Interjections - English Grammar Notes

• Definition
• Answers

Definition

• An interjection is either a single word or short groups of words that is used to express a feeling or emotion. Interjections can express such feelings as urgency, surprise, relief, joy, or pain. An interjection that expresses strong emotion is often followed by an exclamation mark. An interjection that expresses mild emotion is usually followed by a comma.
  
  Examples:
  Let’s go! We can’t sleep before we find the missing boy (urgency).
  Phew! I was afraid we would never find him. (relief)
  Oh, you have grown so big. (surprise)
  Well, I have never been so happy. (joy)

Exercise 1

Identify the interjection in the following sentences and indicate what feeling or emotion it expresses.

1. Say, have you heard about Nameless and Jua Kali, the famous Kenyan musicians.
2. Wow! Seeing the calf being born was exciting.
3. “All right!” I yelled to him. “This is not right thing to do.”
4. Boy! Some people felt wonderful being in the air balloon, but I felt nervous.
5. Oh, did that boat rock back and forth for a while.

Answers

Exercise 1

1. Say – wonderment
2. Wow! – joy
3. All right! – urgency
4. Boy! – fear
5. Oh – surprise