Assertive Sentence
Learn what an assertive sentence is, its types, structure, examples, rules, and common mistakes with this beginner-friendly English grammar lesson.
Assertive Sentence
An Assertive Sentence (also called a Declarative Sentence) is a sentence that states a fact, opinion, idea, or information. It is the most common type of sentence in English.
An assertive sentence always ends with a full stop (.).
Examples
- The sun rises in the east.
- I am learning English grammar.
- She lives in Dhaka.
- They play football every evening.
- Bangladesh is a beautiful country.
Types of Assertive Sentences
There are two types of assertive sentences.
1. Affirmative (Positive) Assertive Sentence
An affirmative sentence states something positively.
Examples
- She is a doctor.
- They are playing cricket.
- We love our country.
- I have completed my homework.
2. Negative Assertive Sentence
A negative sentence states that something is not true or does not happen.
Examples
- She is not a doctor.
- They do not play cricket.
- We cannot swim.
- He never tells lies.
Structure
Affirmative
Subject + Verb + Object/Complement
Examples:
- Rahim reads books.
- They are students.
- She likes music.
Negative
Subject + Helping Verb + not + Main Verb + Object
Examples:
- He does not play football.
- I am not tired.
- They have not finished the work.
Characteristics of an Assertive Sentence
- States a fact, opinion, or idea.
- Ends with a full stop (.).
- Can be positive or negative.
- Used in everyday conversation and writing.
- Provides information instead of asking questions or giving commands.
Examples
| Sentence | Type |
|---|---|
| The Earth revolves around the Sun. | Positive Assertive |
| She is not at home. | Negative Assertive |
| We enjoyed the movie. | Positive Assertive |
| They do not like coffee. | Negative Assertive |
| Bangladesh won the match. | Positive Assertive |
Assertive vs Other Sentence Types
| Sentence Type | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Assertive | States information | I like coffee. |
| Interrogative | Asks a question | Do you like coffee? |
| Imperative | Gives a command or request | Please sit down. |
| Exclamatory | Expresses strong emotion | What a beautiful day! |
Rules
- Begin with a capital letter.
- End with a full stop (.).
- Follow the correct subject-verb agreement.
- Use not to make a sentence negative.
- Express facts, opinions, or statements clearly.
Common Mistakes
❌ She not likes tea.
✅ She does not like tea.
❌ He go to school.
✅ He goes to school.
❌ Are you a student.
✅ Are you a student?
This is not an assertive sentence. It is an interrogative sentence because it asks a question.
Quick Quiz
1. Which is an assertive sentence?
A. Where are you going?
B. Please open the door.
C. I enjoy reading books.
D. What a wonderful idea!
Answer: C
2. Which punctuation mark is used at the end of an assertive sentence?
A. ?
B. !
C. .
D. ,
Answer: C
3. Which sentence is negative?
A. They play football.
B. They do not play football.
C. Play football.
D. Do they play football?
Answer: B
Summary
- An Assertive Sentence states a fact, opinion, or idea.
- It is also known as a Declarative Sentence.
- There are two types:
- Affirmative (Positive)
- Negative
- An assertive sentence always ends with a full stop (.).
- It is the most common sentence type in English.