English Language JSS2 Second Term
Week 7
Contents:
Grammar: Interjections
Language Structure: Expressing Contrast
Grammar: Interjections
What Are Interjections?
Interjections are words used to express strong feeling or sudden emotion. They are included in a sentence (usually at the start) to express a sentiment such as surprise, disgust, joy, excitement, or enthusiasm.
An interjection is not grammatically related to any other part of the sentence.
Examples of interjections (shaded):
- Hey! Get off that floor!
- Oh, that is a surprise.
- Good! Now we can move on.
- Jeepers, that was close.
Interjections are words or phrases used to exclaim or protest or command. They sometimes stand by themselves, but they are often contained within larger structures.
- Wow! I won the lottery!
- Oh, I don’t know about that.
- I don’t know what the heck you’re talking about.
- No, you shouldn’t have done that.
Most mild interjections are treated as parenthetical elements and set off from the rest of the sentence with a comma or set of commas. If the interjection is more forceful, however, it is followed with an exclamation mark. Interjections are rarely used in formal or academic writing.
Yes and No
Introductory expressions such as yes, no, indeed, and well are also classed as interjections.
Examples:
- Indeed, this is not the first time the stand has collapsed.
- Yes, I do intend to cover the bet.
- I’m sure I don’t know half the people who come to my house. Indeed, for all I hear, I shouldn’t like to. (Oscar Wilde)
- Well, it’s 1 a.m. Better go home and spend some quality time with the kids. (Homer Simpson)
Phew!
Some interjections are sounds.
Examples:
- Phew! I am not trying that again.
- Humph! I knew that last week.
- Mmmm, my compliments to the chef.
- Ah! Don’t say you agree with me. When people agree with me, I always feel that I must be wrong. (Oscar Wilde)
Interjections: Showing the Author’s Emotion
Here are some examples of interjections and their definitions:
- Ahem – The sound of someone clearing their throat and means “attention” or “listen”
- Aah – This is used as a call for help or when someone is scared
- Boo – Used to scare someone or to voice disapproval
- Eh – This is used when you didn’t hear or understand what someone said
- Eww – Ahows dislike or disgust
- Hmm – This can mean you are thinking or hesitating
- Jeez – Could mean you can’t believe something, or you are exasperated
- Ooh-la-la – A slightly comical way to refer to something as fancy or special
- Oops – An exclamation people use when they accidentally do something
- Phew – This expresses relief or that you are glad something is over
- Whoa – This can show surprise or amazement
- Yahoo – Expresses joy or happiness
- Yeah – This shows a very strong affirmation or approval
- Yoo-hoo – This is used to get someone’s attention and is usually used by women
- Zing – This is similar to a rim shot used in comic acts and emphasizes a clever statement or comeback
Interjections in a Sentence
Here are some interjections with an accompanying sentence:
- Ahh, that feels wonderful.
- Alas! I’m lost in the wilderness.
- Bah! That was a total waste of time.
- Bless you, I couldn’t have done it without you.
- It’s time for me to go. Cheerio!
- Congrats! You finally got your Master’s degree.
- Crikey! Do you ever think before you speak?
- Gesundheit! Are you starting to get a cold?
- Good grief! Why are you wearing shorts in the winter?
- Grrr! I’m going to get back at him for that.
- Humph, he probably cheated to make such good grades.
- Oh dear! I don’t know what to do about this mess.
- Pip pip! Let’s get moving.
- Shoot! I forgot my brother’s birthday.
- Well, duh! That was a stupid thing to do!
- Yowza! That is a beautiful ball gown.
More Interjection Examples
Here is a list of other interjections:
- Absolutely
- Achoo
- Ack
- Adios
- Aha
- Ahoy
- Agreed
- Alack
- Alright
- Alrighty
- Alrighty-roo
- Alack
- Alleluia
- All hail
- Aloha
- Amen
- Anytime
- Argh
- Anyhoo
- Anyhow
- As if
- Attaboy
- Attagirl
- Awww
- Awful
- Ay
- Bam
- Bah hambug
- Begorra
- Behold
- Bingo
- Blah
- Bravo
- Brrr
- Bye
- Cheers
- Ciao
- Cripes
- Crud
- Darn
- Dear
- Doh
| Interjection | Meaning | Example |
| ah | expressing pleasure | Ah, that feels good. |
| expressing realization | Ah, now I understand. | |
| expressing resignation | Ah well, it can’t be helped. | |
| expressing surprise | Ah! I’ve won! | |
| alas | expressing grief or pity | Alas, she’s dead now. |
| dear | expressing pity | Oh dear! Does it hurt? |
| expressing surprise | Dear me! That’s a surprise! | |
| eh | asking for repetition | It’s hot today. / Eh? / I said it’s hot today. |
| expressing enquiry | What do you think of that, eh? | |
| expressing surprise | Eh! Really? | |
| inviting agreement | Let’s go, eh? | |
| er | expressing hesitation | Lima is the capital of…er…Peru. |
| hello, hullo | expressing greeting | Hello John. How are you today? |
| expressing surprise | Hello! My car’s gone! |
Language Structure: Expressing Contrast
Sometimes, we want to show a contrast between two clauses or sentences. One simple way is to use but or however like this:
Nigeria is rich in oil, but one day the oil reserves may run out .
