Interjection and its Types | Explained with Examples

What Is an Interjection?

An interjection is a word or phrase expressing a feeling rather than a meaning. Interjections function grammatically independently from the words around them.

Examples of Common Interjections

What Is "Grammatically Independent"?

Unlike most other parts of speech, interjections don't link any word in the sentence to another, nor do they modify nouns or verbs. They just sit in their little place and express emotions like happiness, grief, or surprise. Look, for example, at the sentence.

Example:

Wow! That was a splendid performance.

Grammatically speaking , the word "wow" has no effect on the sentence although pretty much every other word in the sentence plays a clearlydefined grammatical role.

Types of Interjections

Based on how strong the emotion it denotes is, an interjection can be strong or mild. Often it's based on the context that we decide whether an interjection is strong or mild.

• Strong interjections

  These are interjections that express solid and strong emotions.

  Example:

  Alas! Maria's aunt has passed away!

• Mild interjections

  These are interjections that express relatively less strong emotions or just function as introductory expressions without being associated with any emotions.

  Examples:

  Well, I guess I've to go now.

  Oh, I didn't know you were a doctor.

Punctuating Interjections

An interjection is set off from the sentence by an exclamation point if it denotes a strong emotion. We use a comma if the emotion is relatively less strong, or the interjection simply does the job of an introductory expression.

Examples:

Yahoo! Dad is taking us for dinner tonight. (strong emotion)

Thanks, that was very helpful. (mild emotion)

A Wide Range of Interjections with Meanings

Direct Address and Imperative

Don't get an interjection mixed up with a direct address or an imperative. Just because a word is followed by an exclamation point doesn't mean it's an interjection.

• Direct address

  A direct address is when we call a person by their name and with a great deal of excitement. A direct address is not an interjection.

  Example:

  John! Let's take Toby for a walk!

• Imperative

  An imperative means an instruction, order, or a command. The exclamation point here doesn't denote an interjection.

  Example:

  Hurry up! It's already 3 o'clock.

Bolster your skills using our free printable Interjection Worksheets.