12 Types of Interjections with Examples

In this lesson you will learn Types of Interjections with examples. What are Interjections? Interjections are the words used to express sudden or strong emotions or spontaneous feelings. The listener understands the emotions of the speaker. The interjections are used with exclamation marks. They express sudden emotions like happiness, sadness, surprise, anger and greetings. They do not play a grammatical function in the sentence such as Hurrah! , Alas! , Ouch! , Oh!

12 Types of Interjections with Examples

Types of Interjections Based on Emotions

The following types of interjections types based on expressions, greeting, surprise, joy, approval, attention and sorrow etc.

i. Interjection of Greetings

It is used to show the warmth of a person at the time of greetings, such as

Hello! , Hi! , Hey!

Examples

• Hello! How are you?
• Hi! How is your health?
• Hey! Do not be so hopeless.

ii. Interjection of Surprise

It is used to express a strong sense of surprise such as What!, Oh!, Ah!, Etc.

Examples

• Ah! I have won.
• Dear! , That is a surprise.
• Ah! , It feels good.

iii. Interjection of Joy

These words show the happiness and joy of a happy event such as Hurrah!, Good, Wow Etc.

Examples

• Wow! What a beautiful house.
• Hurrah! We have won the match.
• Yippee! We are going to the zoo.

iv. The Interjection of Approval/Praise

It is used to show a strong sense of approval or agreement, such as Bravo! , welcome! , Brilliant!

Examples

• Well done! You have done it.
• Bravo! You played well.
• Brilliant! Your article was helpful.

v. Interjection of Attention 

The words used to attract the attention of others like the look!, Listen!, Behold!, Shh!.

Examples

• Listen! Walk slowly.
• Behold! , The teacher comes.

vi. The Interjection of Sorrow/Pain

These words show the emotions of sorrow at an unfortunate event such as Alas!, Ouch!, Oops Etc.

Examples

• Alas! , She is dead now.
• Ouch! That hurts.

Main Types of Interjections

i. Primary Interjections

The words that primarily act as interjections and do not function as the other parts of speech. Ah, Alas, Hurray, Ouch, Oh my god, Oops.

ii. Secondary Interjections

Secondary interjections mean when nouns, adjectives or other parts of speech act as interjections.

• Hello, Yes, Excellent, My goodness, Great

Categories of Interjections

i. Volitive Interjections

The words which tell the speaker’s wishes, desires, commands and requests

• Shh! The dog is sleeping.
• Hey, look at this flower.

ii. Emotive Interjections

Emotive Interjections are the words used for a sudden feeling of surprise, delight, fear, disgust, or another reactionary emotion.

• Good grief! What a noise you are making.
• Rates, I forgot my keys on my table.

iii. Cognitive Interjections

They convey feelings that result from what one understands.

• Oh my god! You are back.
• Bravo! He wrote this Essay.
• Eureka! I have found my lost documents.

Mild and Strong Interjections

The interjection is also divided into mild and strong categories based on emotion.

i. Strong Interjections

The emotional strength of interjections is also dependent upon the context. Oh my god, Ouch, Wow, Hurray Etc.

• Oh, I did not know that.

ii. Mild interjections

Mild Interjections shows little emotions like Hmm!, well!. Er!

• Well, you are right.

So, In short, interjections express feelings, emphasis and emotions, now you can understand their classes.

List of Interjections

Here is the list of some common Interjections in English: