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Exclamatory Sentence: How to Express Strong Emotions in Writing

English

Grammar

Exclamatory Sentence

What are Exclamatory Sentences - Explained with Examples

“He finished his homework”; “He finished his homework!”. Did you read both of those sentences differently? Most people’s brains would perceive both of these sentences to be connected with different emotions. The first one would merely state that the homework is done, while the latter one is excited or surprised about it. These are exactly what exclamatory sentences are. Read on to find out more, and check out the practice section at the end to test your knowledge.

Table of Content

1. What are Exclamatory Sentences - Explained with Examples

2. Did you know?

3. What are Exclamatory Sentences?

4. Rules of Exclamatory Sentences

5. Exclamatory Sentences Examples

6. Test your knowledge on Exclamatory Sentences

7. Takeaways of Exclamatory Sentences

FAQs

Did you know?

The use of exclamation marks dates back to the 15th century. They were originally used in Latin manuscripts to denote a special tone or emphasis.
Different languages have their own ways of expressing exclamation. For instance, in Spanish, an inverted exclamation mark (¡) is used at the beginning of an exclamatory sentence, such as in "¡Qué sorpresa!"
Sometimes, exclamatory sentences are short or even single words, such as "Wow!" or "Amazing!" These concise exclamations can still convey strong emotions effectively.

What are Exclamatory Sentences?

Exclamatory sentences express strong emotions or reactions and are used to convey excitement, surprise, or other intense feelings. Exclamatory sentences always end with a exclamation mark(!). To further understand this, we can look at exclamatory sentences definition from 3 different dictionaries:

Oxford Learner's Dictionaries:

Exclamation mark: A punctuation mark (!) used at the end of a sentence to show strong feeling or emphasis, for example, "Wow!"

Merriam-Webster Dictionary:

Exclamation mark: A punctuation mark (!) used after an exclamation to indicate excitement, surprise, or other strong emotion, as in "Oh no!"

Cambridge Dictionary:

Exclamation mark: A punctuation mark (!) used at the end of a sentence or phrase to show strong feeling or emotion, such as in "Fantastic!"

Now that we have a good sense of what are exclamatory sentences, we can proceed to look at some rules of exclamatory sentences.

Rules of Exclamatory Sentences

Follow these rules and guidelines to keep in mind when forming exclamatory sentences.

Exclamatory sentences are used to convey strong feelings such as excitement, surprise, anger, or joy.
They end with an exclamation mark (!) rather than a period. This punctuation indicates the intensity of the emotion.
While many exclamatory sentences begin with "what" or "how," this is not a strict rule. You can also form exclamatory sentences by adding an exclamation mark to a regular statement to emphasize emotion. For example:

Regular: "She is very talented."

Exclamatory: "She is very talented!"

Use exclamation marks sparingly in formal writing. Overusing them can diminish their impact and make the text seem less professional.
Simply adding an exclamation mark does not change a declarative sentence into an exclamatory one, unless it is used to express emotion or emphasis.

Exclamatory Sentences Examples

Here is the list of Exclamatory Sentences examples:

What a fantastic performance!
How amazing that was!
I can’t believe we won the game!
That was such a thrilling ride!
What a beautiful dress you’re wearing!
How exciting to see you here!
I’m so proud of you!
What an incredible achievement!
How wonderful to hear that news!
That’s the best birthday gift ever!
What a relief to finally finish the project!
How lovely this garden is!
I didn’t expect such a great turnout!
What a delicious meal we had!
How lucky we are to have such great weather!
That was a close call!
How splendid your performance was!
What a delightful surprise!
I’m so excited about the concert!

Test your knowledge on Exclamatory Sentences

1. What punctuation mark is used to indicate an exclamatory sentence?

a) Period
b) Question mark
c) Comma
d) Exclamation mark

2. Which of the following sentences is an example of an exclamatory sentence?

a) "She finished her homework."
b) "Can you believe how fast she ran?"
c) "I can’t believe it!"
d) "He is going to the store."

