Pronunciation IPA (key): /ˈsɛntəns/ SAMPA: /"sEnt@ns/ Audio (US)(file) Noun Singular sentence Plural sentences (countable) (grammar) In grammar, a sentence is a group of words that follow normal grammar rules, and that, in writing, begins with a capital letter and ends with a period '.', question mark '?', or exclamation mark '!'. Usually a sentence has a subject, verb, and object. The first sentence in the Jewish holy book is, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." (countable) (law) In law, a sentence is the punishment that a judge gives to a criminal. He received a 15-year sentence for the murder of his friend. Verb Plain form sentence Third-person singular sentences Past tense sentenced Past participle sentenced Present participle sentencing (transitive) (law) If a judge sentences someone, they decide on a punishment for a crime. He was sentenced to 15 years in jail for the murder of his friend.Wikiwand - on Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.