Wow, that was a fast car!
Which of the following parts of speech is the word “Wow” in the sentence above?
A.
Preposition
B.
Conjunction
C.
Adverb
D.
Interjection
The Correct answer and Explanation is:
The word “Wow” in the sentence “Wow, that was a fast car!” is an interjection. Therefore, the correct answer is:
D. Interjection
Explanation:
An interjection is a word or phrase that expresses a sudden emotion, reaction, or feeling. It is often used to convey surprise, excitement, disgust, happiness, or other strong emotions. Interjections are unique because they do not have a grammatical connection to the rest of the sentence. Instead, they stand alone, typically at the beginning of a sentence, and are often followed by a comma or exclamation mark to emphasize the emotion being expressed.
In the sentence “Wow, that was a fast car!”, the word “Wow” is used to express surprise or amazement at the speed of the car. This reaction is immediate and instinctual, which is characteristic of interjections. The word doesn’t affect the structure or meaning of the rest of the sentence but adds emotional context.
Let’s analyze why the other options are incorrect:
- Preposition (Option A): Prepositions are words that show relationships between nouns or pronouns and other elements in a sentence, such as “in,” “on,” “at,” or “by.” “Wow” does not show a relationship between objects, so it cannot be a preposition.
- Conjunction (Option B): Conjunctions are words that connect clauses, phrases, or words, such as “and,” “but,” or “because.” Since “Wow” does not serve as a connector in the sentence, it is not a conjunction.
- Adverb (Option C): Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, providing information about how, when, where, or to what extent something happens. “Wow” does not modify any part of the sentence in this way, so it is not an adverb.
Given that “Wow” expresses an emotion and is not grammatically connected to the sentence, it is classified as an interjection.