Level: B1-B2
Primary vs Secondary Interjections — Practice
Grammarians split interjections into two groups: primary (only used as interjections, like Wow, Ouch, Oops) and secondary (borrowed from another word class, like Well, Right, Boy). 38 examples to classify.
Builds on Interjections by Feeling Next in unit Regional (AmE vs BrE) →
- Primary interjections (no other meaning)
- Wow! That is incredible! – Primary
- Ouch! That really hurt. – Primary
- Ugh! I cannot stand this. – Primary
- Oops, I dropped it. – Primary
- Phew, that was close. – Primary
- Aha! I found it! – Primary
- Whoa, slow down! – Primary
- Yuck, this tastes bad. – Primary
- Aww, that is so sweet. – Primary
- Hmm, let me think. – Primary
- Ow! My foot! – Primary
- Argh, the printer jammed again! – Primary
- Yay! I got an A! – Primary
- Ew! A spider! – Primary
- Shh! The baby is sleeping. – Primary
- Hello, everyone! – Primary
- Bye, see you tomorrow. – Primary
- Secondary interjections (normally another word class)
- Well, I guess we can try again. – Secondary (adverb)
- Right, let us get started. – Secondary (adjective)
- Boy, what a surprise! – Secondary (noun)
- Indeed, that is a great idea. – Secondary (adverb)
- Cool, that works for me. – Secondary (adjective)
- Awesome! Let us go! – Secondary (adjective)
- Sure, sounds good. – Secondary (adjective / adverb)
- Great, see you at six. – Secondary (adjective)
- Excellent, that is exactly right. – Secondary (adjective)
- Bummer, I missed the bus. – Secondary (noun, slang)
- Goodness, what a mess! – Secondary (noun)
- Mixed practice
- Wow, what a view! – Primary
- Cool, see you Saturday. – Secondary (adjective)
- Ouch, that stings! – Primary
- Well, what do you want to do? – Secondary (adverb)
- Boy, I am so tired! – Secondary (noun)
- Aha, now I get it! – Primary
- Right, I am off to bed. – Secondary (adjective)
- Phew, almost forgot! – Primary
- Indeed, you are correct. – Secondary (adverb)
- Oops, sorry about that! – Primary