Using Interjections
Definition of an interjection
An interjection describes a noun or a situation without a grammatical connection with the rest of the sentence. It can stand alone to express emotion or reaction. Interjections are one of the eight parts of speech in the English language. A few common interjections are wow, oh, alas, phew, ouch, aha, hey, hmm, eh, oops. Most interjections are followed with an exclamation mark (!).
Wow is used to express surprise, pleasure, alarm.
Wow! You managed to finish reading the whole book in only 35 minutes?!
(expressing surprise)
Wow! It was such a nice trip. We really enjoyed it. (expressing pleasure)
When you realized that nobody was at home, you actually tried to get into the house through the kitchen window?! Wow! You were really very foolish to do that. Anyone who saw you would jump to conclusion that you were a burglar! (expressing alarm)
Oh is used to express surprise, fright, delight.
Oh! I'm really surprised that our new boss can speak very good Japanese.
(expressing surprise)
Oh! I've spilled ink on Henry's notes. I think he's going to get very angry.
(expressing fright)
"Oh! We're going to the zoo," the children shouted happily.
(expressing delight)
Alas is used to express grief, pity, regret.
Alas! Her parents are dead and she has to go to an orphanage. (expressing grief)
Alas! She didn't catch the last and also the most interesting part of the drama. (expressing pity)
Alas! He should have listened to his elders' advice, but he didn't in the first place. (expressing regret)
phew is used to express relief.
Phew! What a relief to have convinced that fastidious customer of ours!
(expressing relief)
Ouch is used to express pain.
Ouch! My foot! I think I've stepped on something sharp!
Aha is used to express realization
Aha! So it was you who played this dirty trick on me, right?
Hey is used to attract somebody's attention.
Hey! You're not supposed to go into that room.
Hey! Look at that no-smoking sign! You're not allowed to smoke here!
Hmm is used to show hesitation. (followed with ... not exclamation mark)
Hmm....I think we'll take the back seats.
Eh is used to request the listener to confirm or agree with what you say, and is usually used as a tag at the end of the sentence.
My idea is really good, eh?
You will hang up some nice lanterns here, eh?
Oops is used to show that you've made a mistake or forgotten to do something.
Oops! I've added salt instead of sugar to the cake mixture!
Oops! I forgot to turn on the oven before I started whisking the eggs!
Interjections may appear in phrases such as Oh dear / Oh my goodness / Thank heaven / Thank God
Oh dear! I've lost my gold earrings. (showing the speaker is alarm and upset)
Oh my goodness! The goats have eaten all the young vegetables!
(showing the speaker is surprised and upset)
Thank heaven! or Thank God! Nobody was injured.
(showing the speaker is glad that something bad did not happen)
Click on "grammar Articles" to view other kinds of grammar.
An interjection describes a noun or a situation without a grammatical connection with the rest of the sentence. It can stand alone to express emotion or reaction. Interjections are one of the eight parts of speech in the English language. A few common interjections are wow, oh, alas, phew, ouch, aha, hey, hmm, eh, oops. Most interjections are followed with an exclamation mark (!).
Wow is used to express surprise, pleasure, alarm.
Wow! You managed to finish reading the whole book in only 35 minutes?!
(expressing surprise)
Wow! It was such a nice trip. We really enjoyed it. (expressing pleasure)
When you realized that nobody was at home, you actually tried to get into the house through the kitchen window?! Wow! You were really very foolish to do that. Anyone who saw you would jump to conclusion that you were a burglar! (expressing alarm)
Oh is used to express surprise, fright, delight.
Oh! I'm really surprised that our new boss can speak very good Japanese.
(expressing surprise)
Oh! I've spilled ink on Henry's notes. I think he's going to get very angry.
(expressing fright)
"Oh! We're going to the zoo," the children shouted happily.
(expressing delight)
Alas is used to express grief, pity, regret.
Alas! Her parents are dead and she has to go to an orphanage. (expressing grief)
Alas! She didn't catch the last and also the most interesting part of the drama. (expressing pity)
Alas! He should have listened to his elders' advice, but he didn't in the first place. (expressing regret)
phew is used to express relief.
Phew! What a relief to have convinced that fastidious customer of ours!
(expressing relief)
Ouch is used to express pain.
Ouch! My foot! I think I've stepped on something sharp!
Aha is used to express realization
Aha! So it was you who played this dirty trick on me, right?
Hey is used to attract somebody's attention.
Hey! You're not supposed to go into that room.
Hey! Look at that no-smoking sign! You're not allowed to smoke here!
Hmm is used to show hesitation. (followed with ... not exclamation mark)
Hmm....I think we'll take the back seats.
Eh is used to request the listener to confirm or agree with what you say, and is usually used as a tag at the end of the sentence.
My idea is really good, eh?
You will hang up some nice lanterns here, eh?
Oops is used to show that you've made a mistake or forgotten to do something.
Oops! I've added salt instead of sugar to the cake mixture!
Oops! I forgot to turn on the oven before I started whisking the eggs!
Interjections may appear in phrases such as Oh dear / Oh my goodness / Thank heaven / Thank God
Oh dear! I've lost my gold earrings. (showing the speaker is alarm and upset)
Oh my goodness! The goats have eaten all the young vegetables!
(showing the speaker is surprised and upset)
Thank heaven! or Thank God! Nobody was injured.
(showing the speaker is glad that something bad did not happen)
Click on "grammar Articles" to view other kinds of grammar.
By Susan L
On 2/24/2010 03:54:00 AM
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