Micro-listening
Exclamations with What and Such: Clear Rules and Examples
How do you use what and such in exclamations?
Use 'what a' or 'what an' with a singular countable noun, and use 'what' alone with plural or uncountable nouns. Use 'such a' or 'such an' in a normal statement with one countable noun, and 'such' alone with plural or uncountable nouns. For example: 'What a bright room this is!'
Key points
- 'What' commonly opens an exclamatory noun phrase.
- Use 'a' or 'an' with singular countable nouns.
- Plural and uncountable nouns take no indefinite article.
- 'Such' normally appears inside a statement.
Try what you have learned
Listen to a recording, type what you hear, and check your answer.
Speaking Beta. Membership required for voice feedback.
At a glance
| Form | Use it for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| what a / what an | A singular countable noun in an exclamation | What an unusual building this is! |
| what | A plural or uncountable noun in an exclamation | What beautiful flowers they grow! |
| such a / such an | A singular countable noun in a statement | It was such a peaceful village. |
| such | A plural or uncountable noun in a statement | They showed such impressive photographs. |
The full explanation
Speakers use what and such to highlight a notable quality or situation. Instead of asking a question, these structures emphasize your personal reaction, like surprise, pleasure, or frustration. What directly introduces the noun phrase, while such typically modifies an adjective and noun together inside a statement.
What a clean workshop they maintain!
Why it works: Workshop is a singular countable noun beginning with a consonant sound, so what a is required.
3 more examples
-
We received such valuable advice from our accountant.
Advice is an uncountable noun, so such appears without an article.
-
What friendly neighbors live across the hall!
Neighbors is plural, so what connects directly to the adjective and noun without a or an.
-
The team showed such great patience during the delay.
Patience is uncountable, so such stands directly before the adjective.
Read the full guide
Try the listening exercise
Decide Between an Exclamation and a Question
Before choosing your words, determine whether you want to ask for information or react to a situation. Questions ask the listener to provide missing facts and place helping verbs before the subject. Exclamations express your personal reaction to an object, person, or event. They use standard statement order where the subject comes before the verb, even when the sentence begins with the word what.
-
What a long day at work that was!
Why it works: The speaker shows tiredness about the day rather than asking for any schedule details.
-
What time does the evening train depart?
Why it works: This is an information question, so the helping verb does precedes the subject.
Your turn
Which sentence expresses an exclamation rather than asking for information?
Answer: What an amazing presentation your team delivered!
Show the answer
Answer: What an amazing presentation your team delivered!
The sentence highlights an opinion about the presentation and keeps the subject before the verb.
Choose What A or What An for Single Countable Items
When you react directly to a single countable noun, begin your phrase with what a or what an. The choice between a and an depends entirely on the initial sound of the word that immediately follows. Use an if the next word begins with a vowel sound, even if that word is an adjective describing the noun.
-
What an organized kitchen you have!
Why it works: The adjective organized begins with a vowel sound, so an is required.
-
What a quiet neighborhood this is!
Why it works: Quiet begins with a consonant sound, so a is the correct article.
You can practise this again in Despite vs Although: Clear Contrast Rules and Write a Formal Letter: Clear Rules and Examples.
Your turn
Which phrase correctly completes the exclamation about an office?
Answer: What an efficient office this is!
Show the answer
Answer: What an efficient office this is!
Efficient starts with a vowel sound, so an is required before the singular noun office.
Drop the Article for Plural and Uncountable Nouns
Plural nouns and mass nouns never take an indefinite article in English. When you use what to react to plural objects or uncountable concepts, place what directly before the adjective or noun. Adding a or an here is a frequent mistake that confuses native listeners. Always confirm whether the noun can be counted as individual units.
-
What fresh bread they bake every morning!
Why it works: Bread is uncountable, so what connects directly to the adjective fresh without an article.
-
What comfortable chairs you bought for the lounge!
Why it works: Chairs is plural, so no article belongs in the phrase.
Your turn
Select the correct exclamation about someone's luggage.
Answer: What heavy luggage you brought on the trip!
Show the answer
Answer: What heavy luggage you brought on the trip!
Luggage is an uncountable noun in English, which means it cannot take a or an.
Place Such A or Such An Before Single Noun Phrases
While what usually starts a sentence or stands alone as an exclamation, such normally fits into a complete sentence before an adjective and a singular countable noun. You must include a or an directly after such. Place an before adjectives starting with vowel sounds, and place a before consonant sounds.
