1. Strong vs. Weak Verbs Created by Kathryn Reilly

2. Strong vs. Weak Verbs Strong Verbs… Create a clear image Convey a degree of meaning Are preferred by readers Weak Verbs… Create a fuzzy image Convey a muddled meaning May confuse readers

3. Weak Verbs A weak verb fails to convey a clear image. – Robert said “Hello”. How did Robert say hello? – Yelled – Shouted – Whispered – Sang – Laughed – Stuttered Strong Verb Examples

4. Linking Verbs are Weak Verbs Linking verbs do not show action Is Are Was Were Be Being been

5. Weak Verb Example Mary is happy. – Is exists as a weak verb. – Is does not create a clear picture for the reader. Possible Strong Verb Rewrites: Happiness surrounds Mary. Mary glowed with happiness.

6. Strong Verbs Strong verbs create a clear image – Julio hurled the javalin. Hurled conveys an image of strength. – Fear consumed Jennifer. Consumed suggests that Jennifer can’t escape the fear. – The fox howled in pain. Howled suggests the fox is in great pain.

7. Using Strong Verbs First, identify weak verbs. Second, ask the weak verb “How?” – Example: Teresa walked to the store. Ask: How did Teresa walk? Third, rewrite the sentence with a strong verb – Possible Rewrites: Teresa ambled to the store. Teresa skipped to the store. Teresa limped to the store.