journal article
Toward a Grammar of ExclamationsFoundations of Language
Vol. 11, No. 2 (Mar., 1974)
, pp. 231-246 (16 pages)
Published By: Springer
//www.jstor.org/stable/25000769
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We use exclamations to express surprise or shock or a strong emotion about something. The type of phrase or clause associated with exclamations is called exclamative. We usually form exclamatives with what or how. In writing, we usually put an exclamation mark (!) at the end of the exclamative: What an amazing car! How I love the summer holidays! We can use what + noun phrase ((+ verb) (+ tag)):
+ noun phrase + verb + tag What a beautiful day! What a beautiful day it is! What a beautiful day it is, isn’t it! What bad luck! What bad luck they had! What bad luck they had, didn’t they!What …!
How …!
We often use how followed by an adjective only:
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We can use How + adjective/adverb + subject + verb:
How interesting it was to hear her story!
How wonderful it is to see you!
How beautifully she sang! Everyone was delighted.
In informal styles, we can also use How + adjective + verb + subject. This is particularly common in American English:
How clever am I!
How crazy is that!
Here are some short expressions we use to express surprise:
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Exclamatives with interrogative form
We sometimes make an exclamation using interrogative (question) word order:
Have I got news for you! Peter and Michaela are getting divorced! (or, less strong: I’ve got news for you!)
Did I do something stupid last night!
Published on September 29, 2022 by Eoghan Ryan. Revised on October 20, 2022. An interjection is a word or phrase used to express a feeling or to request or demand something. While interjections are a part of speech, they are not grammatically connected to other parts of a
sentence. Interjections are common in everyday speech and informal writing. While some interjections such as “well” and “indeed” are acceptable in formal conversation, it’s best to avoid interjections in formal or academic writing. Uh-oh. I forgot to
get gas. We’re not lost. We just need to go, um, this way. Psst, what’s the answer to number four? Interjections add meaning to a sentence or context by expressing a feeling, making a demand, or emphasizing a thought. Interjections can be either a single word or a phrase, and they can be used on their own or as part of a sentence. Shoot, I’ve broken a nail. Oh really? I didn’t know that. As interjections are a grammatically independent part of speech, they can often be excluded from a sentence without impacting its meaning. A primary interjection is a word or sound that can only be used as an interjection. Primary interjections do not have alternative meanings and can’t function as another part of speech (i.e., noun,
verb, or adjective). Primary interjections are typically just sounds without a clear etymology. As such, while they sometimes have standard spellings, a single interjection may be written in different ways (e.g., “um-hum” or “mm-hmm”). Um-hum. I think that could work. We won the game. Yippee! A secondary interjection is a word that is typically used as another part of speech (such as a noun, verb, or adjective) that can also be used as an interjection. Shoot! My flight has been canceled. Awesome! Do that trick again. A volitive interjection is used to give a command or make a request. For example, the volitive interjection “shh” or “shush” is used to command someone to be quiet. Psst. Pass me an eraser. Ahem. Please pay attention. An emotive interjection is used to express an emotion or to indicate a reaction to something. For example, the emotive interjection “ew” is used to express disgust. Curse words, also called expletives, are commonly used (in informal contexts) as
emotive interjections to express frustration or anger. Yay! I’m so excited to see you. Yum! This apple pie is delicious. A cognitive interjection is used to express a thought or indicate a thought process. For example, the cognitive interjection “um” can
express confusion or indicate that the speaker is thinking. Wow! I wasn’t expecting that.How are interjections used in sentences?
Primary interjections
Secondary interjections
Volitive interjections
Emotive interjections
Cognitive interjections
Eureka! I’ve solved the puzzle.
Greetings and parting words
Greetings and parting words/phrases are interjections used to acknowledge or welcome someone or to express good wishes at the end of a conversation.
Examples: Greetings and parting words/phrases in a sentenceHey!Hello! It’s good to see you.
Bye!
See you soon! Drive safe.
Interjections and punctuation
How an interjection is punctuated depends on the context and the intensity of the emotion or thought being expressed.
Exclamation points are most commonly used along with interjections to emphasize the intensity of an emotion, thought, or demand.
When the emotion or thought being expressed is less extreme, an interjection can also be followed by a period. If an interjection is used to express uncertainty or to ask a question, it should be followed by a question mark.
Examples: Interjections and punctuationOh. I don’t know.We’ve just won the lottery. Hurray!
Hmm?
When an interjection is used as part of a sentence, it should be set off from the rest of the sentence using commas.
Examples: Interjections within a sentenceHmm, how are we going to do this?It was an interesting lecture, indeed.
The project is, uh, going well.
Frequently asked questions
What are some examples of interjections?
An interjection can have different meanings depending on how it is used. Some common interjections, along with an explanation of how they are commonly used, are listed below.
| Yes, um-hum, indeed, sure | Used to express agreement |
| Ew, yuck, ugh | Used to express disgust |
| Alas, damn, darn, dang, blast, shoot | Used to express dissatisfaction |
| Yay, woo-hoo, nice, yippee | Used to express joy |
| Ow, ouch | Used to express pain |
| Hmm, er, um, well | Used to express uncertainty |
Sources in this article
We strongly encourage students to use sources in their work. You can cite our article (APA Style) or take a deep dive into the articles below.
This Scribbr article
Ryan, E. (October 20, 2022). What Is an Interjection? | Examples, Definition & Types. Scribbr. Retrieved October 24, 2022, from //www.scribbr.com/parts-of-speech/interjections/
Sources
Aarts, B. (2011). Oxford modern English grammar. Oxford University Press.
Butterfield, J. (Ed.). (2015). Fowler’s dictionary of modern English usage (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.
Show all sources (3)
Garner, B. A. (2016). Garner’s modern English usage (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.
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