A very common form of the imperative sentence is that introduced by the imperative word let,—“Let the dessert be served and the fruit brought.” This generally expresses more of a wish than a command. The same idea is brought out in such a sentence as the following,—“Come, sit we down and talk.” Here the present subjunctive sit is employed. Both of these sentence-forms may be considered as substitutes for the first and third person imperative, which is lacking in English.
In imperative sentences we use the imperative mood of the verb and so usually dispense with the subject, the verb becoming thus the first word in the sentence. For analysis the subject is to be supplied. It is always a personal pronoun of the second person, you, thou, or ye. The verb may be a simple imperative, as go; an emphatic imperative, do go; or a progressive imperative, be going, or do be going.
The Exclamative Sentence.—Any one of the three forms of sentences may become exclamative by mode of utterance, but the exclamative sentence does not communicate thought in a way different from the other three sentences, nor is it different in form, hence it should not be considered a fourth kind of sentence.
A declarative sentence made exclamative.—“Alas! the silence which was then settling on that aged ear was an everlasting silence!”—De Quincey.
An interrogative sentence made exclamative.—“Who could have imagined the whirlwind of passion that was going on within me as I reclined there!”—Jefferies.
An imperative sentence made exclamative.—“Sit down, all of you, and listen to me!”—Lewis Carroll.
Exercise 4
Classify the following sentences both as to structure and as to form. A sentence compound in structure may have members different in form, that is, one member may be declarative and another interrogative.
1. A wide-spreading, hopeful disposition is your only true umbrella in this vale of tears.—Aldrich.
2. What is it to be a gentleman? Is it to have lofty aims, to lead a pure life, to keep your honor virgin; to have the esteem of your fellow citizens, and the love of your fireside; to bear good fortune meekly; to suffer evil with constancy; and through evil or good to maintain truth always?—Thackeray.