Created by Kathryn Reilly Strong Verbs VERBS Created by Kathryn Reilly

What are verbs? Verbs are a part of speech Verbs show action Strong verbs clearly state an action taking place. Strong verbs provide more description than weak verbs. Some verbs are stronger than others.

Strong vs. Weak Verbs Two kinds of weak verbs exist Type 1: linking verbs that don’t show action Is, are, was, were, be, being, been… These verbs do not clearly provide an action. Weak verb example: Kathy is sad. Strong verb example: Sadness consumed Kathy. By replacing is with consumed, the reader understands the depth of sadness Kathy feels.

Strong vs. weak verbs Type 2: Vague verbs Vague verbs include verbs that can have many degrees of meaning. If you can ask “How” with these verbs, there is probably a better verb choice to convey exactly what you wish you say. Vague Verb example: Say (said, says) “No,” she said. Ask yourself HOW she said it, and replace the vague verb with a strong one. “No,” she whispered, yelled, demanded, laughed…

Vague (Weak) Verb Examples said = laughed, cried, yelled, whispered, cajoled, shared… (How was it said?) walked = ambled, sauntered, wandered, paced, trudged, jogged… (How did the person walk?) ask = demand, insist, inquire, order, wonder, question (How did the person ask?)

Changing wordy phrases with strong verbs Using weak verbs can make phrases “roundabout” or wordy: Weak Verb Example: He was running quickly to the finish line. Strong Verb Example: He sprinted towards the finish line. Strong verbs get to the point and keep your reader’s attention (and sometimes you write LESS!).

Changing wordy phrases with strong verbs Sometimes you may need to change some details in the sentence to replace weak verbs with stronger ones. Weak Verb example: She is very happy. Strong Verb example: Happiness radiates from her entire body. She radiates happiness. In this strong verb example, the writer provides a clearer picture of the degree of happiness.

Strong Verbs Review Strong verbs provide specific descriptions. Strong verbs provide the reader with the degree of action Danced can become twirled, spun, jumped, waltzed… Example: I did my homework. I (finished, completed, aced, reviewed, perfected) my homework. Selecting one of the stronger verbs provides the reader with more description. For example finished and completed imply that 100% of the homework is done, aced implies the student feels he or she will earn 100% on the homework, and reviewed and perfected imply the student checked the homework and corrected errors.

Strong Verbs Review Strong verbs allow writers to create strong, direct sentences instead of wordy, “roundabout” ones. Always try to eliminate linking verbs (is, are, was, were…) Example: The dog was walked by me. I walked the dog. The ball was dropped by Sara. Sara dropped the ball. He did not remember his homework. He forgot his homework. I was playing Halo last night. I conquered Halo last night.