-
She gave such an inspiring speech at the conference.
Why it works: Speech is singular and inspiring begins with a vowel sound, so such an is used.
-
It was such a hot afternoon in the garden.
Why it works: Hot begins with a consonant sound, so such a is correct.
Your turn
Choose the sentence that correctly uses such with a singular noun.
Answer: It was such a pleasant walk through the park.
Show the answer
Answer: It was such a pleasant walk through the park.
Walk is a singular countable noun and pleasant begins with a consonant sound, requiring such a.
Apply Such Without Articles for Groups and Masses
When such modifies plural nouns or uncountable nouns, leave out the article completely. The word such stands immediately before the descriptive adjective. Learners often mistakenly carry over the article from singular sentences. Remind yourself that plural endings and uncountable concepts reject a and an in all circumstances.
-
They serve such delicious coffee in this local cafe.
Why it works: Coffee is uncountable, so such stands directly in front of delicious without an article.
-
We met such polite drivers during our commute.
Why it works: Drivers is plural, so no article is used after such.
Your turn
Which sentence shows the correct use of such with plural colleagues?
Answer: We work with such supportive colleagues every day.
Show the answer
Answer: We work with such supportive colleagues every day.
Colleagues is a plural noun, so such is used directly with the adjective without any article.
Distinguish Sentence Positions for What and Such
You can express the same observation using either what or such, but their grammatical positions differ. What introduces the noun phrase at the very start of your reaction. Such appears inside a standard subject and verb structure, intensifying the noun phrase later in the sentence. Both choices sound completely natural in everyday English conversations.
-
What a stormy night this has been!
Why it works: What introduces the entire sentence as an exclamatory phrase.
-
This has been such a stormy night.
Why it works: Such appears after the verb has been to emphasize the stormy night.
Your turn
Which pair presents two grammatically correct ways to express the same reaction?
Answer: What an easy test it was! / It was such an easy test.
Show the answer
Answer: What an easy test it was! / It was such an easy test.
What opens the exclamatory sentence, while such fits naturally as a modifier following the main verb.
Hear How Words Connect in Spoken Reactions
In fluent speech, native speakers rarely pause between the exclamatory word and the article. The final consonant of what links smoothly to the vowel sound of a or an, sounding like one connected word. Similarly, the ending sound of such blends directly into an. Recognizing these natural connections helps you understand rapid conversational remarks.
-
What an awesome view we discovered here!
Why it works: The final consonant of what links cleanly into the unstressed an before awesome.
-
Such an easy fix resolved the system problem.
Why it works: The ch sound in such connects directly to an without a spoken gap.
Your turn
When someone says 'What an awful day!', how do native speakers typically pronounce the first two words?
Answer: They connect the final sound of what smoothly to an.
Show the answer
Answer: They connect the final sound of what smoothly to an.
Fluent English links the final consonant sound of what directly to the following vowel sound in an.
Maintain Correct Word Order in Written Exclamations
When writing exclamations, avoid the temptation to invert the subject and verb. Inversion belongs to questions, not exclamations. Write the subject first, followed by the verb, even when your sentence starts with what. Adding an exclamation mark at the end reinforces the tone of strong reaction without changing this standard statement grammar.
-
What a wonderful surprise your visit was!
Why it works: The subject your visit precedes the verb was at the end of the sentence.
-
What strange behavior the dog showed today!
Why it works: The subject the dog comes before the past verb showed.
Your turn
Select the written exclamation with correct word order.
Answer: What a thoughtful gift you bought!
Show the answer
Answer: What a thoughtful gift you bought!
Exclamations keep the subject you before the verb bought, unlike questions which use auxiliary verbs.
Common mistakes
What learners often say, what to say instead, and why.
-
Not this:
What a excellent restaurant this is!Say: What an excellent restaurant this is!
Use 'an' before a word beginning with a vowel sound.
-
Not this:
What a useful information you gave me!Say: What useful information you gave me!
'Information' is uncountable, so it cannot follow 'a'.
-
Not this:
They have such a friendly neighbours.Say: They have such friendly neighbours.
'Neighbours' is plural, so no article follows 'such'.
-
Not this:
What a lovely meal did you cook!Say: What a lovely meal you cooked!
Exclamations use statement order, not question inversion.
Before you go
Remember this
Check the noun after your exclamatory word. Use what a or such a with singular countable nouns, and use what or such without an article for plural or uncountable nouns. Keep statements in normal subject-verb order rather than question order.
