Basic Details
Word: Interjection
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: A word or short cry that shows a sudden feeling, such as oh, ouch, wow or alas; also a remark that breaks into a conversation.
Synonyms: exclamation
Word origin: Comes from Latin interjectio, from interjicere, to throw between.
How to Spell Interjection
Syllables: in - ter - jec - tion
Tricky part: The middle is ject with a j, not a g, even though the sound is the same. Then comes tion, so the c and t sit together.
Watch out for: intergection, interjecsion, interjektion
Memory tip: An interjection is thrown in between other words: inter means between, and ject is the 'throw' you also see in project and reject.
Usage Examples
Example 1: Ouch is an interjection we use when something hurts.
Example 2: In the sentence 'Wow, what a catch', the word wow is an interjection.
Example 3: The speaker paused at a sharp interjection from the back of the hall.
Fun Fact
Traditional English grammar lists eight parts of speech: nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions and interjections.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of that word.
1. interjection 2. pronoon 3. conjuction 4. preposision
a) a word that shows sudden feeling
b) a word that joins words or clauses
c) a word used in place of a noun
d) a word that shows how a noun is related to another word
Show answer
a) a word that shows sudden feeling. The grammar words are conjunction, preposition and pronoun; interjection is the one written correctly.
Word Cookie
Insert the correct letters to form a word:
inter_e_tion
a) j,c
b) g,s
c) g,c
d) j,k
Show answer
a) j,c. Ject, as in reject, gives the j, and tion needs the c before it.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the word in the sentence and choose it:
In grammar, a word such as hurray is called a jroiinttecne.
a) injection
b) intersection
c) interjection
d) interruption
Show answer
c) interjection. Hurray shows sudden feeling; the twelve letters include a j and an r but no s, u or p, which fits only interjection.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which word is the interjection in: Alas, the match was washed out?
a) out
b) washed
c) Alas
d) match
Show answer
c) Alas
2. Which punctuation mark often follows an interjection?
a) an exclamation mark
b) a semicolon
c) a hyphen
d) an apostrophe
Show answer
a) an exclamation mark
