Satztyps

Satztyps is a term used in linguistics and language teaching to describe how sentences can be categorized by function and by structure. In German grammar, the concept helps explain how sentences communicate different meanings and how their form supports these meanings. Two primary axes are used: the functional type, which indicates what a sentence does, and the structural type, which shows how the sentence is built.

Functional types group sentences by their communicative purpose. The main categories are Aussagesatz (declarative sentence), Fragesatz (interrogative sentence), Aufforderungssatz (imperative sentence), and Ausrufesatz (exclamative sentence). Fragesätze are further divided into Ja/Nein-Fragen (yes‑no questions) and W-Fragen (questions with a question word like who, what, where). Punctuation typically reflects the function, with question marks for Fragesatz and exclamation marks for Ausrufesatz.

Structural types classify sentences by their internal organization. A simple Satz consists of a single clause with a finite verb. A zusammengesetzter Satz combines clauses, including Satzgefüge (a main clause plus subordinate clauses) and Satzreihe (a sequence of main clauses connected by coordinating conjunctions). These distinctions help describe how ideas are linked and how syntactic complexity affects meaning and rhythm.

Terminology varies by grammar tradition. Some sources use Satzarten and others Satztypen, sometimes overlapping in meaning. Nevertheless, Satztyps provides a concise framework for describing sentence usage and construction, supporting analysis of both everyday language and more formal text.