Follow MicroEnglish
New lessons, short videos and quick quizzes every day. Pick the app you already use.
Listen first
Listen and write
Listen, type what you hear, then choose Check my answer. Use a hint when you get stuck.
Your session
Start a 15-minute session 15 min
Watch a short part, answer one question, practise what you heard, then check in with the tutor.
The first part is free. Members continue to part 2 and can ask for more.
0 of 4 done
Listening 1 of 4
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
0:00
Read the transcript
What a refreshing breeze blows across the lake!
What a begins an exclamation before the singular countable noun breeze.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listening 2 of 4
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
0:00
Read the transcript
Maria is such a welcoming person when guests arrive.
Such a modifies the singular countable noun person preceded by the adjective welcoming.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Try a longer clip. Listen once, then replay the part you missed.
Listening 3 of 4
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
0:00
Read the transcript
What incredible paintings hang in this gallery! The curator chose such unusual pieces from several private collections.
What is used with the plural noun paintings, while such modifies the plural noun pieces without an article.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
This clip is longer. Follow the instruction above the answer field.
Listening 4 of 4
Listen, then type the missing words. The rest of the text is already there.
0:00
Read the transcript
What an inspiring class our instructor ran this morning! We chose simple recipes using local grains, and everyone felt proud. The kitchen had such incredible energy as steam rose from the ovens. What exceptional aromas filled every corner of our culinary workshop!
Uses what an before a singular noun, such before an uncountable noun, and what before plural aromas.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Practice complete
You listened closely.
Your result is saved in this browser.
Keep your progress. Your practice is saved on this device only. Create a free account to keep it everywhere.
Create a free accountThat was today's free lesson. Tomorrow you get another one. Want more today? See membership.
Create a free SubLearn account to keep this progress across devices.
Save my progressYour turn
Say it your way
Describe a memorable meal or cooking experience you enjoyed recently, expressing your feelings about the food and the setting in twenty to thirty seconds.
Use: exclamations with What and Such: Clear Rules and Examples
You could start with “What a delicious dinner we prepared last weekend…”
Think for ten seconds, then answer out loud for as long as the task above asks, without looking at the lesson. Nothing is sent unless you ask for feedback.
0:00
Shadow
Say it along with the speaker
What a refreshing breeze blows across the lake!
Play the line slowly, then speak at the same time as the speaker. Copy the rhythm, not just the words.
Write
Put it in your own words
- I used “exclamations with What and Such: Clear Rules and Examples”.
- It is about my life, not the lesson’s example.
- I read it once aloud to check it sounds right.
Test yourself
Listening tests are included with membership. Try the free dictation first, then decide whether to continue.
Listening 1 of 2 Part of membership
Listening 2 of 2 Part of membership
Write your own response
Choose a situation and write 30–50 words in your own wording. This is separate from typing the exact words in a recording.
Check your own writing
Read one possible response
Use these checks to revise your message. Grammar and meaning are not automatically graded. Each task keeps its own draft in this browser tab.
Questions about "Exclamations with What and Such: Clear Rules and Examples"
Can a sentence begin directly with such instead of what?
In everyday English, such rarely starts an exclamatory sentence. While you might occasionally read formal literary sentences starting with such, modern speakers place such after verbs or subjects in normal statements. If you want to open your exclamation directly with an emphatic word, what is almost always the natural choice.
What a clever solution she discovered!
She discovered such a clever solution.
What is the difference between using so and using such?
Use so before an adjective or adverb alone, with no noun following it. Use such when an adjective is paired directly with a noun. For example, you say the soup is so hot, but it is such hot soup. Choosing between them depends on whether a noun follows the descriptive adjective.
The presentation was so clear.
It was such a clear presentation.
Why is it incorrect to say what a bad weather?
Weather is an uncountable noun in English, meaning you cannot divide it into individual units. The indefinite articles a and an historically mean one, so placing them before uncountable nouns like weather, advice, or luggage is grammatically incorrect. Always say what bad weather or such bad weather.
What bad weather we experienced during the weekend!
They gave us such practical advice.
Do all sentences with what and such need an exclamation mark?
Not every sentence with such or what requires an exclamation mark. In casual text messages and conversational stories, an exclamation mark shows energetic feeling or surprise. In calm writing, business emails, or moderate statements, a period works perfectly well and prevents your writing from sounding exaggerated.
She is such a reliable colleague.
What a pleasant surprise to see you today!
Questions & comments
Ask about this lesson, share an example, or help another learner.
