What is an Imperative and Exclamatory Sentence? Understanding the Basics

Have you ever found yourself shouting, “Wow, that’s amazing!” or telling someone firmly, “Please sit down”? These types of sentences, one demanding action and the other showing emotion, are part of everyday language. But do you know what makes them imperative or exclamatory? Let’s break it down, so you can easily spot and use these sentences in your speech and writing.

What is an Imperative Sentence?

An imperative sentence is one that gives a command, makes a request, or offers advice. It’s a sentence where the speaker is directing someone to do something. You’ve probably used or heard them a thousand times, and you might not even have noticed.

How does an imperative sentence work?

Imperative sentences typically begin with a verb, like “Sit,” “Stop,” or “Listen”, and they often have an implied subject: you. For example, when you say, "Close the door," the subject you is implied—you're telling the person to do it. It’s direct, clear, and to the point.

I was talking to Sarah the other day, and she was frustrated with her brother because he wasn’t listening. She said, “Why do I have to keep telling him to clean his room? It’s just a simple command!” And, yep, that's an imperative sentence in action! It’s basically her telling him what to do, without any extra fluff.

Examples of Imperative Sentences:

• "Take out the trash."

• "Please help me."

• "Don’t be late."

But here’s the interesting part: imperative sentences can be polite or forceful, depending on how they are phrased. For example:

• "Could you please pass me the salt?" (polite)

• "Give me that now!" (forceful)

So, imperative sentences aren’t always rude or bossy; it depends on the tone and the context.

What is an Exclamatory Sentence?

An exclamatory sentence, on the other hand, is one that expresses strong emotions, such as excitement, surprise, anger, or joy. These sentences usually end with an exclamation mark (!) to show that the feeling is strong or intense. They’re used when you want to convey your emotional response to something.

The Power of Exclamation

You’ve likely heard someone say, “What a beautiful sunset!” or “I can’t believe you did that!” These are exclamatory sentences—they are full of emotion and usually come from a place of surprise, happiness, or shock.

Funny thing—when I was chatting with my friend Jack, he couldn’t stop exclaiming about his new car. "Look at this beauty!" he said, nearly yelling with joy. That was definitely an exclamatory sentence. You could feel his excitement, and the exclamation mark just made it more obvious.

Examples of Exclamatory Sentences:

• "Wow, that was amazing!"

• "I can’t believe this is happening!"

• "What a fantastic day!"

These sentences are emotional and dramatic. They help you express how you feel in a way that gets the point across with energy.

How Do Imperative and Exclamatory Sentences Differ?

While both imperative and exclamatory sentences are used to communicate, they serve different purposes:

• Imperative sentences give commands, make requests, or offer suggestions. They focus on getting the listener to do something.

• Exclamatory sentences express strong emotions or reactions. They focus on how the speaker feels about something.

Think about the difference like this: If you tell someone, “Give me the remote!”, you're commanding them. If you say, “Wow, I love this show!”, you're expressing your excitement.

When to Use Each Type

You might be wondering when you should use an imperative or exclamatory sentence. Well, it all depends on the situation:

• Use imperative sentences when you need someone to take action—like when you need a favor or are setting rules.

• Use exclamatory sentences when you’re feeling an emotion strongly and want to share it with others.

I was recently discussing with Tom, who loves using exclamatory sentences to express his feelings, especially when watching sports. "That goal was incredible!" he shouted, practically jumping off the couch. It's a perfect example of how exclamatory sentences make conversations more animated and full of life.

Conclusion: The Magic of Imperative and Exclamatory Sentences

In summary, imperative sentences are about making requests or giving commands, while exclamatory sentences allow you to express strong emotions. Whether you’re directing someone or sharing your excitement, both types of sentences are powerful tools to use in your everyday conversations.

So, next time you're speaking or writing, think about whether you need someone to act or whether you’re simply expressing how you feel. These two types of sentences can make your language more dynamic and engaging!

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.