Expressing Feelings with Interjections
In this episode, we’ll learn about interjections. Interjections are words or short phrases that express sudden emotions or reactions. They’re like little bursts of feeling in our speech.
- What is an Interjection?
Interjections are used to show:
- Surprise: Wow! Oh! Really?
- Joy: Yay! Hooray! Woo-hoo!
- Pain: Ouch! Ow! Ah!
- Disgust: Ew! Yuck!
- Greetings: Hi! Hello! Hey!
- Other emotions: Oops! Hmm! Uh-oh!
Examples in Sentences:
- Wow! That’s a beautiful picture!
- Ouch! That hurts!
- Hi! How are you?
- Yuck! This food is terrible.
- Characteristics of Interjections
- Short and abrupt: Interjections are usually short words or phrases.
- Express emotion: They show how someone feels.
- Often at the beginning of a sentence: They often start a sentence, but they can also stand alone.
- Not grammatically connected to the rest of the sentence: They don’t change the grammar of the sentence.
- Examples of Interjections Showing Different Emotions:
- Surprise: Oh! I didn’t expect that. Really? You’re going to London?
- Joy: Yay! We won the game! Hooray!
- Pain: Ow! I stubbed my toe. Ah! My back hurts.
- Disgust: Ew! There’s a bug in my soup.
- Greetings: Hello! Nice to see you. Hey! What’s up?
- Emphasis/Agreement: Yes! I’ll do it! No! I don’t want to go.
- Interjections as Sounds (Filler Words)
Sometimes, we use sounds like um, uh, or er as interjections. These are often called “filler words” because they fill pauses in our speech when we’re thinking of what to say next.
- Example: I, um, need to think about that.
- Formal vs. Informal Use
Interjections are more common in spoken English and informal writing. In formal writing, it’s usually better to express emotions with more descriptive words or sentences.
Examples:
- Informal: Wow! That’s amazing!
- Formal: I am very impressed by that.
What We Skipped (For Now):
- More nuanced uses and categories of interjections.
- Taboo words as interjections (not appropriate for a beginner lesson).
Why are Interjections Important?
Interjections add emotion and expressiveness to our communication. They make our speech sound more natural and help us connect with others by showing how we feel.
Other Useful Links
| Introduction to English Grammar | Noun | Pronoun | Adjectives | Verbs | Adverb | Preposition | Conjunction | Interjection | Articles | Phrases | Clause | Modal Verbs | Tenses | Passive Voice |