Exclamatory Sentences in English: What & How Structures

An exclamatory sentence expresses a strong feeling — admiration, surprise, joy, shock or disappointment — about a person, thing or situation. Unlike ordinary statements, exclamatory sentences use the words What or How to highlight the quality being exclaimed about, and they always end with an exclamation mark (!). For example, What a beautiful sunset! emphasises the noun sunset, while How quickly the time has passed! emphasises the adverb quickly. This structure is typically introduced around A2-B1 on the CEFR scale.

These structures are common in everyday speech and in written English, including fiction, journalism and social media. Mastering them lets you sound more natural and expressive in English.

Formation at a Glance

Structure	Example	Notes
What + a/an + adjective + countable noun + subject + verb!	What a beautiful painting it is!	Use a/an with singular countable nouns.
What + adjective + uncountable/plural noun + subject + verb!	What beautiful weather we are having!	No article with uncountable or plural nouns.
How + adjective + subject + verb!	How incredible this is!	Adjective comes directly after How.
How + adverb + subject + verb!	How quickly she runs!	Use an adverb when describing a verb or action.
What + noun (alone)!	What a disaster!	Subject and verb may be omitted in informal speech.
How + adjective/adverb (alone)!	How amazing!	Short forms are very common in conversation.

Detailed Explanation and Examples

What + a/an + adjective + countable noun

When the noun being exclaimed about is singular and countable, use What a or What an (before a vowel sound) followed by the adjective and noun.

• What a beautiful painting that is! — singular countable noun (painting), adjective (beautiful).
• What an amazing idea you have! — an before a vowel sound.
• What a long journey they had!

The subject and verb at the end (that is / you have) can be dropped in informal speech: What a beautiful painting!

What + adjective + uncountable or plural noun

With uncountable nouns (like weather, music, fun) or plural nouns, there is no article.

• What beautiful weather we are having! — weather is uncountable.
• What lovely flowers she brought! — plural noun.
• What terrible news! — uncountable, subject and verb omitted.

How + adverb + subject + verb

Use How with an adverb to exclaim about the way something is done.

• How quickly she runs! — adverb (quickly) describes the verb (runs).
• How carefully he drives!
• How well they played!

How + adjective + subject + verb

Use How with an adjective to exclaim about a quality or state.

• How incredible this is! — adjective (incredible) describes the subject (this).
• How kind you are!
• How cold it feels today!

Structural Formulas

Keep these two patterns in mind as your core reference:

• What pattern: What + (a/an) + adjective + noun + subject + verb!
• How pattern: How + adjective/adverb + subject + verb!

Both patterns allow the subject and verb to be dropped in casual speech. For example, What a surprise! and How awful! are perfectly natural in conversation even without a full clause.

Common Mistakes

• Using an article with uncountable nouns: Do not say What a beautiful weather! — weather is uncountable, so no article is needed. Say What beautiful weather!
• Inverting the subject and verb: Exclamatory sentences look like questions but do not use question word order. Say How kind you are! not How kind are you!
• Confusing adjective and adverb: Use an adjective after How to describe a noun or state (How tall he is!) and an adverb to describe an action (How fast she runs!). Do not say How fastly she runs! — fast is already an adverb.
• Forgetting the exclamation mark: Exclamatory sentences always end with !. Using a full stop changes the feeling and makes the sentence sound flat.

Practice Tips

• Start with What a: This is the most common pattern and the easiest to learn first. Practise by looking at things around you and exclaiming: What a comfortable chair! What a noisy street!
• Notice them in reading: Look for exclamatory sentences in novels, news headlines and social media. Notice whether the writer uses What or How and whether the noun is countable, uncountable or plural.
• Speak aloud: Exclamatory sentences carry strong emotion — practise saying them with feeling so the stress and intonation feel natural.
• Test the article rule: Before writing a What sentence, ask: is the noun singular and countable? If yes, add a/an. If not, leave the article out.

Practice Exercises

Explore related grammar topics:

All Grammar Topics Questions in English Adjectives Adverbs Articles: A, An & The Sentence Types

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an exclamatory sentence?

An exclamatory sentence expresses a strong feeling such as surprise, admiration, joy or shock. In English, exclamatory sentences typically begin with What or How and always end with an exclamation mark. For example: What a beautiful day! and How kind you are! are both exclamatory sentences.

How do you form a What exclamatory sentence?

Use What + (a/an) + adjective + noun + subject + verb! With a singular countable noun, include the article: What a beautiful painting it is! With uncountable or plural nouns, leave the article out: What beautiful weather we are having! or What lovely flowers she brought! The subject and verb at the end are optional in informal speech.

How do you form a How exclamatory sentence?

Use How + adjective/adverb + subject + verb! Use an adjective to describe a quality or state: How incredible this is! or How kind you are! Use an adverb to describe an action: How quickly she runs! The subject and verb follow in normal order — do not invert them as you would in a question.

When do I use ‘What a’ versus ‘What’ without an article?

Use What a (or What an before a vowel sound) when the noun is singular and countable: What a surprise! What an excellent result! Do not use an article with uncountable nouns such as weather, music, fun, news, or with plural nouns: What beautiful music! What interesting ideas!

Can I drop the subject and verb in an exclamatory sentence?

Yes. In informal spoken and written English it is very common to drop the subject and verb at the end: What a mess! instead of What a mess this is!, or How amazing! instead of How amazing that is! The short forms are natural in conversation, text messages and social media.

What is the difference between a question and an exclamatory sentence with How?

A How question inverts the subject and verb: How kind are you? An exclamatory sentence keeps them in their normal order: How kind you are! The word order and punctuation are different. Exclamatory sentences end with !, not ?, and they do not expect an answer.

When should I use an adjective vs an adverb after How?

Use an adjective after How when you are describing the subject (a noun or pronoun): How tall he is! How cold it is today! Use an adverb when you are describing how something is done (a verb or action): How quickly she runs! How well they played!

Do exclamatory sentences always need an exclamation mark?

Yes, exclamatory sentences are defined by their exclamation mark. Removing it and using a full stop changes the meaning and makes the sentence sound like a plain statement rather than an expression of emotion. In formal writing, use exclamation marks sparingly so they keep their impact.

Are exclamatory sentences used in formal writing?

Exclamatory sentences are more common in informal speech and writing, creative fiction and journalism. In formal academic or business writing they are used sparingly because overusing exclamation marks can seem unprofessional. One well-placed exclamatory sentence can have strong impact; too many weaken the effect.

At what level do learners study exclamatory sentences?

The What a pattern is usually introduced at A2 (elementary level) because it is simple and very common. The full How + adjective/adverb + subject + verb structure is typically covered at B1 (pre-intermediate to intermediate). Together they are part of core grammar for learners preparing for CEFR A2–B1 examinations.