Declarative Sentences: A Complete Guide

A declarative sentence delivers factual information and ends with a period for punctuation. Declarative sentences are also always independent clauses (a complete idea that includes a subject and a verb). 

Learn about declarative sentences and best practices for how to use them in your writing.

Then, make editing your content (and declarative sentences) a breeze with the Originality.ai AI Grammar Checker. Catch common grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors, so you can publish with confidence.

What Does a Declarative Sentence Look Like? (Examples)

As previously noted, a declarative sentence ends with a period and is a statement. 

Here are a few examples of what a declarative sentence looks like:

• Her house is first on the left.
• You will need four eggs to make that cake.
• The sky is very blue today, and the wind is mild.
• I have never worn a smartwatch. 

The Types of Sentences In English Grammar: A Refresher

There are four main types of sentences in English grammar. They differ in how they deliver information and what end punctuation is used:

‍

4 Types of Declarative Sentences

Just because declarative sentences are statements and often deliver factual information doesn’t mean they are dull, flat, or simply constructed. 

Declarative sentences can also be complex, depending on what type of information they deliver and in what context. 

Let’s take a closer look at the four types of declarative sentences you may encounter in writing. 

Alternatively, refer to the declarative sentences chart below for a quick overview:

‍

1. Simple

As the name suggests, this is the simplest form of a declarative sentence (one independent clause). 

Examples of simple declarative sentences:

• My website crashed.
• That coffee is bitter.

2. Compound

Writing compound declarative sentences takes it a step further because it has two or more independent clauses.

Examples of compound declarative sentences:

• My website crashed, and it’s impacting our new campaign.
• That coffee is bitter, and it makes my eyes water.

3. Complex

For statements where you want to provide additional detail, write a complex sentence (one independent clause and at least one dependent clause).

Examples of complex declarative sentences:

• My website crashed because the server was overloaded.
• That coffee is bitter-tasting because it is over-extracted.

4. Compound-complex

The next type of declarative sentence combines the previous two types — compound and complex. 

This adds even more depth to a statement (two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses).

Examples of compound-complex declarative sentences:

• My website crashed because the server was overloaded, and it’s impacting our new campaign.
• That coffee is bitter because you over-extracted it, and it makes my eyes water.

Other Uses of Declarative Sentences

Just as declarative sentences aren’t always simple, they also aren’t only used for plain statements of fact. They have many essential uses in writing.

Here are some other ways to use declarative sentences in writing:

Statement of Opinion

A statement of opinion is also declarative as long as it ends with a period, not an exclamation point.

Examples of declarative sentences expressing a statement of opinion:

• I believe you left your shoes in my car. 
• Our content is far more engaging than our competitors’.

Descriptions

Declarative sentences are essential to descriptive writing, whether describing a setting in narrative writing or describing the benefits of a product.

Examples of declarative sentences as a descriptive sentence:

• The long road narrowed into a thicket of trees, ending where the little house stood.
• The grammar tool identifies and corrects errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• The processor performs essential tasks quickly with minimal lag time.

Explanations and Directions

You need declarative sentences to explain a process or how something works clearly. 

Examples of declarative sentences as explanations and directions:

• Navigate to the Sales page to find our purchasing options.
• Turn left at the first street, then go straight for two miles.
• Take two tablespoons twice a day.

Expressing Basic Facts

And, yes, declarative sentences do also express basic facts. But this, too, isn’t a job that should be underappreciated. 

Basic facts often deliver key information and make things easy to understand and digest. 

Examples of declarative sentences expressing facts:

• Chicago is a city in Illinois.
• The test will be at 8 a.m.
• This exit is closed. 

Final Thoughts: Declarative Sentences Are Key in Writing

Declarative sentences do most of the work in writing, including business communications, narrative fiction, legal documents, and content marketing. They are the best devices for conveying facts, explaining things, and delivering clear information.

Imagine reading something that is a series of questions or exclamations. That piece of writing wouldn’t have as much credibility or establish as much trust as one using declarative sentences. 

When a reader comes to a website to learn about a product, for instance, clear statements of fact about the features, benefits and other customers’ experiences give them the information they are looking for. When a reader picks up a book, the best way to get into the story is to absorb descriptions of the setting and details about what is happening in the plot.

Declarative sentences do so much more than just state the facts. They account for most of the substance in all types of writing. 

Conveniently review your writing for proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation with the Originality.ai AI Grammar Checker.

Then, learn more about grammar and sentence structure in our top guides:

• What Is a Predicate?
• What Are Interjections in Writing?
• Sentence Fragments — A Comprehensive Guide
• What are Run-On Sentences?