An exclamatory sentence, also known as exclamative sentence, is a type of sentence that expresses surprise, strong emotion or shock. Like a declarative sentence. an exclamatory sentence makes a statement containing strong emotions. An exclamatory sentence has a unique feature which has been discussed in the article.
However, you must go through the entire article to learn exclamatory sentence definition, meaning, types, structures and examples.
This article covers:
- Exclamatory Sentence Definition and Meaning
- What is an exclamatory sentence?
- Exclamatory Sentence Examples
- Structures of Exclamatory Sentence
- Exclamatory Sentence Beginning with How and What
Exclamatory Sentence Definition and Meaning
The word exclamatory in "exclamatory sentence" means a statement that is used to express surprise, shock or pain.
What is an exclamatory sentence in grammar? An exclamatory sentence is one of the four basic types of sentence which is used to express surprise or shock. All exclamatory sentences have a unique feature that they usually start with "what" and "how" and end with the exclamation mark (!).
According to the definition above, we can define an exclamatory sentence in the following points:
1. An exclamatory sentence is one of the four basic types of sentence: There're actually four basic types of sentence in English:
- Declarative sentence: A type of sentence making a declaration or statement
- Interrogative sentence: A type of sentence asking a direct question
- Imperative sentence : A type of sentence giving order, instruction
- Exclamatory sentence: A type of sentence expressing surprise or shock
Learn all basic types of sentence in details: Go to declarative, interrogative and imperative sentences.
2. The purpose of an exclamatory sentence is to express surprise, shock or strong emotion: Like a declarative sentence makes a statement; an interrogative sentence asks a question; an imperative sentence gives a command, an exclamatory sentence serves the purpose of expressing surprise or shock.
3. Exclamatory sentences usually start with "what" and "how": The usual word order or structure of exclamatory sentences is what/how + noun/adjective/adverb + subject + verb. However, there're more important and common word orders or structures of exclamatory sentences in English which have been discussed in the below section of the article.
4. All exclamatory sentences end with the exclamation mark (!) in writing: Exclamatory sentences in English end with the exclamation mark (!) in writing. This mark is essential to indicate the exclamation in the sentence.
Now that you've gone through the theoretical part of the article, come to the practical part of the article; that is, learn exclamatory sentence with examples.
Exclamatory Sentence Examples
Here are a few examples of exclamatory sentences in English that can help you understand them and identify them easily.
1. What a caring wife you are!
2. How beautiful she is!
3. How beautifully you've done it!
4. Didn't she teach well!
5. What a nice movie it is!
6. How nice you are!
7. Didn't he dance well!
You can clearly see that the above-mentioned exclamatory sentences are used to express surprise or shock with some certain structures or word orders.
Here arises the importance of learning different structures or word orders of exclamatory sentences in English; therefore, structures of exclamatory sentences are discussed below.
Different Structures of Exclamatory Sentence
Learning different types of structures or word orders of exclamatory sentences in English helps you identify how they actually work in the English language.
Therefore, go through the below-given structures of exclamatory sentences that are most commonly used while constructing exclamatory sentences.
1. Exclamatory Sentence Beginning with What
This type of exclamatory sentence starts with what and ends with the punctuation mark (!). The correct word order:
a. What + article + noun + subject + verb.
Example: What an idiot you are!
b. What + article + adjective + noun + subject + verb
Example: What a lovely daughter you are!
2. Exclamatory Sentence Beginning with How
This type of exclamatory sentence begins with how and ends with the punctuation (!). The correct word order:
a. How + adjective + subject + verb
Example: How beautiful she is!
b. How + adverb + subject + verb
Example: How beautifully he did it!
3. Exclamatory Sentence with Interrogative Structure
You'll be shocked to know that a negative interrogative construction or structure can be used to express surprise and can be termed as exclamatory sentence.
The word order is:
a. Auxiliary verb + subject + adjective
Example: Wasn't she beautiful!
b. Modal verb + subject + verb + adverb
Example: Couldn't he dance well!
FAQs - Exclamatory Sentence
What is an exclamatory sentence?
What is an exclamatory sentence in grammar? An exclamatory sentence is one of the four basic types of sentence which is used to express surprise or shock. All exclamatory sentences have a unique feature that they usually start with "what" and "how" and end with the exclamation mark (!).
How to identify an exclamatory sentence?
To identify an exclamatory, you need to focus on the definition itself. An exclamatory sentence usually begins with what and how and end with the punctuation mark (!). So, you can identify an exclamatory sentence based on the below-given criteria.
1. The use of what
2. The use of how
3. The use of the exclamation mark (!)
Is an exclamatory sentence a type of sentence?
Yes, an exclamatory sentence is one of the four basic types of sentence in English. Exclamatory sentences express surprise or shock.
10 Examples of exclamatory sentence
1. What a caring wife you are!
2. How beautiful she is!
3. How beautifully you've done it!
4. Didn't she teach well!
5. What a nice movie it is!
6. How nice you are!
7. Wasn't he dance well!
8. Wasn't John handsome!
9. What an idiot he is!
10. How kind you are!
What is the purpose of an exclamatory sentence?
The main purpose of an exclamatory sentence is to express strong feelings and emotions such as surprise, shock or pain.
What is the punctuation mark used for exclamatory sentence?
The punctuation mark used for exclamatory sentences in written English is this: !. This punctuation mark is called exclamation or exclamatory mark.
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