Unit 6.2
Types of simple sentences: Speaker attitude
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Introduction
The simple sentence [oración simple] is a type of sentence with only a predicate made up of a verb and other words.
Simple sentences are divided according to the attitude of the speaker [actitud del hablante] and the nature of the predicate [naturaleza del predicado].
There are two types of simple sentences depending on the speaker’s attitude: enunciative [enunciativas] and direct interrogative [interrogativas directas].
Form
A simple sentence consists of a subject (its nucleus is a noun) and a predicate (its nucleus is a verb).
There are several types of simple sentences, but they always have the same structure:
Subjet + predicate + object + …
Simple sentences are divided according to two criteria: the speaker’s attitude and the nature of the predicate.
Depending on the speaker’s attitude, we have different kinds of sentences, including enunciative and interrogative sentences.
Enunciative
Enunciative sentences can be:
- affirmatives;
- negative: they contain the adverb no before the verb (verb in negative form).
Interrogative
Interrogative sentences can be direct or indirect.
Direct interrogative sentences are in the form of a question and can be distinguished as follows:
- partial: they contain a pronoun or an interrogative adverb. If they have a preposition, this always precedes the pronoun or interrogative adverb. In the case of the interrogative pronoun quién, it acts as the subject.
- total: they do not contain an interrogative pronoun or adverb and have the same structure as enunciative sentences:
¿Subjet + predicate + complements?
Indirect interrogative sentences are not in the form of a question.
Example
Enunciative:
- affirmatives:
- Iré al cine esta tarde;
- Adoro los cuadros del museo;
- Leo libros.
- negatives:
- No iré al cine esta tarde;
- No adoro los cuadros del museo;
- No leo libros.
Interrogatives:
- partials:
- ¿Cuál es tu exposición favorita?
- ¿Cuándo fuiste de vacaciones?
- ¿Quién es esa chica de la película?
- total:
- ¿Irás al cine esta tarde? / ¿No irás al cine esta tarde?
- ¿Adoras los cuadros del museo? / ¿No adoras los cuadros del museo?
- ¿Lees libros? / ¿No lees libros?
Use
The simple sentence is used to talk about a single fact, as it has only one predicate.
Depending on the speaker attitude, there are different types of simple sentences that also serve other purposes:
- enunciative are used to state a fact:
- affirmative: to communicate some content;
- negative: to deny some content.
- direct interrogatives are used to ask about a point:
- partial: to ask for additional information;
- total: to ask for an affirmation (the answer is Sí) o negation (the answer is No).
Summary
In Spanish, the simple sentence is so-called because it is made up of a predicate, which is why it has his structure:
Subject + predicate + object + …
There are several types of this type of sentence: enunciative, direct interrogative, impersonal, copulative, transitive and intransitive.
For example:
— «¿Vas a casa?» = The verb of the sentence is voy and the type of sentence is a direct interrogative one;
— «Ella tiene un perro». = The verb of the sentence is tiene and the type of sentence is an affirmative enunciative one.
Check the contents of the {Form} section. Then move on to the {Example} section, which shows you the usage in context.
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