Expressing Your Feelings: Exclamatory Sentences

Have you ever seen a sunset so beautiful, or a cake so delicious, that a simple "It is good" just wasn't enough? In English, when we want to express strong emotions like surprise, excitement, or wonder, we use Exclamatory Sentences (感嘆文 - kantan-bun).

In this chapter, we will learn how to turn ordinary statements into powerful expressions using two special words: What and How. Don't worry if it looks a bit different from the sentences you've learned before—we will break it down step-by-step!

1. The "What" Pattern: Focus on the Noun

We use the "What" pattern when we want to emphasize a specific noun (a person, place, or thing). Think of this as saying "What a great [thing] this is!"

The Basic Formula:

What + (a/an) + Adjective + Noun + (Subject + Verb)!

Example 1:
Ordinary sentence: It is a beautiful day.
Exclamatory sentence: What a beautiful day (it is)!

Example 2:
Ordinary sentence: They are kind students.
Exclamatory sentence: What kind students (they are)!

Key Points for "What":
  • Use a or an if the noun is singular (just one).
  • If the noun is plural (more than one) or something you can't count (like water), don't use a/an.
  • The \(Subject + Verb\) at the end is often omitted (left out) in daily conversation because it's already clear what you are talking about.

Quick Tip: If you see a noun at the end of the phrase (like day, movie, or player), you should usually choose What!


2. The "How" Pattern: Focus on the Feeling

We use the "How" pattern when we want to emphasize an adjective (a describing word) or an adverb (how an action is done). It's like putting a spotlight directly on the feeling itself.

The Basic Formula:

How + Adjective/Adverb + (Subject + Verb)!

Example 1 (Adjective):
Ordinary sentence: That dog is cute.
Exclamatory sentence: How cute (that dog is)!

Example 2 (Adverb):
Ordinary sentence: He runs fast.
Exclamatory sentence: How fast (he runs)!

Key Takeaway:

In the "How" pattern, there is no noun immediately after the adjective. We are focusing purely on the "cuteness" or the "fastness."


3. Don't Forget the Punctuation!

In written English, every exclamatory sentence must end with an exclamation mark (!). This symbol tells the reader to read the sentence with energy and emotion. Without it, the sentence loses its "punch"!

Did you know? In the official syllabus, this symbol is called the exclamation mark (感嘆符). Using it correctly is an important part of English punctuation, just like periods or question marks.


4. Comparing "What" vs. "How"

It can be tricky to choose which one to use. Let’s look at them side-by-side:

Situation: You see a tall building.
Using "What": What a tall building! (Focuses on the building)
Using "How": How tall! (Focuses on the height)

Common Mistake to Avoid:
Don't mix them up!
❌ How a tall building! (Incorrect)
❌ What tall! (Incorrect)

Memory Trick:
What + Noun (White Notebook)
How + Adjective (Happy Apple)


Summary Checklist

  • Exclamatory sentences express strong feelings like surprise or joy.
  • Use What if there is a noun: What a [adj] [noun]!
  • Use How if you are only using an adjective or adverb: How [adj/adv]!
  • The \(Subject + Verb\) usually goes at the very end, or is deleted.
  • Always end with an exclamation mark (!).

Don't worry if this seems tricky at first! Try starting with simple ones like "How nice!" or "What a surprise!" and you will be an expert in no time. You are now ready to add more "feeling" to your English conversations!

Note: This chapter focused on basic exclamatory structures. For other sentence types like questions or complex sentences, please refer to the other chapters in the "Grammar in Use" section.