A2 Grammar Parts of Speech

Interjections

Interjections are short words that express sudden emotion or reaction: Wow! Ouch! Oh no! They stand apart from the grammar of the sentence and add feeling to speech and writing.

An interjection is a word or short phrase that expresses a sudden feeling or reaction, such as surprise, pain, joy or hesitation: Wow! Ouch! Oops! Hmm. It is one of the eight traditional parts of speech, but it is unique because it stands grammatically apart from the rest of the sentence. You can usually remove an interjection without breaking the sentence, since it carries emotion rather than information.

Interjections are most common in spoken English, dialogue and informal writing. They make language sound natural and human, but they are rare in formal essays and reports. Learning the main types and how to punctuate them will make your conversation and creative writing far more lively and authentic.

Types of Interjection

Interjections fall into several groups depending on the feeling or function they carry.

Type Examples Use
Emotionwow, yay, ugh, yuckjoy, disgust, excitement
Painouch, ow, arghsudden hurt
Surpriseoh, oh no, gosh, whoashock or astonishment
Greetinghi, hey, hello, byeopening or closing contact
Hesitation (filler)um, er, hmm, wellthinking time
Agreementyes, yeah, uh-huh, okayconfirming

How to Punctuate Interjections

An interjection's punctuation depends on how strong the feeling is and where the word sits.

Strength Punctuation Example
Strong feelingexclamation markWow! That's amazing.
Mild feelingcommaWell, I suppose so.
Inside a sentenceset off by commasIt is, oh, about three miles.

The removal test: if you can delete a word and the sentence still works grammatically, it is probably an interjection. Oh, I forgot my keys still works as I forgot my keys. The interjection only adds the emotion of realisation.

Interjections vs Other Words

Some words can be interjections in one sentence and a different part of speech in another:

Register: When to Use Them

Interjections belong to informal and spoken English. They are perfect for dialogue, texts, stories and casual speech, but you should avoid them in academic essays, business reports and exam writing, where they sound out of place. Knowing this difference in register is part of using interjections well.

Common Mistakes

Practice Exercises

Grammar Quiz

Identify the interjection in each sentence.

Cloze Dropdown

Choose the interjection that fits each emotion.

Complete the Sentence

Add an interjection with the right punctuation.

Matching Pairs

Match interjections with the feelings they show.

Unjumble

Reorder words into a sentence with an interjection.

Flash Cards

Drill interjections and their meanings.

Master English Parts of Speech

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Explore related grammar topics:

All Grammar Topics Discourse Markers Punctuation Sentence Types Imperatives

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an interjection?
An interjection is a short word or phrase that expresses sudden emotion or reaction, such as Wow! Ouch! Oh no! It is one of the eight parts of speech and stands grammatically apart, so you can usually remove it without breaking the sentence.
What are some common interjections?
Common interjections include oh, wow, ouch, oops, ugh, yay, hmm, well, hey and yes. They cover feelings like surprise, pain, disgust and joy, as well as functions like greeting, hesitation and agreement.
How do you punctuate an interjection?
Use an exclamation mark for strong feeling (Wow!) and a comma for mild feeling (Well, I suppose so). An interjection inside a sentence is set off by commas: It is, oh, about three miles away.
What are the main types of interjection?
The main types express emotion (wow, ugh), pain (ouch, ow), surprise (oh, whoa), greeting (hi, bye), hesitation or filler (um, er, hmm) and agreement (yes, uh-huh). Each adds feeling or manages the flow of conversation.
Can I use interjections in formal writing?
Generally no. Interjections belong to informal and spoken English, so they suit dialogue, stories and casual messages. In academic essays, business reports and exam writing they sound out of place, so avoid them in those contexts.
Is an interjection a real part of speech?
Yes. Interjection is one of the eight traditional parts of speech, alongside nouns, verbs and adjectives. It is unusual because it does not connect grammatically to the rest of the sentence and exists mainly to convey emotion.
What is the difference between well as an interjection and an adverb?
Well is an interjection when it expresses hesitation or reaction (Well, I'm not sure) and an adverb when it describes how something is done (She sings well). The same word can belong to different parts of speech depending on use.
Are um and er interjections?
Yes. Um, er and hmm are filler interjections that signal hesitation while a speaker thinks. They are natural in speech but should be removed from written work, as they add no meaning on the page.
Do interjections change form?
No. Interjections never change for tense, number or person. Wow is always wow. This invariability is one feature that sets them apart from nouns and verbs, which take endings such as -s or -ed.
Can a phrase be an interjection?
Yes. Short fixed phrases can act as interjections: oh no, oh dear, my goodness, good grief and no way. They function exactly like single-word interjections, expressing emotion and standing apart from the sentence grammar.