Classification of sentences

In order to express ourselves correctly and transmit messages, it is necessary to use sentences or phrases that have meaning. These will not help to show what we want to our receiver. In Spanish there are different types of sentences and they meet different criteria. In this lesson from a TEACHER we are going to see what the classification of sentences in Spanish.

In the first place and to know the classification that we can use in Spanish for the sentences, it will be necessary to know what these are. Sentences are sets of words that form minimum predicate units.

In other words, sentences are those sets of words that put in contact or relate yet subject and a predicate and that make sense on their own. It should be noted that prayer is not the minimum unit of communication since we can find other types of messages that also serve to communicate and are not necessarily prayers.

On many occasions we use phrase and sentence as synonyms, but the truth is that there is a very clear difference between them. This is none other than while the sentence will always carry a predicate,

Now we know what sentences are and what distinguishes them from phrases, let's delve into the subject at hand to show what is the classification that is made in Spanish of the sentences. We must point out that this classification is based on different criteria in which we will find different categories. Thus, we can say that the classification of sentences is divided into:

• Sentences according to the number of verbs
• Sentences according to the attitude of the speaker
• Sentences according to the structure of the predicate
• Sentences according to their structure

Next we are going to see each of them broken down so that you can easily understand and assimilate them.

Image: Ihmc

The number of verbs is important when classifying sentences. These can have a single predicate or several and this will depend on the number of verbs that the sentence has. Thus, when we have to classify the sentences using this criterion we can find:

• Simple sentences: are those that only have a verb. In general, their structure is simple and they are easier to analyze when faced with a syntactic analysis.
• Compound sentences: Compound sentences are those that have two or more verbs. These have more predicates and are more complex to analyze.

If we want to classify the sentences according to the criterion shown by the speaker attitude we will have to pay attention to the sentence modalities. These will affect the point of view of the sender of the sentence when he wants to convey a specific message. He may express it in a way that shows his opinion, asks or begs among others. Thus, within this classification we find:

• Wishful prayers: wishful sentences are those we use when we want to express a wish.
• Hesitant prayers: when we use doubtful sentences we do it because we want to show something that generates a doubt.
• Declarative sentences: are those sentences that serve to affirm or deny something.
• Exclamation sentences: are those that are used when you want to express an emotion such as joy, fear, grief, amazement, amazement... etc.
• Prayers imperatives: these sentences will always refer to a request or command made from the sender to a receiver. Its objective is that said order or request is carried out.
• Prayersinterrogatives: questions are used when we want to ask a question. Within sentences of this type we can find two other categories. These are direct interrogative sentences and indirect interrogative sentences.

When we refer to the structure of sentences, we do so to point out their main aspects in this regard. Based on this criterion we can find:

• Single sentences: they lack one of the members, but the sentence has full meaning. When these do not have a predicate, they are called nominal and when they dispense with subject, they are known as impersonal.
• Bimembres prayers: are those that always have a subject and a predicate.

We hope that this lesson on the classification of sentences in Spanish has helped you to visualize the scheme and understand the criteria that lead to each of them. If you want to find more content like this, be sure to visit our section Spanish language.