3. How can an exclamatory sentence be formed from a regular sentence?

a) By changing the word order
b) By adding a question mark
c) By adding an exclamation mark
d) By removing the subject

4. What is the primary purpose of an exclamatory sentence?

a) To ask a question
b) To make a statement
c) To express strong emotions
d) To give a command

5. Which of the following sentences is NOT typically used as an exclamatory sentence?

a) "What a beautiful painting!"
b) "How exciting the game was!"
c) "I need to buy groceries."
d) "Wow, that’s incredible!"

Answers:

1. What punctuation mark is used to indicate an exclamatory sentence?

Answer: The exclamation mark.

2. Which of the following sentences is an example of an exclamatory sentence?

Answer: "I can’t believe it!"

3. How can an exclamatory sentence be formed from a regular sentence?

Answer: By adding an exclamation mark.

4. What is the primary purpose of an exclamatory sentence?

Answer: To express strong emotions.

5. Which of the following sentences is NOT typically used as an exclamatory sentence?

Answer: "I need to buy groceries."

Takeaways of Exclamatory Sentences

Exclamatory sentences effectively convey strong feelings such as excitement, surprise, or joy, making them impactful in both informal and creative writing.
They end with an exclamation mark (!), which highlights the intensity of the emotion being expressed.
The use of exclamation marks originated in the 15th century and has evolved to emphasize tone and emphasis in modern writing.
Different languages use various methods to express exclamation. For example, Spanish uses an inverted exclamation mark (¡) at the beginning of the sentence.
Exclamatory sentences can dramatically affect the tone of writing, making it feel more energetic and engaging.

FAQs on Exclamatory Sentence: How to Express Strong Emotions in Writing

1. What is an exclamatory sentence?

An exclamatory sentence is a type of sentence used to express strong emotions or reactions. It ends with an exclamation mark (!) and conveys feelings such as excitement, surprise, or joy.

2. How can I identify an exclamatory sentence?

You can identify an exclamatory sentence by its use of an exclamation mark at the end. It often begins with "what" or "how," but not always. The sentence will convey a strong emotion or reaction.

3. Can a sentence without "what" or "how" still be exclamatory?

Yes, a sentence does not need to start with "what" or "how" to be exclamatory. It can still be exclamatory if it ends with an exclamation mark and expresses strong emotion. For example, "That’s amazing!" is an exclamatory sentence.

4. How do exclamatory sentences differ from declarative sentences?

Exclamatory sentences express strong emotions and end with an exclamation mark, while declarative sentences make statements or provide information and end with a period. For example, "She completed the project!" (exclamatory) vs. "She completed the project." (declarative).

5. When should I use exclamatory sentences?

Exclamatory sentences should be used to convey intense feelings, such as surprise, joy, or enthusiasm. They are best used sparingly in formal writing to avoid overuse and maintain their impact.

6. Can an exclamatory sentence be a question?

No, an exclamatory sentence is not a question. It is used to express strong emotion or emphasis, whereas questions are used to seek information and end with a question mark.

7. Are exclamatory sentences appropriate for formal writing?

Exclamatory sentences can be used in formal writing, but they should be used sparingly. Overusing them can diminish their impact and make the writing seem less professional.

8. How can I convert a declarative sentence into an exclamatory sentence?

You can convert a declarative sentence into an exclamatory sentence by adding an exclamation mark and adjusting the sentence to convey strong emotion. For example, "The party was fun." can become "The party was so much fun!"

9. Can exclamatory sentences be used in dialogue?

Yes, exclamatory sentences are commonly used in dialogue to convey characters' strong emotions and reactions. They help to express enthusiasm, shock, or other intense feelings.

10. Are there any rules about the number of exclamation marks used?

Typically, only one exclamation mark should be used at the end of an exclamatory sentence. Using multiple exclamation marks is generally considered informal and can be seen as excessive.