Exclamations

In Swedish, exclamations are often formed using words that are otherwise used for questions. This structure allows for expressing strong feelings like surprise, admiration, or disappointment. The two main ways to form these clauses are with Vilken/Vilket/Vilka and Vad.

1. Using Vilken/Vilket/Vilka (What a...!)
This form is used with nouns. The choice between vilken, vilket, and vilka depends on the noun's gender and number. It's equivalent to the English "What a...!" or "What...!".

• Vilken: Used with singular common gender (en) nouns.
  Ex: Vilken idé! (What an idea!)
• Vilket: Used with singular neuter gender (ett) nouns.
  Ex: Vilket väder! (What weather!)
• Vilka: Used with all plural nouns.
  Ex: Vilka skor! (What shoes!)

These phrases can stand alone or be part of a full sentence. In this full exclamative pattern, the subject precedes the finite verb after the opening phrase. Do not apply the ordinary declarative V2 pattern here.
Ex: Vilken vacker tavla du har målat! (What a beautiful painting you have painted!)

2. Using Vad (How...!)
This form is used with adjectives, adverbs, or sometimes to emphasize a verb's action. It's equivalent to the English "How...!" or "So...!".

• With Adjectives: Vad snäll du är! (How kind you are!)
• With Adverbs: Vad snabbt han springer! (How fast he runs!)
• With Verbs: Vad jag har saknat dig! (How I have missed you!)

After exclamative vad or vad plus adjective/adverb, the subject precedes the finite verb: Vad snäll du är!, Vad jag har saknat dig!. This differs from a direct question such as Vad har du gjort?.

3. Other Exclamative Forms
Words such as så (so) and sådan/sådant/sådana (such) also form exclamatives: Så fint du sjunger!, En sådan fin dag det är!. They can also appear in ordinary declarative sentences with expressive meaning:
Ex: Han är så rolig! (He is so funny!)
Ex: Jag har aldrig sett en sådan film! (I have never seen such a film!)

More Than A Noun-Versus-Adjective Rule
Vilken fin bil! is a useful model, but vad is not excluded simply because a noun follows. Vad fina bilar du har! is an established expressive noun phrase. Vad plus an adjective is especially common in speech and informal writing. The choice depends on the whole construction, not a ban on nouns after vad.

An exclamation can also be a phrase without a full clause: Vilka underbara nyheter!. When the initial expressive phrase is itself the subject in a full clause, som introduces the following part: Vilka fina gäster som kommer!.