Exclamatory Sentences
What Is It?
Exclamatory Sentences refers to sentences that express strong feeling, often with what or how.
C1-C2 reference topic in Sentence Structure.
Why Use It?
- Recognise emphatic sentence patterns.
- Use exclamation marks sparingly.
- Avoid informal tone in formal contexts.
Formation and Patterns
| Use | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| What | What + (a/an) + adj + noun + S + V | What a clear answer that was! |
| How | How + adj/adv + S + V | How quickly she improved! |
| Statement exclamation | statement + ! | That was impressive! |
Common Mistakes
- Overusing exclamation marks in professional writing.
- Mixing what and how patterns.
- Forgetting a/an with singular count nouns after what.
Exceptions & Nuances
- In formal writing, emphatic wording is often better than punctuation alone.