Sentence Factory · Today with The Mayor

Interjections

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Ouch carries the feeling and stands apart. An interjection.

Interjections

An interjection shows feeling. The punctuation shows how big.

Feeling

Strong

Interjection: a word that shows feeling

An interjection expresses a feeling and is set apart from the rest of the sentence. It does not change the grammar of the other words: Wow! Oh, no. Ouch!

On the line

Ouch! That stung !

Ouch carries the feeling and stands apart. An interjection.

Now you try

It shows a feeling and stands alone, like Wow, Oh, or Ouch.

Mild interjection: use a comma

A mild interjection shows a small or soft feeling. A comma comes right after it, and the rest of the sentence follows: Oh, I forgot. Well, that figures.

On the line

Well, the bus is late .

A comma, a soft feeling, the sentence continues. A mild interjection.

Now you try

A small, soft feeling takes a comma: Oh, I see.

Strong interjection: use an exclamation point

A strong interjection shows a big, sudden feeling. An exclamation point comes right after it, setting it fully apart: Wow! Yikes! Hooray!

On the line

Yikes! The storm returned .

An exclamation point, a big feeling, set fully apart. A strong interjection.

Now you try

A big feeling takes an exclamation point: Wow! We won!

The same word, two feelings

One interjection can be mild or strong; the punctuation decides. Awww, (a comma, soft) or Awww! (an exclamation point, big). The word stays the same. It's how you feel.

On the line

Oh, the game is over .

A comma keeps Oh mild and quiet.

Oh! The game is over !

An exclamation point makes the same Oh strong and surprised.

Now you try

The same word can be either; the punctuation decides. Awww, or Awww!