- An interjection is a part of speech that expresses a sudden, strong feeling or emotion. It is not grammatically related to the rest of the sentence. Interjections are often followed by an exclamation mark (!).
Types of Interjections with Examples
| Emotion/Type | Interjection | Meaning & Example |
|---|---|---|
| Joy / Happiness | Hurray! Hooray! Yay! | Expresses excitement or triumph. Example: Hurray! We won the match! |
| Surprise | Oh! Wow! Ah! Gosh! | Expresses sudden wonder or shock. Example: Wow! What a beautiful painting! Example: Oh! I didn’t expect to see you here. |
| Pain / Discomfort | Ouch! Ow! Ah! | Expresses physical pain. Example: Ouch! I just stubbed my toe. |
| Greeting / Attention | Hello! Hey! Hi! | Used to greet someone or call for attention. Example: Hello! How are you doing? Example: Hey! Look over there! |
| Approval / Praise | Bravo! Well done! | Used to praise or applaud someone. Example: Bravo! That was an excellent performance. |
| Silence / Quiet | Shh! Hush! | Used to make someone quiet. Example: Shh! The baby is sleeping. |
| Disgust / Dislike | Ugh! Yuck! Eww! | Expresses strong dislike or disgust. Example: Ugh! This milk has gone sour. Example: Yuck! I hate broccoli. |
| Sorrow / Regret | Alas! Oh no! Oops! | Expresses grief, pity, or regret. Example: Alas! He could not complete his journey. Example: Oops! I spilled the coffee. |
| Understanding / Realization | Oh! Ah! | Expresses a sudden understanding. Example: Oh! Now I understand the problem. |
Important Points
- Standalone Nature: Interjections often stand alone and are followed by an exclamation mark. Example: Ouch! That hurt.
- Mid-Sentence Use: They can also be placed within a sentence and are usually set off by commas. Example: I, uh, don’t know the answer.
- Not Grammatical Connections: Remember, they do not grammatically connect to the sentence. Removing them doesn’t affect the sentence’s core grammar.
- Commonly Tested Interjections: Focus on the subtle differences between Oh (surprise, understanding), Ah (realization, pleasure), Alas (sorrow), and Hurray (joy).