Interjections, Adverbs, Prepositions, and Conjunctions in Spanish Grammar
Interjections and Interjectional Phrases
What are Interjections?
Interjections are words that express feelings caused by what we see, hear, feel, remember, want, or desire.
Common Interjections
- Ah
- Ay
- Bah!
- Ea!
- Hey
- Oh
- Ojalá!
- Puff!
- Ugh!
Other Words Used as Interjections
We can use words that are nouns, verbs, adverbs, etc., as interjections:
- Come on!
- Bravo!
- Good!
- Careful!
- Yes!
- Alas!
- Magnifico!
Functions of Interjections
Interjections express emotions:
- Good!
- Olé!
They can also be used for greetings, farewells, or acknowledgements:
- Oye!
- Hello!
- Goodbye!
- Okay!
Interjectional Phrases
These consist of two or more words functioning as an interjection:
- Oh dear!
- Mother!
- Not too bad!
- How nice!
(Note: Many offensive expressions are also recognized as interjections).
Special Cases of Adverbs
Indefinite Determiners vs. Adverbs of Quantity
Adverbs of quantity: some, much, many, more, less, both.
Indefinite determiners: These always accompany or replace a noun, indicating an imprecise amount, and can change form. Example: There were many in the store, I need more pages.
Adverbs: These complement a verb and are unchangeable. Example: It works much/little/enough, you have to sleep more/less; it’s raining so you can’t leave. They can also quantify an adjective: He is too serious, he lives quite near.
In front of adjectives and adverbs, “much” and “many” are replaced by “very” and “so”. Example: I feel very happy, he’s so far away I haven’t seen him.
Adverbs and Possessives
- Do not use a possessive behind an adverb.
- Adverbs should be complemented with prepositional phrases: It’s behind me, they live near us.
- It is correct to use a possessive behind a noun: A friend of mine, those are your books.
Prepositions and Prepositional Phrases
Prepositions are invariable words that introduce a noun or an equivalent term. Examples: café con leche, I’m not used to Ana, none of them, near the site, hard to believe.
Prepositional phrases are formed by two or more words that function as a preposition: in relation to, about, because of, depending on, away from, etc.
Conjunctions and Conjunctive Phrases
Conjunctions are words that unite elements within a sentence: and, but, though, etc.
Conjunctive phrases are groups of words with the same function: now that, even though, so that, unless, etc.
Types of Conjunctions
- Coordinating: Join elements of the same level. Example: We painted the table and chairs.
- Subordinating: Introduce sentences that depend on others. Example: We painted the table so that it would look like new.
Coordinating Conjunctions
- Copulative: Add meanings. Example: Parents and children came together.
- Disjunctive: One meaning excludes the other. Example: Should we go or stay?
- Distributive: Alternate meanings. Example: We will leave this afternoon, whether it rains or shines.
- Adversative: One meaning opposes the other. Example: I have not gone far, but I’m tired.
- Explanatory: One meaning explains the other. Example: These two words are synonymous, that is, they have the same meaning.
Subordinating Conjunctions
- Complementizers: Introduce noun clauses. Example: He said he would come soon, I don’t know if he’s here.
- Consecutive: Show consequence. Example: It’s cloudy, so it will rain.
- Causal: Provide the reason. Example: It was because he was in a hurry.
- Final: Explain the purpose. Example: I brought these books to consult.
- Concessive: Express an objection that doesn’t prevent the action. Example: It will come even if you are too tired.
- Temporal: Explain the time of the action. Example: As soon as he comes, I will tell him.
- Manner: Show how the action is performed. Example: He acts as his conscience dictates.
- Conditional: Show the condition for the action. Example: If my father finds out, he will punish me.
- Comparative: Make a comparison. Example: He lies more than he speaks, he’s not as smart as they say.