What is an Interjection ?
An interjection is a word or group of words used to express sudden emotion or feeling. It is one of the eight parts of speech in English grammar and is unique because it does not grammatically relate to other parts of the sentence. Interjections are often followed by an exclamation mark (!) but can also be followed by a comma when the feeling is less strong.
“Wow! That’s amazing.”
“Oh, I didn’t know that.”
Characteristics of Interjections
Express Emotion Instantly: Interjections are used to show feelings like joy, surprise, anger, pain, sadness, excitement, hesitation, or approval/disapproval.
Standalone Words: They often appear alone or at the beginning of a sentence.
No Grammatical Connection: They don’t modify or interact with other words in the sentence.
Punctuation Use: Strong emotions are usually followed by an exclamation mark (!), while milder feelings may be followed by a comma (,).
Types of Interjections
1. Interjection of Joy
Used to express happiness or excitement.
Examples: Hurray!, Wow!, Yay!, Yippee!
Sentence: Hurray! We won the match.
2. Interjection of Surprise
Used to express amazement or shock.
Examples: Oh!, What!, Ah!, Really!
Sentence: Oh! You scared me.
3. Interjection of Sorrow/Pain
Used to express sadness, grief, or pain.
Examples: Alas!, Ouch!, Oh no!, Ugh!
Sentence: Alas! The soldier died in war.
4. Interjection of Greeting
Used when meeting or addressing someone.
Examples: Hello!, Hi!, Hey!
Sentence: Hi! How are you?
5. Interjection of Approval or Praise
Used to express appreciation or encouragement.
Examples: Bravo!, Well done!, Great!
Sentence: Bravo! You did a fantastic job.
6. Interjection of Doubt or Hesitation
Used to show uncertainty or pause in speech.
Examples: Hmm, Uh, Er, Well…
Sentence: Hmm, I’m not sure about that.
Position of Interjections in Sentences
Interjections are usually placed at the beginning of a sentence but can also appear at the end or in the middle, depending on the expression.
Beginning: Oh no! I forgot my wallet.
Middle: You, wow, really did it!
End: You got the job, hooray!
Interjection vs Other Parts of Speech
Unlike nouns or verbs, interjections do not form part of the core meaning of the sentence.
They add emotion but not grammatical function.
Removing an interjection will not affect the grammatical correctness of a sentence, but it may remove emotional expression.
Tips for Using Interjections
Don’t overuse them in formal writing.
Use them effectively in dialogues, storytelling, and casual communication.
Match the punctuation with the strength of the emotion.
Conclusion
Interjections may be small, but they play a big role in expressing human emotion in speech and writing. They bring life, tone, and personality to language. Whether you’re expressing joy (Yay!), surprise (Oh!), or sadness (Alas!), interjections help make communication more expressive and human.