4. An exclamatory sentence expresses surprise, grief, or some other emotion in the form of an exclamation or cry.
- How calm the sea is!
- What a noise the engine makes!
A declarative, an interrogative, or an imperative sentence is also exclamatory, if it is uttered in an intense or excited tone of voice.
4. In imperative sentences, the subject (thou or you) is almost always omitted, because it is understood by both speaker and hearer without being expressed.
Such omitted words, which are present (in idea) to the minds of both speaker and hearer, are said to be “understood.” Thus, in “Open the window,” the subject is “you (understood).” If expressed, the subject would be emphatic: as,—“You open the window.”
5. The subject of a sentence commonly precedes the predicate, but sometimes the predicate precedes.
- Here comes Tom.
- Next came Edward.
- Over went the carriage.
A sentence in which the predicate precedes the subject is said to be in the inverted order. This order is especially common in interrogative sentences.
- Where is your boat?
- When was your last birthday?
- Whither wander you?—Shakspere.