Exclamatory sentences
An exclamatory sentence is a sentence that expresses strong emotion, such as surprise, joy, anger or fear, and ends with an exclamation mark. It often begins with "What" or "How" for emphasis, though it can also be a short statement or command. Example: "What a beautiful view!" or "I can't believe it!"
Types of exclamatory sentences
What-exclamations
Begin with 'What' followed by a noun phrase to emphasise a quality of a person or thing.
e.g. What a lovely surprise!, What an amazing performance!
How-exclamations
Begin with 'How' followed by an adjective or adverb to emphasise degree.
e.g. How wonderful!, How quickly he ran!
Statement-form exclamations
A normal subject-verb statement that becomes exclamatory because of strong feeling, marked only by the exclamation mark.
e.g. I finally passed my exam!, She won the lottery!
Interjection exclamations
A single word or short phrase, often an interjection, used alone to express sudden emotion.
e.g. Wow!, Ouch!, Oh no!
Imperative exclamations
A command or instruction spoken with strong emotion, ending in an exclamation mark.
e.g. Watch out!, Stop right there!
Rules to remember
- An exclamatory sentence must end with an exclamation mark (!), never a full stop or question mark.
- In 'What' exclamations, use the pattern: What + (a/an) + adjective + noun (+ subject + verb): 'What a nice day (it is)!'
- In 'How' exclamations, use the pattern: How + adjective/adverb (+ subject + verb): 'How kind she is!'
- Word order stays in normal statement form (subject before verb); it is not inverted like a question.
- Use exclamatory sentences sparingly in formal writing; they suit speech, informal writing and creative or emotional contexts.
Examples in sentences
| Example | How it works |
|---|---|
| What a fantastic goal that was! | Uses 'What' + a + adjective + noun to emphasise the goal. |
| How beautifully she sings! | Uses 'How' + adverb to emphasise the manner of singing. |
| I can't believe we won! | A normal statement made exclamatory by strong emotion and the exclamation mark. |
| Never speak to me like that again! | An imperative sentence used exclamatorily to show anger. |
| Ouch! That really hurt! | An interjection followed by a short exclamatory statement. |
| What a mess this room is! | Uses 'What' + a + noun with an added description, showing surprise or frustration. |
Common mistakes
Incorrect: What a beautiful view it is?
Correct: What a beautiful view it is!
Incorrect: How she sings beautifully!
Correct: How beautifully she sings!
Incorrect: What beautiful the sunset is!
Correct: What a beautiful sunset it is!
Why this matters for IELTS
In IELTS Speaking, a well-placed exclamatory sentence can make your response sound natural and expressive, showing a wider range of sentence structures for Grammatical Range and Accuracy. However, avoid them in Writing Task 1 and Task 2, since academic writing requires a neutral, formal tone; overusing exclamation marks there can actually lower the impression of control and appropriacy.
Frequently asked questions
What is an exclamatory sentence?
It is a sentence that expresses strong emotion such as surprise, excitement or anger, and ends with an exclamation mark, for example 'What a great idea!'
What is the difference between an exclamatory and an imperative sentence?
An imperative sentence gives a command or instruction and usually ends with a full stop, while an exclamatory sentence expresses strong feeling and ends with an exclamation mark; a command can become exclamatory if said with emotion, like 'Stop!'
Can a question be an exclamatory sentence?
No, a true question ends with a question mark and seeks information. If a question-like phrase expresses emotion instead, such as 'What on earth is that!', it functions as an exclamation and should end with an exclamation mark, not a question mark.
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