Exclamatory sentences in Portuguese are used to express strong emotions, surprise, or enthusiasm. They convey a sense of excitement, awe, admiration, or even disappointment. In this guide, we will explore the structure and usage of exclamatory sentences in Portuguese, along with some examples to help you understand them better.
What are Exclamatory Sentences?
Exclamatory sentences are a type of sentence that express strong feelings or emotions. They are used to convey excitement, surprise, happiness, anger, or any other intense emotion. In Portuguese, exclamatory sentences typically end with an exclamation mark (!) to indicate the heightened emotional tone. These sentences often have a different word order or contain specific particles to emphasize the emotional aspect of the statement.
Structure of Exclamatory Sentences
In Portuguese, the structure of exclamatory sentences can vary depending on the type of exclamation and the specific context. However, there are a few common patterns and elements that can help you construct these sentences effectively.
a) Interrogative Sentences
One way to form exclamatory sentences is by transforming an interrogative sentence into an exclamatory one. In this case, you take a question and add an exclamation mark at the end to convey surprise, disbelief, or excitement. Let’s see an example:
Interrogative Sentence: Você vai viajar para Portugal? (Are you going to travel to Portugal?)
Exclamatory Sentence: Você vai viajar para Portugal! (You’re going to travel to Portugal!)
b) Declarative Sentences
Declarative sentences, which make statements or express opinions, can also be transformed into exclamatory sentences. To do this, you usually need to rearrange the word order or add specific particles to emphasize the emotional aspect. Here’s an example:
Declarative Sentence: Eu estou muito feliz. (I am very happy.)
Exclamatory Sentence: Como estou feliz! (How happy I am!)
c) Exclamation Particles
Portuguese also employs specific particles to intensify the emotional content of an exclamatory sentence. These particles can be placed before or after the word they modify, adding emphasis to the exclamation. Here are a few common exclamation particles in Portuguese:
Que (What/How): Que belo dia! (What a beautiful day!)
Como (How): Como estou surpreso! (How surprised I am!)
Tão (So): Ela é tão talentosa! (She is so talented!)
Quão (How): Quão impressionante é isso! (How impressive this is!)
Examples of Exclamatory Sentences
Now, let’s take a look at some examples of exclamatory sentences in Portuguese. These sentences will cover various emotions and contexts, providing you with a better understanding of how exclamatory sentences are formed.
Que linda festa! (What a beautiful party!)
Como o Brasil é bonito! (How beautiful Brazil is!)
Nossa, que surpresa maravilhosa! (Wow, what a wonderful surprise!)
Como você é inteligente! (How smart you are!)
Que incrível essa performance! (How incredible this performance is!)
Tão bom te ver novamente! (So good to see you again!)
Quão emocionante é essa notícia! (How exciting this news is!)
Que saudade eu estava de você! (How much I missed you!)
Nossa, como o tempo passa rápido! (Wow, how time flies!)
Como estou orgulhoso do meu time! (How proud I am of my team!)
By using these examples and understanding the underlying structure, you can begin to create your exclamatory sentences in Portuguese. Remember to pay attention to word order, add exclamation particles for emphasis, and use an exclamation mark at the end of the sentence to indicate the heightened emotional tone.
Other Considerations
When using exclamatory sentences in Portuguese, it’s important to consider the context, tone, and appropriate use of intensity. Exclamations should match the level of emotion you want to convey, whether it’s mild surprise or overwhelming enthusiasm. Practice using these sentences in various situations to become more comfortable with their usage and to better express your emotions in Portuguese.
Additionally, keep in mind that regional variations and colloquial expressions may exist in different Portuguese-speaking countries. It’s always beneficial to immerse yourself in the language and culture to grasp the subtleties of exclamatory sentences used by native speakers.
In conclusion, exclamatory sentences in Portuguese serve as powerful tools to express strong emotions, enthusiasm, or surprise. By understanding the structure and examples provided in this guide, you can start incorporating exclamatory sentences into your Portuguese conversations and enhance your ability to convey emotions effectively.
Quick quiz
Exercise 1:
Choose the correct transformation of the following declarative sentence into an exclamatory sentence:
Declarative Sentence: O filme foi incrível. (The movie was amazing.)
a) O filme foi incrível? (Was the movie amazing?)
b) Que filme incrível! (What an amazing movie!)
c) O filme foi incrível! (The movie was amazing!)
d) Como o filme foi incrível! (How amazing the movie was!)
Answer: b) Que filme incrível! (What an amazing movie!)
Explanation: The correct transformation of the declarative sentence into an exclamatory sentence adds the exclamation particle “Que” to express surprise or admiration. The sentence “Que filme incrível!” properly conveys the excitement and enthusiasm about the movie.
