{ VERBS Duane Theobald

 MzYw&noredirect=1 MzYw&noredirect=1 MzYw&noredirect=1 Throwback to Childhood…

 Know what a verb is!  Make subjects and verbs agree!  Use interesting verbs!  Use verbs you know!  Don’t use the passive voice to obscure your ideas!  Use the literary present tense for literary analysis! What your Professors (and Readers) want you to do:

 Before we discuss verbs, let’s address some questions…  Which of the aspects ( from the previous slide) is tricky for you? Any other verb-trickiness not listed here?  Why?  What do you do when verbs give you trouble?  Consider using A Writer’s Resource with these issues: pgs can help! Questions to Consider…

 The action of the subject…but not always an active-sounding word. Is-are-might-should- will-may and many other inactive-sounding words are verbs, too.  What the subject does or is. Examples include:  Pickles come in several varieties.  Dill pickles taste better than sweet pickles.  The day you graduate will be joyful.  The book on the shelf wants me to read it. 1. Know what a verb is!

 First, find the subject. Then ask…  What about it? OR What about them?   Example: Cupcakes delight most people who like sweets.   Subject: Cupcakes. What about them? They delight most people who like sweets. (note that “like” is a verb but it’s not the action of the subject (cupcakes). Find the Verb/Verb Phrase:

 Look at the sentences provided on the handout (pg. 2) and locate the verb/verb phrase. You can underline, circle, or highlight what you find. Find the Verb/Verb Phrase:

 Singular subjects need singular verbs (which end in “s” in the present)-The dog barks.  Plural subjects (which often end in “s” need plural verbs)-The dogs bark.  Think of there being one “s” to go around: either on the subject or the verb (this doesn’t work with irregular plurals like “children”)  Consult A Writer’s Resource for more information: pgs Make Subjects and Verbs Agree!

 Examples:  Incorrect: Sharon Old’s poem “Saturn” also maintain the theme of the ill effects of the father- dominated family.  Correct: Sharon Old’s poem “Saturn also maintains the theme of the ill effects of the father-dominated family.  Incorrect: Because such conjecture becomes a part of the process of translating, the translator’s own understanding of the text’s content and context nearly always enter the equation…  Correct: Because such conjecture becomes a part of the process of translating, the translator’s own understanding of the text’s content and context nearly always enters the equation… 2. Make Subjects and Verbs Agree!

 NOT: is, was, are, were, shows, states, says, uses, seems, appears (very BORING!)  Examples:  Incorrect: In Something to Declare, Julia Alvarez shows that there is a connection between her writing and society by writing about her experiences with competing cultural expectations.  Correct: In this case, in Something to Declare, Julia Alvarez explores her experiences with competing cultural expectations in order to construct a connection between her writing and society. 3. Use Interesting Verbs!

 A thesaurus can make you sound ridiculous if you choose words that don’t fit in the context of your sentence. Use your online access to the Oxford English Dictionary to see a word in a zillion contexts, or “Google” the word to see how it is used, just for a definition.  Example:  Incorrect: Although Alvarez’s poems and essays commence from a particularly American-Hispanic perspective, she thoroughly reconnoiters basic human characteristics.  Correct: Although Alvarez’s poems and essays stem from a particularly American-Hispanic perspective, she thoroughly scrutinizes basic human characteristics. 4. Use Verb you Know!

 It is sometimes okay! You just need to be careful not to overuse it, or use it because you don’t want to claim your own ideas.  Examples #1:  Incorrect: In the novel In the Time of the Butterflies, a poly-vocal narrative is used so the world view of each Maribal sister is illustrated.  Correct: In her novel In the Time of the Butterflies, Julia Alvarez utilizes a poly-vocal narrative which illustrates the worldview of each Maribal sister. 5. Don’t use the Passive Voice to Obscure your Ideas!

 Example #2:  Incorrect: It is thought that history is not an absolute truth, but is instead written by those who assume power.  Correct (sort of): History is not an absolute truth, but is instead written by those who assume power. 5. Don’t use the Passive Voice to Obscure your Ideas!

 Note: Treat the book as your present time. ANYTHING that happens in the book- including what the author writes, scrutinizes, dissects, etc.-is discussed in the present tense.  This means that anything that the book treats as in the past-what happened before the present time of the book=is discussed in past tense. 6. Use the Literary Present Tense when Writing Literary Analysis!

 Example:  Incorrect: Trujillo’s regime capitalized on these circumstances and spun the story to promote his interests. Alvarez illustrates this through the newspaper article published after Nelson was released: “next day, we were famous…”…  Correct: Trujillo’s regime capitalizes on these circumstances and spins the story to promote his interests. Alvarez illustrates this though the newspaper article published after Nelson is released: “next day, we were famous…”… 6. Use the Literary Present Tense when Writing Literary Analysis!

 Example: A book that takes place in 2011 but features a character who served in World War II, and his war experiences are referred to in the book but treated as part of the past.  Incorrect: The character spends his birthday [in 2011] remembering how he feels the first time he smells a dead body.  Incorrect: The character spent his birthday [in 2011] remembering how he felt the first time he smelled a dead body  Correct: The character spends his birthday [in 2011] remembering how he felt the first time he smelled a dead body. 6. Use the Literary Present Tense when Writing Literary Analysis!

 Always remember what a verb is!  Make sure that your subjects and verbs ALWAYS agree!  Try to use more interesting verbs (AVOID is, am, are, was, were, etc.)!  ONLY use verbs you know (the thesaurus can be your friend, but be wary!)  Don’t use passive voice if you can avoid it- claim your ideas!  Use the literary present tense when writing about literature! To Sum it Up…

   TLC 1201 (First floor, past the snacks)   Like us on Facebook:  University Writing Center (UWG)  Duane Theobald (Manager of the UWC)  Need help? Visit the UWC!