Practice
Exclamatory adjectives: forms and examples
When Maya opens the window, she says, "What a cool morning!" She is not asking for information. What comes before the noun phrase to show her strong feeling about it.
Use what and such accurately before nouns when writing or saying an exclamation.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
What an exciting idea! /wʌt ən ɪkˈsaɪtɪŋ aɪˈdiə/
The short answer
Use what before a noun phrase: What a useful map! Use such before an adjective and a noun: Such a useful map! With plural or uncountable nouns, omit a or an: What noisy neighbors! Such good news!
What a useful map this is!
Why it works: What comes before a singular countable noun, so the phrase needs a.
5 more examples
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What a patient teacher Ms. Lee is!
The phrase reacts to one countable person, so it uses what a.
Not this:
What patient teachersMs. Lee and Mr. Ortiz are! What changes: Teachers is plural, so a is omitted. -
What an unusual idea you had!
Idea is singular and begins with a vowel sound, so the phrase uses an.
Not this:
What useful ideasthe group shared! What changes: Ideas is plural, so the phrase has no article. -
Such a calm answer helped the meeting continue.
Such comes before the adjective calm and the singular noun answer.
Not this:
What a calm answerthat was! What changes: What can also introduce the noun phrase when the speaker reacts directly to it. -
Such helpful neighbors made the move easier.
Neighbors is plural, so such has no a or an.
Not this:
Such a helpful neighborcarried the boxes upstairs. What changes: A singular countable noun needs a after such. -
What terrible weather we had on the trip!
Weather is uncountable, so the phrase does not use a or an.
Not this:
Such terrible weatherdelayed the ferry. What changes: Such can also come before an adjective and an uncountable noun.
Read the full guide
First, check whether the sentence is an exclamation or a question. An exclamation shows a reaction and normally ends with an exclamation mark in careful writing. Then look at the noun phrase. What a or what an can introduce one countable thing. Such a or such an can do the same when an adjective comes before that noun.
Recognize an exclamation
An exclamation gives a strong reaction. It does not ask the listener to supply missing information. In writing, an exclamation often ends with an exclamation mark, although a calm sentence may use a period when the tone is less strong.
What a view from this bridge!
The speaker reacts to the view; the sentence does not ask which view it is.
Is this a question or an exclamation: What a strange noise that was!
It is an exclamation because the speaker reacts to the noise.
Use what a or what an with one countable noun
Use what a before a singular countable noun that begins with a consonant sound. Use what an before a singular countable noun that begins with a vowel sound. An adjective can appear between the article and the noun.
What an honest reply that was!
Honest begins with a vowel sound, so the phrase uses an.
Complete the phrase: What ___ busy afternoon we had!
Use a: What a busy afternoon we had!
Leave out the article with plurals and uncountable nouns
Plural nouns and uncountable nouns do not take a or an in this pattern. An adjective may still come before the noun. Check the noun type before choosing the form.
What beautiful photographs you took!
Photographs is plural, so what comes directly before the adjective phrase.
Choose the form: What ___ good advice she gave us!
Use no article: What good advice she gave us!
Use such before an adjective and noun
Such usually comes before an adjective and noun when the speaker emphasizes the quality. With a singular countable noun, use such a or such an. With plural and uncountable nouns, use such without an article.
It was such an unexpected delay.
Unexpected begins with a vowel sound, and delay is one countable thing, so the phrase uses such an.
Complete the phrase: They are such ___ reliable workers.
Use no article: They are such reliable workers.
Keep question order separate from exclamation order
A question with what asks for a missing detail and usually puts the verb after the subject. An exclamation with what a or what an reacts to a noun phrase. Read the whole sentence so you do not choose a pattern only because it begins with what.
What a difficult route this is!
Compare it with the question, What route are we taking? The question asks for information; the exclamation shows a reaction.
Choose the purpose: What a long wait this has been!
It is an exclamation. The speaker comments on the length of the wait.
Before you go
Remember this
Use what before a noun phrase when you react to it. Use such before an adjective plus a noun. Add a or an only with a singular countable noun. Leave the article out with plural and uncountable nouns.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Exclamatory adjectives: forms and examples"
What is an exclamatory adjective?
An exclamatory adjective is a label sometimes used for words such as what and such when they introduce a noun phrase that expresses a strong reaction. In this lesson, the useful decision is to choose the form that fits the noun phrase after it.
What a patient teacher Ms. Lee is!
When do I use what a and what an?
Use what a before a singular countable noun with a consonant sound, as in What a useful map! Use what an before a singular countable noun with a vowel sound, as in What an unusual plan!
What patient teachers Ms. Lee and Mr. Ortiz are!
Can I use what a with plural nouns?
No. Leave out a or an before a plural noun: What bright colors! The same rule applies to uncountable nouns, such as What good news! Check whether the noun is one countable item before adding an article.
What an unusual idea you had!
What is the difference between what and such in an exclamation?
What directly introduces a noun phrase, often with a or an for one countable noun. Such commonly comes before an adjective and noun, as in Such a difficult choice! Both forms can express a strong reaction.
What useful ideas the group shared!
How is an exclamation different from a what question?
A what question asks for information, as in What time does the class start? An exclamation reacts to something already known, as in What a long class that was! Context, word order, and punctuation help show the difference.
Such a calm answer helped the meeting continue.