Definition
Interjection can be defined as “An interjection or exclamation is a word used to express a particular emotion or sentiment on the part of the speaker (although most interjections have clear definitions).”
Explanation
An interjection is one of the parts of speech used to express a particular emotion or sentiment (strong feeling or sudden emotion like surprise, joy, excitement, disgust, enthusiasm, sorrow, approval, calling, attention, etc) of the speaker to the reader. Interjection words are generally used at the beginning of a sentence. Sometimes, it is used as a single word or non-sentence phrase and followed by the punctuation mark.
Some other interjection words used as introductory expressions such as yes, no, well, indeed, etc. A comma (for a mild interjection) or an exclamation mark (for surprising, emotional, or deep feeling interjections) is used after the use of an interjection word in a sentence.
List/Words/Examples
Aah, Ahh, Aww, Bingo, Eh, Eww, Wow, Hey, Well, What, Hurrah, Hmph, Oh, Oops, Ouch, Shh, Uh oh, Whew, Yay/Yaay, Yeah, Yikes, Yippee, Uh, Hush, Hmm, Er, Um, Bravo, Hello, Ugh, Ah, Ha ha, Well done, Alas, Fie, Hi, Yes, Ouch, Help, Happy Birthday, Good morning, dear, Hark, oops, huh, yum, oy, etc.
For example:
- Good! Now we can celebrate the party.
- Oh, what's a surprise.
- Hey! Get out of the building!
- Yes! I can do it easily.
- No! I run so long.
- Well! I have a good news.
Types of Interjection
Interjection is divided into the following types on the basis of ways to express interjections in the sentence such as greeting, joy, surprise, approval, sorrow, attention, and calling.
This type of interjection is used in the sentence to indicate the emotion of warmth to the person meeting with such as hey, hello, hi, etc.
For example:
- Hey! Nice to see you here in the party.
- Hello! I am Pooja.
This type of interjection is used in the sentence to indicate immediate joy and happiness on any happy occasion that occurred such as hurrah, wow, hurray, etc.
For example:
- Wow! You are looking gorgeous.
- Hurray! We successfully won this football match.
This type of interjection is used in the sentence to express the strong sense of approval or agreement for something that has happened such as well done, bravo, brilliant, etc.
For example:
Well done! You win the race.
Bravo! The first rank is yours this year.
This type of interjection is used in the sentence to draw the attention of someone such as look, behold, listen, hush, etc.
For example:
- Look! You so arrogant.
- Listen! I have never copied you.
- Behold! Someone strange is there.
This type of interjection is used in the sentence to express the strong sense of surprise about something that has happened such as ha, what, hey, ah, oh, eh, etc.
For example:
- What! You failed.
- Oh! Really you completed the task, I can't believe.
- Ah! I got new job.
This type of interjection is used in the sentence to express the emotion of sadness about something unfortunate that has happened such as alas, ouch, ah, oh, etc.
For example:
- Alas! He is no more.
- Ouch! It's very paining.
Interjections for Understanding/Misunderstanding
Interjections of understanding and misunderstanding are used to express one's understanding of a subject being talked about or something which wasn’t well understood before the moment.
(Interjections of Anger/Annoyance/Frustration/Disappointment/Dismissive)
Apart from the Interjections that we have studied in the preceding chapters, there are many other Interjections that are used to express different kinds of emotions.
Exercise/Worksheet/Activities with MCQs and Answers
Please add to the below sentences the appropriate kind of Interjections from the choices given and also state the emotion they are expressing. Please assess your progress by referring to the Answer provided at the end of the exercise.
1) ______! The train stopped again!
a) Aww
b) Argh
c) Hi
2) ______! I will not let him go without an explanation!
a) Grr
b) Hah
c) Duh
3) _______! I didn’t intend to harm you!
a) Oops
b) Hey
c) Phew
4) _________! It missed with a flicker!
a) Aww
b) Aha
c) Phew
5) ______! Did you hear that!
a) Uh oh
b) Ssh
c) Umm
6) _______! It’s pricking my ear!
a) Aah
b) Hey
c) Yahoo
7) ______! I would have never done that anyways!
a) Grr
b) Bah
c) Boo hoo
8) ________! I broke my knee!
a) Yippee
b) Yahoo
c) Boo hoo
9) _______! Such a nice baby!
a) Ouch
b) Aww
c) Oops
10) _______! A snake!
a) Eek
b) Grr
c) Hah
11) ________! To our next match!
a) Cheers
b) Boo hoo
c) Bah
12) _______! I didn’t realize the consequences!
a) Ssh
b) Grr
c) Gosh
13) _______! That was a funny joke!
a) Yippee
b) Ha ha
c) My God
14) _______! Give me a moment!
a) Yikes
b) Hmm
c) Holy cow
15) ________! The whole vessel just went down!
a) Duh
b) Yeek
c) Holy smoke
16) ________! It’s freezing outside!
a) Brrr
b) Eek
c) Oops
17) _______! Is anybody home?
a) yahoo
b) Cheers
c) Hello
18) _____! I don’t like cockroaches!
a) Eww
b) Fuff
c) Boo
19) _______! What nonsense!
a) Ahem
b) Hurrah
c) Fuff
20) _______! Scared you!
a) Yippee
b) Booh
c) Bingo
21) ________! It’s smelling foul!
a) Oh
b) Ouch
c) Yuck
22) ________! Go away!
a) Hi
b) Shoo
c) Hello
23) _______! I think we are out of fuel.
a) Uh oh
b) Duh
c) Gosh
24) ________ ! We made it!
a) Oops
b) Hurray
c) Yikes
25) ________! You did it son!
a) bravo
b) Umph
c) Duh
26) ________! Why are you wearing this jacket in summer!
a) hurrah
b) Yippee
c) Good grief
27) ________! You are all wet!
a) Eew
b) Oh dear
c) Oops
28) ________! It hurts!
a) Eww
b) Ouch
c) Duh
29) _______! Did it hurt!
a) Oops
b) Argh
c) Urgh
30) _______! I didn’t do that!
a) yahoo
b) Yippee
c) Nuh
Answers- 1) b – frustration, 2) a – anger, 3) a – surprise, 4) c – relief, 5) b – attention to make someone quite, 6) a – fright/pain/shock, 7) b – dismissive, 8) c – sorrow/crying, 9) b – adoring/pity/appreciation, 10) a – surprise, 11) a – joy/encouragement, 12) c – confession/realization, 13) b – joy/happiness, 14) b- thinking/hesitation, 15) c – surprise/astonishment, 16) a – chilling cold, 17) c – greeting, 18) a – dislike/disgust, 19) c – disregard, 20) b – scaring someone, 21) c – disgust, 22) b – to drive away animals, 23) a – concern, 24) b – winning joy, 25) a – encouragement/appreciation, 26) c – disappointment with surprise sometimes used to express disapproval, 27) b – pity/consideration/concern, 28) b – pain, 29) a – acknowledgment, 30) c – childish refusal.
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