Page 115 - (DK) Help Your Kids with Language Arts

113
EX CLAMA TION POINT S

Exclamations Exclamation points are rarely used in
Almost any type of sentence can be made
into an exclamation. The most common names, but the name of the Canadian
types of exclamations are emotional town of Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha! officially
statements, commands, and interjections.
has two.

Statements Commands Interjections
A statement, which normally ends Exclamation points are often Interjections—words usually
in a period, can be made into used in commands, especially exclaimed in urgency or surprise—
an exclamation if it conveys an when they are direct orders are some of the most common
emotion. An emotional statement rather than polite requests. types of exclamations. Interjections
ends with an exclamation point are often single words rather
instead of a period. than sentences.

There’s a mouse Be quiet and don’t Help!
in the kitchen! move suddenly!

Emphasis
Exclamation points are often placed next to
interruptions within parentheses or dashes to • One exclamation point has a
add emphasis to an interruption. Never use an greater impact than several, so
exclamation point alongside a question mark. using more than one exclamation
The interruption uses point should be avoided.
an exclamation point to
emphasize how grateful
Our hero (thankfully!) the speaker was.
arrived just in time.

Identifying exclamations

Sentences beginning with
what and how can either What a nightmare this is? What is a nightmare!
ask or state something, so
the only way to know which
punctuation mark to use is What a nightmare this is! What is a nightmare?
to understand what the
sentence is saying and This sentence is stating something, not This sentence is asking something, not
how it is being said. asking something. It is an exclamation, exclaiming something. It is a question,
so it requires an exclamation point so it requires a question mark rather
rather than a question mark. than an exclamation point.