Using although and while
Study these examples:
- Although Nigeria is rich in oil, one day the oil reserves may run out.
- The river at Bonny is quite deep, while in Port Harcourt it is fairly shallow.
In the first example, the first clause (‘Although …. oil’) is less important than the second (‘one day …out’). In the second example, with while , both clauses are equally important, and we could change them like this:
The river in Port Harcourt is fairly shallow, while at Bonny it is quite deep.
Get This:
We can not use but and although in the same sentence. This sentence is wrong:
Although his bicycle was damaged, but he managed to mend it.
Instead, say EITHER
Although his bicycle was damaged, he managed to mend it.
OR
His bicycle was damaged , but he managed to mend it.
Using Despite and In spite of
Look at this sentence expressing a contrast
Although Mr Bobola worked hard, his sales figures got worse.
Other ways of expressing the same contrast are:
Despite Mr Bobola’s hard work, his sales figure got worse
In spite of Mr Bobola’s hard work, his sales figure got worse.
Here we use a preposition, despite (or the ‘complex’ preposition ‘in spite of”.). It has to be followed by a noun (work), not by a verb (which you find in the ‘Although …’ clause)
Using however (much)…., whatever..., or no matter…
We can use one of these words at the beginning of a clause, like although. Study these sentences:
Although it may cost an enormous amount, the country should build a new refinery.
However much OR Whatever OR No matter how much it may cost, the country should build a new refinery.
Using for all…, or notwithstanding
Yet another way of expressing contrast is to use for all…. or notwithstanding. These behave just like despite or in site of – they come at the beginning of a phrase, not a clause, and must be followed by a noun. For example:
For all his hard work, Mr Tunde’s figures got worse
For all their protests, the policemen would not allow the demonstrators through the gate
Notwithstanding can be shifted to the end of the phrase.
His hard work notwithstanding, Mr Tunde’s figures got worst.
But note: notwithstanding is an example of formal English style – that is to say it is a word or expression that we might use in legal writing or academic writing, but should avoid for everyday purposes – which means most purposes.
Using Only
Think about the different meanings of the following:
Only he wanted to work in Kano
He only wanted to work in Kano
He wanted to work only in Kano
In 1, the fact that only comes before he, emphasises he. The meaning is ‘He – and not anyone else – wanted to work in Kano’
Using Even
The word is often misused. Like only, it can change its position, and it emphasises the word that follows it. But it adds an element of surprise:
He gave me a lift home. He even gave me a N500 note.
The meaning is that, surprisingly, he gave me a N500 note, in addition to giving me a lift home.
Using Just
Just is another useful adverb, with many different meanings. Some of them are:
- only, simply: Just one person turned up.
- very recently: She’s just left the building
- at this/that moment: I’m just having a bath
- a little (amount): He arrived just before 8am.
- exactly: These trousers are just what I want
- expressing politeness: Just sit there for a minute.
Either/Neither
As a pronoun
As a pronoun, either is used to mean a choice of one or the other of two people or things, and it often comes before the word of.
- I am going to have a tattoo on either of my arms.
- You can have either of these cakes; one is for your brother.
As a pronoun, neither is used to mean not one and not the other, and it often comes before of followed by the plural noun phrase. We often use neitherto start a sentence or reply to a question.
- Neither of her parents approved of her marrying Tolu.
- “Do you want a coffee or a tea?” “Neither, thanks.”
Neither and negative verb
We cannot use neither and a negative verb in a sentence as both negatives together will give a positive idea. In place of it, we use either.
- He doesn’t want to take either of these pills.
- Not : He doesn’t want to take neither of these pills.
Neither and ‘both … not …’
We need not use “both … not … “ all the time. We can use neither instead.
- Both of them don’t know haven’t been to the beach.
- Neither of them knows has been to the beach.
As a determiner
As a determiner, either has a similar meaning to the pronoun. It is about one or the other oftwo people or things, and it comes before a noun.
- I don’t mind which one. Just give me either one, please.
- There is a door at either end of the long corridor.
We may use either before a pronoun or to show something is happening.
- Either she is telling the truth or she does not know she is telling a lie.
- Either he or his brother is going to marry her.
As a determiner, neither is used to show not either of two people or things.
- Neither one of us is a smoker.
- “I have found these two coins.” “Neither coin is mine.”
As a Conjunction
As a conjunction, either comes before two or sometimes more possible alternatives which are separated by or.
- That jumping creature is either a frog or a toad.
- He will decide soon either to be buried or cremated after he died.
As a conjunction, neither is used to state two states or actions that are negative or not possible, and they are separated by nor.
- He can neither hear nor speak.
- We think she has the right weight, as she is neither fat nor skinny.
We can have a sentence with either or neither at the beginning.
- Either we leave for the airport now or we will miss the flight.
- Neither her father nor her mother will help her with her homework.
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