Exclamatory sentences in Spanish express strong emotions such as surprise, joy, anger, or admiration. They often begin with ¡Qué...! or ¡Cómo...! and end with an exclamation mark.
Exclamatory sentences are used to convey strong feelings or reactions. In Spanish, they always begin with an opening exclamation mark (¡) and end with a closing exclamation mark (!).
- Express emotions like surprise, joy, anger, or admiration
- Can modify adjectives, nouns, verbs, or entire clauses
- Use question words qué (what/how), cómo (how), cuánto (how much/many) for emphasis
Types of Exclamatory Sentences
There are several common structures for exclamatory sentences in Spanish:
- ¡Qué + adjective + noun! — What a ...!
- ¡Qué + verb phrase! — How ...!
- ¡Cómo + verb! — How ...!
- ¡Cuánto(s)/Cuánta(s) + noun! — How much/many ...!
- Exclamations with other modifiers — Use adverbs, pronouns, or entire clauses
In the sentence '¡Cuántos libros tienes!', what does 'cuántos' mean?
How many
'Cuántos' means 'how many' and is used before plural masculine nouns like 'libros' to ask or exclaim about quantity.
What is the meaning of the Spanish exclamatory sentence '¡Qué día tan hermoso!'?
What a beautiful day!
The phrase '¡Qué día tan hermoso!' translates to 'What a beautiful day!', expressing admiration for the day’s beauty.
Examples Overview
Here are some examples of each type:
| Type | Example | English |
|---|---|---|
| ¡Qué + adj + noun! | ¡Qué día tan hermoso! | What a beautiful day! |
| ¡Qué + verb phrase! | ¡Qué rápido corres! | How fast you run! |
| ¡Cómo + verb! | ¡Cómo canta María! | How María sings! |
| ¡Cuánto(s)/Cuánta(s) + noun! | ¡Cuántos libros tienes! | How many books you have! |
| Other modifiers | ¡Qué alegría verte! | What a joy to see you! |
Grammar Rules
- Punctuation: Always use both ¡ and ! in Spanish.
- Capitalization: The first word after ¡ is capitalized.
- Agreement: Adjectives and articles agree in gender and number with nouns.
- Verb Person: Verbs are conjugated to match the subject (unless omitted).
- Modifiers: Use intensifiers like tan, tanto, muy to increase emphasis.
Common Errors to Avoid
- Missing the opening ¡
- Forgetting to match adjective/article gender and number
- Using incorrect verb conjugation or subject agreement
- Omitting necessary intensifiers (especially with qué + adjective)
- Using a comma instead of an exclamation mark at the end
Summary
Exclamatory sentences in Spanish are essential for expressing strong emotions naturally. Remember to:
- Use ¡...! punctuation marks
- Choose the correct structure based on what you want to emphasize
- Match adjectives/articles with nouns in gender and number
- Conjugate verbs properly (or omit the subject if clear)
- Add intensifiers when needed for stronger expression
How do you naturally increase emotional intensity in '¡Qué + adjective + noun!' sentences?
Add intensifiers like 'tan' or 'muy'
Intensifiers such as 'tan' (so) or 'muy' (very) strengthen the emotional impact of the adjective.
Flashcards (1 of 5)
- Type: ¡Qué + adj + noun!
- Example: ¡Qué día tan hermoso!
- English: What a beautiful day!
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
