Practice
Exclamatory pronouns: rules and examples
What an unexpected answer! The word what introduces a strong reaction. It does not ask for information in this sentence.
Recognize exclamatory uses of what and how, then choose a form that matches the meaning and structure of the sentence.
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 a clear explanation that was! /wʌt ə klɪr ˌɛkspləˈneɪʃən ðæt wʌz/
The short answer
Use what before a noun phrase, as in What a useful suggestion! Use how before an adjective or adverb, as in How useful that suggestion is! What can be an exclamatory pronoun when it stands for a thing or idea, as in What a mess!
What a patient teacher she is!
Why it works: What introduces an exclamation and comes before the noun phrase a patient teacher.
5 more examples
-
What a clear explanation that was!
What introduces the singular noun phrase a clear explanation.
Not this:That was
a clear explanation. What changes: The statement gives the information without the same strong reaction. -
What helpful neighbors they are!
Neighbors is plural, so the noun phrase has no a or an.
Not this:They are
helpful neighbors. What changes: This is an ordinary statement about the neighbors. -
What heavy rain we had this morning!
Rain is uncountable here, so the sentence does not use a or an.
Not this:We had
heavy rainthis morning. What changes: The information stays the same, but the exclamatory reaction is removed. -
How calm the room feels now!
How introduces the adjective calm.
Not this:The room feels
very calmnow. What changes: Very calm is a statement of degree, while how calm expresses a reaction. -
What happened after the lights went out!
What stands for the event and is the subject of happened. The sentence expresses surprise rather than asking for an answer.
Not this:
Something unexpectedhappened after the lights went out. What changes: This statement explains the event without an exclamatory opening.
Read the full guide
Exclamatory sentences show a strong reaction. Their word order can look unusual because they often begin with what or how. Compare What a long meeting that was! with The meeting was very long. Both describe the meeting, but the first sentence also shows the speaker's feeling.
Notice a reaction, not a question
What can begin both questions and exclamations. A question asks for missing information. An exclamation shows a reaction to information the speaker already has. Read the whole sentence and check the situation before you decide.
What a busy afternoon we had!
The speaker is reacting to the afternoon. The sentence does not ask someone to name the afternoon.
Is What a busy afternoon we had! a request for information?
No. It expresses the speaker's reaction to the afternoon.
Use what before a noun phrase
Use what when the exclamation begins with a noun or noun phrase. Add a or an before a singular countable noun. Do not add a or an before a plural noun or an uncountable noun.
What an interesting route this is!
Route is a singular countable noun, so the noun phrase needs an.
Complete the sentence: What ___ beautiful paintings!
Use no article: What beautiful paintings! Paintings is plural.
Use how before an adjective or adverb
Use how when the reaction focuses on a quality or the way an action happens. The next important word is often an adjective or an adverb. The rest of the clause follows after that word.
How carefully you planned the event!
Carefully is an adverb that describes planned, so how is the useful opening.
Choose the opening: ___ generous the offer was!
Use how: How generous the offer was! Generous is an adjective.
Know when what can be a pronoun
Grammar labels depend on what does in the sentence. In What a surprise!, what comes before the noun surprise, so it works as a determiner. In What happened!, what stands for the thing or event that happened. In that position, it can be called a pronoun.
What a relief it was to hear from you!
What introduces the noun phrase a relief. It does not stand alone for a thing in this sentence.
In What went wrong!, does what come before a noun?
No. What is the subject of went wrong, so it can be treated as a pronoun.
Use the exclamation mark with purpose
An exclamation mark can show that a reaction is strong, but it should match the tone of the writing. Use one mark when you want to make the reaction clear. In a formal report, an ordinary statement is often the better choice.
How quickly the train arrived!
The sentence begins with an exclamatory form. The exclamation mark makes the speaker's surprise visible on the page.
Should every sentence in an excited message end with an exclamation mark?
No. Use the mark for the sentences where a strong reaction is part of the intended meaning.
Before you go
Remember this
First decide whether the sentence is a question or a reaction. Use what before a noun phrase and how before an adjective or adverb. When what stands alone for a thing or event, it can work as an exclamatory pronoun. Match a or an to a singular countable noun, and use no article with plural or 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 pronouns: rules and examples"
What is an exclamatory pronoun?
An exclamatory pronoun is a word that stands for a thing, idea, or event while expressing a strong reaction. In What happened!, what is the subject of happened and can be called a pronoun. Grammar books may use broader labels for exclamatory uses of what, so checking the word's job in the sentence is useful.
What a clear explanation that was!
When is what a determiner instead of a pronoun?
What works as a determiner when it comes before a noun and helps introduce a noun phrase. In What a clear explanation that was!, what comes before explanation. In What helpful neighbors they are!, it comes before neighbors. The word does not stand alone in either example.
That was a clear explanation.
When should I use what and how in an exclamation?
Use what before a noun phrase and how before an adjective or adverb. Write What heavy rain we had! because rain is a noun. Write How calm the room feels now! because calm is an adjective. This meaning-and-structure check is more reliable than choosing by emotion alone.
What helpful neighbors they are!
Why do some what exclamations use a or an?
Use a or an when what introduces a singular countable noun, as in What a clear explanation that was! Use no article before plural or uncountable nouns, as in What helpful neighbors they are! and What heavy rain we had this morning! The noun type decides whether an article is needed.
They are helpful neighbors.
Do exclamatory sentences always need an exclamation mark?
No. An exclamation mark shows the strength of a reaction in writing, but it is not the only sign of an exclamatory structure. Use one when the reaction is meant to be strong and fits the tone. In careful formal writing, a plain statement may communicate the idea more appropriately.
What heavy rain we had this morning!