Exclamatory sentences are used to express certain feelings and emotions of the issuer, such as:
- Happiness. For example: I got a 10 on the Math test!
- Surprise. For example: Look, a UFO!
- Anger. For example: Shut up for once!
- Sadness. For example: What a pity they lost the game!
- Fear. For example: Run!
Exclamatory sentences tend to stand out above the rest and are easily distinguishable. In orality, they can be recognized by the emphatic intonation, and in writing, by the use of exclamation or admiration marks. In Spanish, these are double signs, that is, they are placed both at the beginning and at the end of the sentence, where the sign replaces the point. For example: Happy Birthday!
Remember: Many exclamatory expressions form single-membered sentences, since they simply mark a sudden reaction or feeling. That is why various interjections are often written between exclamation marks. For example: Oh! What a surprise! / Oops! What a blow!
When a sentence is exclamatory, this feature usually prevails over its declarative character, even when it states something. For example, if someone exclaimed The war is over!we would surely perceive that the issuer is celebrating that fact, and not just communicating it.
Exclamatory sentences differ from interrogative sentences, which are those that are used when you want to ask something. These are usually framed between question or interrogation marks, which are also double signs. For example: How do I get to the art museum?
To keep in mind: In certain contexts, when seeking to combine the interrogative tone with the exclamatory tone, both types of signs can be placed in the same sentence. Additionally, exclamation points can be repeated for added emphasis. For example: No!!! Did the plane just land now?!
Examples of exclamatory sentences
- How hot it is in this city!
- Listen, that’s the song I like!
- There’s water coming in through the back window!
- How cute is your haircut!
- I love those paintings you hung in the living room!
- You wore the scarf I gave you for your birthday!
- I forgot the voice recorder!
- Congratulations on the birth of your son!
- Be careful, this shelf is loose!
- Sight! There goes your cousin!
- What a delicious aroma, I want to eat right now!
- I can’t believe what you’re telling me!
- Your pants zipper broke!
- I am very happy for the news you gave me!
- What a beautiful landscape!
- You never listen to me when I talk to you!
- I love chocolate cake!
- Hurry up, we’re going to be late for the movies!
- That skirt looks beautiful on you!
- I’m tired of being criticized!
- Do not yell at me!
- I have to do everything myself!
- Every day I miss you more!
- Happy Anniversary!
- This device is a disaster!
- How well your brother played yesterday!
- What a goal!
- I couldn’t solve a single question on the exam!
- What a pretty woman!
- Long live the revolution!
- Help! Get me out of here!
- Everybody run ten laps around the field!
- How come you’re not coming to my party!
- But who did you think?
- Go to sleep once and for all!
- You never do anything around the house!
- Ay ay ay!
- What disrespect!
- How cute is that dress on you!
- Careful!!!
- You studied a lot!
- Run for your life!
- Congratulations on this achievement!
- I can’t believe you got scammed!
- Thanks for participating!
- We are waiting with open arms!
- We finally meet!
- Few units left!
- What a pity to have lost that cup after so much training!
- How much pain!
What are the exclamatory particles?
A characteristic of exclamatory sentences is that many contain exclamatory particles, among them:
- Than. For example: ohThan beautiful day!
- Where. For example: ohWhere they came to meet!
- When. For example: ohWhen we will finish this job!
- How. For example: ohHow Rains!
- Who who. For example: ohWho I would have imagined!
- How much / how much / how many / how many. For example: ohHow much money!
Regarding the word class, the exclamatory particles can be:
- exclamatory adjectives. They modify a noun and, if they are variable particles, they agree with it in gender and number. For example: ohHow many things you brought in the suitcase!
- exclamatory adverbs. They accompany a verb and are invariable words. For example: ohHow we danced last night!
- exclamatory pronouns. They replace a noun, that is, they appear instead of it. For example: ohWho must have had that idea!
Careful: There are countless ways to build exclamatory sentences, so these particles do not always appear. For example: Let’s get out of here!
Types of sentences
Interactive test to practice
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