Lesson 1: Types of Sentences and Sentence Functions

🟦 Introduction

Ever wondered why we write or speak sentences in different ways? Some ask questions. Some give commands. Others just tell a story or express emotion. These differences are not by accident — they follow specific patterns and serve different purposes.

WAEC often tests your ability to:

• Identify sentence types by structure and function

• Correctly punctuate and arrange sentence patterns

• Distinguish between simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences

• Understand the purpose (function) of a sentence — is it making a statement or giving a command?

This lesson will guide you through the four types of sentence structures and four functions of sentences in English.

🟩 Key Concepts and Explanations

1. Types of Sentences by Structure

🔹 Clause Reminder:

• Independent clause = complete sentence

• Dependent clause = incomplete thought; needs an independent clause to make sense

2. Functions of Sentences

3. How Structure and Function Combine

Let’s look at how one idea can be expressed in multiple ways:

4. Common Coordinating Conjunctions (FANBOYS)

Used in compound sentences:

For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So
Example: She was tired, but she kept studying.

🟨 Practice Exercises

✏️ Exercise 1: Identify the Sentence Type

Write the type of sentence (Simple, Compound, Complex, or Compound-Complex).

1. He cooked dinner and cleaned the house.

2. Although he was late, he finished the exam.

3. They danced all night.

4. She smiled, and he waved, but the moment passed.

5. If I had known earlier, I would have acted differently.

✏️ Exercise 2: Identify the Sentence Function

Write the function (Declarative, Interrogative, Imperative, Exclamatory).

6. What a surprise to see you here!

7. Please submit your homework by Friday.

8. Is this your final answer?

9. The teacher explained the topic clearly.

10. Shut the door quietly.

✏️ Exercise 3: Correctly Combine Clauses

Choose the best option to combine these clauses.

11. She loves singing. She joined the choir.
    A. She loves singing because she joined the choir.
    B. She joined the choir she loves singing.
    C. She loves singing, so she joined the choir.
    D. Because she loves singing she joined the choir.

12. He studied hard. He passed the test.
    A. He passed the test but he studied hard.
    B. He studied hard, and he passed the test.
    C. He studied hard passed the test.
    D. He passed and studied the test hard.

✅ Answers and Explanations

Exercise 1: Sentence Type

1. Compound – two independent clauses joined by and

2. Complex – dependent clause (Although he was late)

3. Simple – one clause only

4. Compound-Complex – two independent + one dependent clause

5. Complex – one dependent clause (If I had known earlier) + one independent

Exercise 2: Sentence Function
6. Exclamatory – expresses surprise
7. Imperative – gives a command
8. Interrogative – asks a question
9. Declarative – makes a statement
10. Imperative – gives an instruction

Exercise 3: Combine Clauses
11. C – “so” shows cause and result
12. B – correct use of “and” to join two independent clauses

🔁 Recap

You’ve learned:

• Four sentence structures: Simple, Compound, Complex, Compound-Complex

• Four sentence functions: Declarative, Interrogative, Imperative, Exclamatory

• How to recognize sentence types and functions in use

• Common connectors used in compound and complex sentences

🪞 Reflection Prompt

Write one sentence for each type of structure (simple, compound, complex, compound-complex).
Then, rewrite one of those sentences using a different function (e.g. change a statement into a question or command).