but it was raining.

Both parts of a compound sentence can stand alone as separate sentences. They are equal in importance.

Complex Sentences

A complex sentence has one main clause and at least one subordinate clause. The subordinate clause cannot stand alone — it depends on the main clause for its meaning.

Examples:

• Although it was raining, the children played outside.
• The boy ran home because he was late.
• When the bell rang, everyone rushed to the playground.

The subordinate clause often starts with a subordinating conjunction such as: although, because, when, if, while, until, after, before, since.

Important rule: When the subordinate clause comes first, you need a comma after it. When it comes second, you usually do not.

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Clauses and Phrases

Understanding clauses and phrases is key to building different sentence types.

Term	Definition	Example
Main clause	Contains a subject and verb; makes sense on its own	The cat sat on the mat.
Subordinate clause	Contains a subject and verb; does NOT make sense on its own	because it was raining
Relative clause	A subordinate clause starting with who, which, that, whose, where	The girl who won the race smiled.
Phrase	A group of words WITHOUT a verb that acts as a unit	in the morning, the old house

Relative Clauses — Embedded Detail

Relative clauses add extra information about a noun. They start with relative pronouns: who, which, that, whose, where.