
Exclamatory sentences bring energy and emotion to our communication. They help us express joy, surprise, anger or excitement in a way that makes our words more powerful. Whether you are speaking or writing, these sentences make your message stand out and connect emotionally with your audience. But what exactly is an exclamatory sentence and how do you use it effectively? Let’s explore the definition, structure, examples and worksheets to practice exclamatory sentences.
What is an Exclamatory Sentence?
An exclamatory sentence is a type of sentence that expresses a strong feeling or sudden emotion. It goes beyond simply sharing information and adds intensity to the message. These sentences often start with words like what or how and always end with an exclamation mark (!).
Examples:
- What a beautiful day it is!
- How amazing this looks!
- Wow, that was incredible!
According to the Cambridge Dictionary, an exclamatory sentence is “a sentence containing an exclamation or strong emphasis.” Similarly, Merriam-Webster defines “exclamatory” as something that contains or expresses an exclamation.
Structure, Rules, and Punctuation of Exclamatory Sentences
Structure
Exclamatory sentences usually follow one of these patterns:
- What + (a/an) + adjective + noun + subject + verb!
- How + adjective/adverb + subject + verb!
- Interjection + rest of the sentence!
Examples:
- What an exciting match this is!
- How quickly she runs!
- Wow, that was unexpected!
Rules
- Always end with an exclamation mark (!).
- Use interjections like Wow, Ouch, Oh, Yay for added emphasis.
- Begin with What or How to stress emotions.
- Do not overuse exclamation marks, as they may reduce impact.
Punctuation
- Exclamation marks should only appear at the end of a sentence.
- Use commas to separate interjections from the main sentence.
Example:
- Oh, that really hurt!
Key Characteristics of Exclamatory Sentences
- Expresses strong emotions such as excitement, anger, shock, joy, or sadness.
- Always ends with an exclamation mark (!).
- Can be a full sentence or a short phrase.
- Often begins with exclamatory words like what, how, or interjections.
Examples of Exclamatory Sentences
Here are different situations where exclamatory sentences are used:
- You scared me so much! (expresses surprise)
- That was the best trip ever! (expresses joy)
- Stop shouting right now! (expresses anger)
- Ouch! That really hurts! (expresses pain)
- This food is so delicious! (expresses admiration)
- I can’t believe you won the match! (expresses disbelief)
- That’s unbelievable! (expresses amazement)
Worksheet on Exclamatory Sentences
Practice makes learning stronger. Try this worksheet to improve your understanding of exclamatory sentences.
Section A: Add Exclamation Marks
Add the missing exclamation mark to sentences below:
- What a lovely dress
- I can’t believe you said that
- That is such a big mistake
- What a surprise to see you here
- How fast the car is moving
Section B: Change Declarative to Exclamatory Sentences
Turn these sentences into exclamatory sentences:
- She is a kind person.
- The garden looks beautiful.
- This meal is delicious.
- He is very intelligent.
- The movie was boring.
Section C: Rearrange Words
Form correct exclamatory sentences:
- beautiful / What / painting / a / this / is
- delicious / How / food / the / tastes
- impressive / What / performance / an
- wonderful / How / your / voice / is
- lovely / What / day / a
Section D: Rewrite with Strong Emotions
Rewrite the following sentences as exclamatory sentences:
- This is a huge surprise.
- You are really lucky.
- The sunset is pretty.
- The storm was scary.
- That’s a great idea.
Answer Key
Section A:
- What a lovely dress!
- I can’t believe you said that!
- That is such a big mistake!
- What a surprise to see you here!
- How fast the car is moving!
Section B:
- What a kind person she is!
- How beautiful the garden looks!
- How delicious this meal is!
- What an intelligent boy he is!
- How boring the movie was!
Section C:
- What a beautiful painting this is!
- How delicious the food tastes!
- What an impressive performance!
- How wonderful your voice is!
- What a lovely day!
Section D:
- What a huge surprise this is!
- How lucky you are!
- What a pretty sunset!
- What a scary storm it was!
- That’s such a great idea!
Conclusion
Exclamatory sentences are a powerful way to express strong feelings in English. They bring life and intensity to your speech or writing and are an important part of effective communication. By practicing with examples and worksheets, you can master the use of exclamatory sentences and make your conversations more impactful.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is an exclamatory sentence with example?
An exclamatory sentence expresses strong emotion such as joy, anger, surprise, or excitement and always ends with an exclamation mark. For example: “What a beautiful garden this is!”
2. What are the 10 examples of exclamatory sentences?
Examples include:
Wow! That was amazing!
Ouch! That hurts!
What a surprise to see you here!
How beautiful the sunset looks!
That’s incredible!
Oh no, we missed the bus!
I can’t believe you said that!
What a lovely dress you’re wearing!
Stop making so much noise!
That’s the best gift ever!3. What is the difference between exclamatory and declarative sentences?
A declarative sentence simply states a fact, while an exclamatory sentence expresses strong feelings. For example: “This is a big house.” (declarative) vs. “What a big house this is!” (exclamatory).
4. What words are commonly used in exclamatory sentences?
Common words include What, How, and interjections like Wow, Ouch, Oh, Hey, and Yay.
5. How do you write an exclamatory sentence?
To write an exclamatory sentence, begin with what or how or use an interjection, then end with an exclamation mark. Example: “How exciting this trip is!”
6. Can exclamatory sentences be questions?
No, exclamatory sentences are not questions. They are used to express emotion, while questions end with a question mark. However, some rhetorical questions may sound emotional but they are not exclamatory sentences.
7. Why do exclamatory sentences always end with an exclamation mark?
The exclamation mark signals strong emotion or intensity in the sentence. Without it, the sentence would lose its emphatic tone.
8. Are exclamatory sentences complete sentences?
Yes, exclamatory sentences can be complete sentences, but they can also be short phrases or interjections like “Wow!” or “Amazing!”.
9. What are some common uses of exclamatory sentences?
They are used to express excitement, anger, joy, frustration, admiration, or surprise in everyday speech and writing.
10. How many types of exclamatory sentences are there?
Exclamatory sentences are not divided into strict types, but they usually fall into categories based on emotions like excitement (“That’s awesome!”), anger (“Stop it right now!”), surprise (“Oh my God!”), or admiration (“What a lovely view!”).
11. Can exclamatory sentences start with ‘What’ or ‘How’?
Yes, many exclamatory sentences begin with What or How to highlight a noun or adjective. For example: “What a beautiful day!” or “How amazing she is!”
12. What is the function of exclamatory sentences in communication?
Their main function is to add emphasis and convey strong emotions in speech or writing, making conversations more expressive and impactful.
13. Do exclamatory sentences follow special grammar rules?
Yes, they always end with an exclamation mark and often follow structures like What + noun + verb or How + adjective/adverb + verb.
14. Can you use exclamatory sentences in formal writing?
Exclamatory sentences are more common in informal writing or speech. In formal writing, they should be used sparingly to maintain a professional tone.
15. What is the difference between exclamatory words and interjections?
Exclamatory words like what and how are used to form sentences, while interjections such as wow or ouch stand alone or precede a sentence to show emotion.
