What are exclamatory Sentences
Exclamatory Sentences
An exclamatory sentence is one
of the four types of sentences. An exclamatory sentence conveys strong feelings,
emotion, surprise, excitement, happiness, or anger. It is also called an exclamation or exclamative sentence. An exclamatory sentence ends with an exclamation mark.
- What romantic weather there was!
- That’s a piece of bad news for me!
- How dare Ali said in the meeting!
- How careless of him to forget my book!
- Oh no! We missed the bus!
Uses of Exclamations
Exclamatory sentences are generally used in speaking. They need to be avoided in formal writing and academic writing. Overusing exclamations is a sign of amateurish writing. They can be used in direct quotes and dialogues.
Formation of Exclamatory Sentences
To form an exclamatory sentence,
we consider or use some elements.
1. Special Words Used in Exclamations
Exclamatory sentences can be
formed by using some words that enhance or strengthen the expression of an exclamatory sentence. These specific words are what, how, so, and such.
What
The word ‘what’ is used at the
beginning of an exclamatory sentence to enhance its expression.
What a/an + noun (singular)
What + noun
(uncountable/plural)
What a/an + adjective + noun
(singular)
What + adjective + noun
(uncountable/plural)
- What a noise we hear!
- What romantic weather we had yesterday!
- What an interesting game it was!
- What beautiful eyes she has!
How
The word ‘how’ is also used at
the beginning of an exclamatory sentence to emphasize, but it is not used as a
question word in the exclamatory sentence.
How + adjective/adverb +
subject + verb
How + subject + verb
- How romantic weather it was!
- How beautifully she danced!
- How they laugh!
So
We use the word ‘so’ in an exclamatory sentence to make a strong expression.
So + adjective/adverb
- This is so cute baby I have ever seen!
- The meal that my mother cooked was so delicious!
Such
The word ‘such’ can be used in an exclamatory sentence like the others used above. It is used with nouns and
adjectives + nouns.
- He is such a kind person! He gives more charity.
- That was such a lovely place! Let’s go again.
Remember that we have
exclamatory sentences that do not have the above words, yet they are called
exclamatory sentences. Any declarative sentences that end with exclamation marks and show excitement become exclamatory sentences.
- That’s a piece of bad news for me!
- I am going to miss these lovely moments!
2. Exclamation Mark
Exclamatory sentences are ended
with exclamation marks to emphasize emotion, feeling, etc.
- How sharp its teeth are!
- What a mess we have!
3. Using of Interjection
Interjection can be used to
express strong feelings, emotions, excitement, etc. The interjections can stand
alone or they can be connected to the rest of an exclamatory sentence. The
interjection can be followed by a comma.
- Wow! We won the match.
- Oh no! He killed him!
- Wow, she looks so beautiful!
Key Points
Short Form
of Exclamations
It is possible to shorten the
exclamatory sentences. We often cut subjects and verbs to shorten them.
Technically, they are not sentences without verbs and subjects, but they are very
common.
Long Form: What a great idea it was!
Short Form: What a great idea!
Long Form: What an expensive car you have bought!
Short Form: What an
expensive car!
Identification
of Subject in Exclamatory Sentences
To identify the subject, take
just three steps. First thing is to locate the verb. After that ask yourself
‘who’ or ‘what’ has performed the action? Whatever answers the above question
is the subject.
- How bravely he spoke!
1. Verb: spoke
2. Who has performed the action
of speaking?
3. The answer is he.
Using Adjectives in Exclamatory Phrases and Clauses
We
sometimes use exclamatory phrases that can stand as a sentence. If we say, ‘No
way!’ or ‘Brrr’, we don’t need a subject and a verb. To qualify an exclamatory
sentence, there must be a subject and a verb.
Adjectives can play a key role in
creating exclamatory phrases or clauses. When a subject is eventive, adjectives
can be exclamatory with or without the elements.
- That’s excellent! = Excellent!
- How wonderful! = Wonderful!
Interrogative
Exclamations
As studied earlier that
exclamations have a subject/verb structure, and exclamatory sentences can also have an interrogative structure.
- Oh wow, was that a great event!
- Oh wow, that was a great event!
- Wasn’t that fun!
- That was fun!
They can also be rhetorical
questions of surprise. They end with both exclamation marks and question marks.
- What?!
- Types of sentences
- Declarative Sentences
- Command Sentences
- Questions
- Simple Sentences
- Compound Sentences
- Complex Sentences
- Compound Complex Sentences
- Compound vs Complex Sentences
