GRADE 8 English TOURIST ATTRACTION SITES:AFRICA – GRAMMAR IN USE:TYPES OF SENTENCES Notes
GRAMMAR IN USE: TYPES OF SENTENCES
Subject: English • Topic: Tourist Attraction Sites — Africa • Level: Age 13 (Kenyan)
- Four types of sentences in English
- Rules and punctuation
- Examples using African tourist sites (Kenyan examples included)
- Short practice with answers
1. Declarative sentences (Statements) 📝
Use: To give information or facts. End with a full stop (period).
Form: Subject + verb + rest.
- The Maasai Mara is famous for the Great Migration.
- Mount Kenya is the highest mountain in Kenya.
- Lake Nakuru has many flamingos in the wet season.
2. Interrogative sentences (Questions) ❓
Use: To ask for information. Usually end with a question mark. Word order often changes: auxiliary verb before the subject.
Form (yes/no question): Auxiliary verb + subject + main verb ... ?
Form (Wh- question): Wh-word + auxiliary + subject + main verb ... ?
- Do you want to visit the Maasai Mara?
- Where is Mount Kenya?
- How long does the Great Migration last?
3. Imperative sentences (Commands/Requests) ⛺
Use: To give an order, advice or instruction. The subject "you" is often not said (it is understood). End with a full stop or an exclamation mark.
Form: Base verb + rest. (You) + verb ...
- Visit the Maasai Mara early in the morning.
- Bring binoculars to see birds at Lake Nakuru.
- Don't feed the animals in the national park.
4. Exclamatory sentences (Strong feeling) 🌄
Use: To show surprise, excitement or strong emotion. End with an exclamation mark (!).
Forms: Short exclamation (Wow!) or starting with What / How + subject + verb ...!
- What a beautiful sunrise at Amboseli!
- How exciting the wildebeest migration is!
- Wow! Victoria Falls is amazing!
- Every sentence starts with a capital letter.
- Use ? for questions and ! for strong feelings.
- In questions, move the auxiliary verb before the subject: "Is it safe?" not "It is safe?"
- Imperatives: the subject you is understood — "Pack your bag." = "(You) pack your bag."
Practice (Try these)
- Identify the type of each sentence:
- The Nairobi National Park is near the city.
- Have you seen the flamingos at Lake Nakuru?
- Take a guide when you visit the forest.
- What an amazing view from Mount Kenya!
- Change the sentence type:
- Turn into a question: "The Maasai Mara has many predators."
- Turn into an imperative: "We should go to Amboseli tomorrow."
- Turn into an exclamation: "The waterfall is very beautiful."
- Complete with correct punctuation and form:
- _____ you want to take photos at the rim? (Make a question)
- _____ the elephants carefully. (a command)
Answers
-
Identification:
- a. Declarative
- b. Interrogative
- c. Imperative
- d. Exclamatory
-
Change the sentence type:
- a. Does the Maasai Mara have many predators?
- b. Go to Amboseli tomorrow. (or Let's go to Amboseli tomorrow.)
- c. What a beautiful waterfall! or How beautiful the waterfall is!
-
Complete:
- a. Do you want to take photos at the rim?
- b. Watch the elephants carefully. (or Observe the elephants carefully.)
Use these sentence types when you write travel notes, postcards, or speak about places like Maasai Mara, Mount Kenya, Amboseli, Lake Nakuru and other African attractions. Practice makes writing clearer and more exciting!