LESSON I.
Is there a complete thought expressed in each of the following groups of words?—
| 1. | The maple leaf is an emblem of Canada. | |
| 2. | Honor thy father and thy mother. | |
| 3. | Who gathered these beautiful flowers? | |
| 4. | How sweetly the birds sing in spring! |
A group of words that expresses a complete thought is called a sentence.
Which of the foregoing sentences declares something, which expresses a command, which asks a question, and which expresses a sudden feeling?
A sentence that asserts or declares something is called a declarative sentence.
A sentence that expresses a command or request is called an imperative sentence.
A sentence that asks a question is called an interrogative sentence.
A sentence that expresses a sudden or strong feeling is called an exclamatory sentence.
EXERCISE I.
State the use or office of each of the following sentences, and tell the kind of sentence:—
| 1. | The sun rises in the East. | |
| 2. | Every door opens to a smile. | |
| 3. | Keep thy heart with all diligence. | |
| 4. | Who is the author of that book? | |
| 5. | How tenderly a mother cares for her child! | |
| 6. | Every morn is the world made new. | |
| 7. | Sharpen this pencil for me. | |
| 8. | What bright uniforms the soldiers wear! | |
| 9. | The plowman homeward plods his weary way. | |
| 10. | How many lines have you written? |
EXERCISE II.
| 1. | Write four declarative sentences. | |
| 2. | Write four imperative sentences. | |
| 3. | Write three interrogative sentences. | |
| 4. | Write two exclamatory sentences. |