Exercise 2:
Select the appropriate transformation of the following interrogative sentence into an exclamatory sentence:
Interrogative Sentence: Você vai mesmo viajar para Paris? (Are you really going to travel to Paris?)
a) Você vai mesmo viajar para Paris? (Are you really going to travel to Paris?)
b) Como você vai viajar para Paris! (How you’re going to travel to Paris!)
c) Você vai mesmo viajar para Paris! (You’re really going to travel to Paris!)
d) Que você vai viajar para Paris! (What you’re going to travel to Paris!)
Answer: c) Você vai mesmo viajar para Paris! (You’re really going to travel to Paris!)
Explanation: The correct transformation of the interrogative sentence into an exclamatory sentence involves maintaining the same word order but adding an exclamation mark at the end. The sentence “Você vai mesmo viajar para Paris!” expresses surprise or excitement about the person’s plan to travel to Paris.
Exercise 3:
Choose the most appropriate exclamation particle to complete the following exclamatory sentence:
Que _ incrível!
a) tão (so)
b) quão (how)
c) como (how)
d) que (what)
Answer: c) como (how)
Explanation: The sentence “Que como incrível!” is incorrect. The correct exclamation particle to intensify the exclamation in this context is “como,” which translates to “how” in English. The correct sentence is “Que como incrível!” meaning “How incredible!”
Exercise 4:
Select the correct exclamation particle to complete the following exclamatory sentence:
__ talentosa ela é!
a) que (what/how)
b) como (how)
c) tão (so)
d) quão (how)
Answer: a) que (what/how)
Explanation: The sentence “Que talentosa ela é!” is the correct form. The exclamation particle “que” intensifies the exclamation by expressing admiration or surprise. The sentence translates to “What a talented she is!” or “How talented she is!”
Exercise 5:
Choose the appropriate word order to transform the following declarative sentence into an exclamatory sentence:
Declarative Sentence: Estou tão feliz!
a) Feliz tão estou!
b) Como feliz estou!
c) Estou feliz tão!
d) Tão feliz estou!
Answer: d) Tão feliz estou!
Explanation: The correct transformation of the declarative sentence into an exclamatory sentence involves placing the exclamation particle “tão” before the adjective “feliz” and maintaining the same word order. The sentence “Tão feliz estou!” properly conveys the excitement and intensity of the speaker’s happiness.
Exercise 6:
Select the appropriate transformation of the following declarative sentence into an exclamatory sentence:
Declarative Sentence: Essa comida é deliciosa.
a) Como é deliciosa essa comida!
b) Essa comida é deliciosa?
c) Essa comida é deliciosa!
d) Deliciosa é essa comida?
Answer: a) Como é deliciosa essa comida!
Explanation: The correct transformation of the declarative sentence into an exclamatory sentence involves adding the exclamation particle “como” and maintaining the same word order. The sentence “Como é deliciosa essa comida!” expresses admiration or surprise about the deliciousness of the food.
Exercise 7:
Choose the most appropriate exclamation particle to complete the following exclamatory sentence:
_ é bonito o jardim!
a) que (what)
b) como (how)
c) tão (so)
d) quão (how)
Answer: a) que (what)
Explanation: The sentence “Que é bonito o jardim!” is the correct form. The exclamation particle “que” intensifies the exclamation by expressing admiration or surprise. The sentence translates to “What a beautiful garden!”
Exercise 8:
Select the correct transformation of the following interrogative sentence into an exclamatory sentence:
Interrogative Sentence: Você realmente ganhou na loteria? (Did you really win the lottery?)
a) Você realmente ganhou na loteria? (Did you really win the lottery?)
b) Como você ganhou na loteria! (How you won the lottery!)
c) Você realmente ganhou na loteria! (You really won the lottery!)
d) Que você ganhou na loteria! (What you won the lottery!)
Answer: b) Como você ganhou na loteria! (How you won the lottery!)
Explanation: The correct transformation of the interrogative sentence into an exclamatory sentence involves maintaining the same word order but adding an exclamation mark at the end. The sentence “Como você ganhou na loteria!” expresses surprise or excitement about the person winning the lottery.
Exercise 9:
Choose the appropriate word order to transform the following declarative sentence into an exclamatory sentence:
Declarative Sentence: Ela é uma cantora tão talentosa!
a) Tão talentosa ela é uma cantora!
b) Como talentosa ela é uma cantora!
c) Ela é uma cantora tão talentosa!
d) Talentosa é uma cantora tão ela!
Answer: c) Ela é uma cantora tão talentosa!
Explanation: The correct transformation of the declarative sentence into an exclamatory sentence maintains the same word order. The sentence “Ela é uma cantora tão talentosa!” properly conveys the excitement and admiration for the singer’s talent.
Exercise 10:
Select the most appropriate exclamation particle to complete the following exclamatory sentence:
__ impressionante é essa obra de arte!
a) que (what)
b) como (how)
c) tão (so)
d) quão (how)
Answer: b) como (how)
Explanation: The sentence “Como impressionante é essa obra de arte!” is the correct form. The exclamation particle “como” intensifies the exclamation by expressing awe or astonishment. The sentence translates to “How impressive this work of art is!”
Originally posted 2023-07-19 03:27:39.