Uses of an Exclamatory Sentence: Practice Them Now!
Exclamatory Sentence Defined
In our daily life, there are many situations where we see and use an exclamations, but we normally don’t notice it. We tend to be angry or sad at a particular situation, or happy and excited about a recent news. These are just few of the many occasions where exclamatory sentences exist.
We have different emotions and feelings that we express either in writing or in speaking.
How do you express your feelings? Do you write them, or yell them? However you do it, expressing our emotions and feelings is one way to show what we feel about a particular person or situation.
Sometimes, we express what we feel through shouting or writing. The difference is that our voice becomes the determiner of how we feel when we shout. On the other hand, when we write, a specific mark after the end of the sentence serves as the determiner. This is called the exclamation mark and is used in an exclamatory sentence.
An exclamatory sentence is a type of sentence that expresses emotions and feelings. We call this sentence exclamatory when we express joy and excitement, give a strong command, show anger, surprise, or frustration. In writing, exclamatory sentences are usually seen in informal language such as advertisements, text messages, or chats. We rarely see them in formal written texts like email, news articles, and school paper. In addition, an exclamatory sentence provides a strong emphasis on something. Exclamatory sentences use interjections. They start with a capital letter and end in an exclamation mark. “Hurray! We’re going on a holiday!” is an example of an exclamatory sentence expressing excitement.
This article will tackle the key uses of exclamatory sentences and provide examples for each use for you to better understand them, and apply in your day-to-day conversations.
Uses of an Exclamatory Sentence
Here are some situations where we can use an exclamatory sentence.
Expressing strong emotions
An exclamatory sentence is most commonly used to express strong emotions, such as excitement, surprise, anger, joy, or sadness. The exclamation mark (!) at the end of the sentence helps to convey the intensity of the emotion.
Examples:
“Oh my God! I won the lottery!” – expresses joy
“I’m so excited to play football on Sunday!” – expresses excitement
“Shut up! You’re giving me stress!” – expresses anger
“What a pity!” – expressing sadness
“What?! Are these really for me?” – expressing surprise
Giving Emphasis
Exclamations can also be used to emphasize a statement. This can be helpful when you want to make sure that your point is clear and understood. We can use it to emphasize the urgency, quality, or quantity of something.
Examples:
“We have to go now!” – expressing urgency
“That was the best game ever!” – expressing how much you appreciate the game
“What a delicious lunch you prepared!” – expressing the quality of lunch you ate
Getting Attention
Exclamations can be used to get someone’s attention. This can be useful in situations where you need someone to listen to you right away. Advertisements, in writing, are examples of exclamations that can get someone’s attention.
Examples:
“Hey! Come back here!”
“Fire!”
“Look out! You’re going to fall!”
“Wow! What a wonderful view this is. Look!”
Giving Commands and Strong Requests
Exclamatory sentences can be used for forceful commands or requests that demand immediate action. Sometimes, when we are angry while giving commands, the exclamatory sentence is present.
Examples:
“Stop the car!”
“Clean your room now!”
“Sit down!”
“Silence!”
“Quiet down back there! We’re trying to concentrate!”
“Hurry up! We’re going to be late!”
“Don’t touch that! It’s hot!”
Points to take note about Exclamatory Sentences
- Interjections go with exclamatory sentences (ex: “Ouch! You’re hurting me!”)
- The tone given to certain words should be taken note to avoid misunderstanding and changing the meaning of the sentence.
- We can use “What” or “How” at the beginning of the sentence, but not to ask questions (ex: “What a huge house this is!”).
- An exclamatory sentence capitalizes the beginning letter of the first word. If there are two simple sentences in one exclamatory sentence, the second simple sentence has to begin with a capital letter.
- We write an exclamatory sentence in informal correspondence and not in business correspondence.
Examples of Real-life situations with exclamations (practice them here)
In real-life situations, an exclamatory sentence is always applied. For example, greetings are part of our daily life where we express with excitement, especially when we meet a very close friend of ours whom we haven’t seen for a long time. For example, “Hi! Hello! It’s been a long time!”
We can also use exclamations in Christmas wishes and greetings to our friends and family. These are examples of real-life situations wherein we unnoticeably use them to express our emotions.
Here are examples of real-life situations where we can use exclamations.
Achievements (e.g. Passing an exam, graduating, having a baby, etc)
Congratulations!
I’m proud of you!
Good job!
What a great victory!
Keep up the good work!
Celebrations (birthdays, anniversaries, etc.)
Happy birthday!
Happy anniversary!
God bless us all!
Hooray! Let’s celebrate!
Cheers to new beginnings!
Merry Christmas!
Yoohoo!
Conflict or argument (at home, in the street, etc)
Leave me alone!
Don’t touch me!
How dare you?!
Stop it! I’m hurting!
Let me go!
I don’t care anymore!
Damn it!
A situation that necessitates help, emergency, or urgency
Please help me!
Hurry up!
Ready, get set, go!
One, two, three, go!
Affirmation of something
Okay!
Alright!
You got it!
You’re right!
Boom!
Amusement / Appreciation / Excitement
Wow!
I really like it!
Amazing!
You did great!
Good job!
OMG! I’m so excited!
Surprise or disappointment
Oh no!
What is this mess?!
Oh my!
Have you ever used these examples of exclamatory sentences in your conversations? Remember, an exclamatory sentence is uttered in a sudden or immediate occurrence, not planned.
What to take note
An exclamatory sentence is useful in emphasizing a specific point, an emotion, or getting someone’s attention. It is a unique type of sentence because it has an exclamation mark, but take note that not all sentences that end in “!” are exclamatory sentences. Some can be an imperative sentence giving orders or commands.
Simply, an exclamatory sentence expresses feelings and strong emotions. When you use it, make sure not to misuse it in your sentences.
Got it?