“Hurrah! we have found him.”
Is this a sentence?
It is a sentence.
What is the subject of this sentence?
The pronoun “we” is the subject of this sentence.
What is the predicate?
“Have found” is the predicate of this sentence.
What modifies the predicate?
The pronoun “him,” an objective element, modifies the predicate.
What does the word “hurrah” denote?
The word “hurrah” denotes that the speaker or writer is highly pleased.
Does the word “hurrah” affirm or deny any thing?
It does not: it simply implies a feeling or emotion of pleasure.
There are words, also, used to denote sorrow, grief, surprise, disgust, pity, hatred, etc. All such words are called Interjections.
An Interjection is a word used to denote some sudden or strong emotion.
Interjections usually, but not always, require an exclamation point ( ! ) after them.
Exercise
Point out the interjections in each of the following sentences, using this model:
“Hush ! they are coming.” “Hush” is an interjection; it denotes some sudden emotion.
- Ha! it freezes me.
- Aha! you are a truant.
- Ahem! I will think about it.
- Hark ! the clock strikes one.
- Pshaw! I knew that yesterday.
- Alas! we shall see him no more.
- Tush ! tush ! man, I made no reference to you.
- Ay, he is every inch a king.
- Oh, what a noble mind is here o’erthrown!
- Alas! they had been friends in youth.
- Hark! hark! the lark at heaven’s gate sings.
- Alas! for the rarity of Christian charity.
- Point out all the parts of speech in the above sentences.
Note: Interjections may be omitted in the analysis of the sentences in which they are found. They may be placed before and a little above the first words in a diagram.
Study Questions
- What is an interjection ?
- What should usually be placed after an interjection?
