📚 What is an Interjection?
An interjection is a word or phrase that expresses strong emotion or sudden feeling. Interjections are often followed by an exclamation point (!) or a comma.
Wow! That's amazing!
Ouch, that hurt!
Hey, wait for me!
🎯 Types of Interjections
Joy and Happiness
Yay, Hooray, Wow, Awesome, Yippee, Hurray, Woohoo
Yay! We won the game!
Hooray! It's my birthday!
Awesome! I got an A on my test!
Surprise
Oh, Wow, Whoa, Gosh, Geez, Goodness
Oh! I didn't see you there!
Wow! Look at that sunset!
Whoa! That was close!
Pain or Distress
Ouch, Ow, Ugh, Yikes, Eek
Ouch! I stubbed my toe!
Ugh, I have so much homework.
Yikes! That's a big spider!
Greeting or Attention
Hi, Hello, Hey, Yo, Psst
Hey! How are you doing?
Psst, come over here.
Hello! Nice to meet you!
Agreement or Disagreement
Yes, No, Yeah, Nope, Okay, Alright
Yes! That's exactly right!
Nope, I don't think so.
Okay, I'll do it.
Thinking or Hesitation
Hmm, Um, Uh, Er, Well
Hmm, let me think about that.
Um, I'm not sure what to say.
Well, that's an interesting question.
Disappointment or Sadness
Oh no, Alas, Aww, Darn, Rats, Boo
Oh no! I forgot my lunch!
Aww, that's so sad.
Darn! I missed the bus!
📝 Punctuation with Interjections
Strong Emotion (Exclamation Point)
Use an exclamation point when the interjection expresses very strong emotion
Wow! That's incredible!
Ouch! That really hurt!
Hurray! We won!
Mild Emotion (Comma)
Use a comma when the interjection expresses milder emotion
Well, I suppose that makes sense.
Oh, I didn't know that.
Hey, can you help me with this?
✏️ Practice Exercise
Identify the interjections and the emotion they express. Click to reveal!
1. Yay! We're going to the amusement park!
Yay - expresses joy/happiness
2. Ouch, that was a nasty fall.
Ouch - expresses pain
3. Hmm, I need to think about this problem.
Hmm - expresses thinking/hesitation
4. Hey! Watch where you're going!
Hey - gets attention/warning
5. Oh no! I forgot to study for the test!
Oh no - expresses disappointment/worry
🎯 Key Takeaways
- Interjections express strong emotions or sudden feelings
- They can show: joy, surprise, pain, greeting, agreement, thinking, disappointment
- Use an exclamation point (!) for strong emotions
- Use a comma (,) for mild emotions
- Interjections are not grammatically connected to the rest of the sentence
- They add emotion and personality to writing and speech
📚 Common Interjections List
Ah, Ahem, Alas, Alright, Amen, Argh, Aww
Bingo, Boo, Bravo, Bye
Cheers, Congratulations
Darn, Duh
Eek, Eh, Er
Gee, Geez, Goodbye, Gosh, Great
Ha, Hello, Hey, Hi, Hmm, Hooray, Hurray
No, Nope
Oh, Okay, Oops, Ouch, Ow
Phew, Please, Psst
Rats
Shh, Sorry
Thanks, Tsk
Ugh, Uh, Um
Well, Whoa, Whoops, Wow
Yeah, Yay, Yes, Yikes, Yippee, Yo, Yuck