3rd grade types of sentences worksheets
Third graders classify the four types quickly, including the sneaky cases: commands with hidden subjects (Wash your hands), questions that start mid-thought, and exclamations that open with what or how. Naming types feeds into writing paragraphs that vary their sentences.
Free printable PDF worksheet, aligned to Common Core L.1.1.j.
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The kind of sentences you'll get
Circle the letter that names the kind of sentence.
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“Our class won the reading challenge!” Kind of sentence: .
question · statement · exclamation
Answer: exclamation
- “Astronauts sleep in bags strapped to the wall.” Kind of sentence: . question · statement · command
- “Meteorologists use radar to track big storms.” Kind of sentence: . question · exclamation · statement
Every print pulls a fresh set of sentences at this level, so a make-up test or a second sibling never gets the same sheet.
What's on each sheet
- Choose the word. Circle the letter that names the kind of sentence. 10 questions per page.
Every version prints on US Letter or A4, with its answer key on the last page.
How to teach this
Spotlight the two reliable trick cases: commands whose subject is an invisible you, and exclamations that masquerade as questions (What a save!). Students who can explain those two have genuinely learned the types. Then turn it productive: ask for one paragraph containing all four kinds.
Watch for: Commands often hide their subject: 'Sit down' means you sit down, even though the word you never appears. The end mark is a clue, not proof: 'What a great day!' starts like a question but is an exclamation.
Common questions about types of sentences
- What's the hidden subject in a command?
- You. "Wash your hands" means "you wash your hands," with the you understood. It's why commands look subjectless and confuse sentence-diagramming later if nobody names it now. One good example usually makes it click for a 3rd grader.
- Why do "What a great catch!" sentences trip students up?
- They open with what, the classic question word, but they burst instead of asking. The test is whether the sentence wants an answer: a question does, an exclamation doesn't. Our items include these on purpose, because state tests do too.
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Aligned to Common Core L.1.1.j. Reviewed by the One more sheet team. Content version 137, updated August 2026.
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