The go to tool of any writer is a great verb. Students often overload their writing with adjectives and adverbs and neglect to think about using a better verb.
2. What are ‘action verbs’
Verbs are the way a writer creates motion picture imagery rather than still images. Choosing the right verb
can make a big difference to the quality of writing.
The term 'action verbs' refers to verbs that convey action as opposed to passive voice being verbs (is, was,
were).
3. Action verbs
Now visualize the following sentence:
The gravel road curled around the left side of the barn.
Can you see the difference? The verb was creates a still
photograph. The verb curled creates a motion picture.
Try this experiment. Close your eyes and visualize this sentence:
The gravel road was on the left side of the barn.
The verb ‘was’ is a weak verb. Where possible, we use avoid passive verb of is, was, were.
4. Action verbs
Look at our model sentence below. Let's identify the verb and think about why this is a great verb.
Model sentence:
He gazed at the noisy guest clustered about the tables before him.
The verb in this sentence is gazed. You may wish to get students to think about what weaker verbs could have been used and
demonstrate the impact of the sentence. For example, substitute looked for gazed.
He looked at the noisy guest clustered about the tables
5. Guided
Verbs are powerful tools in writing. We really want to use powerful verbs to bring our images to life. When reviewing your
writing, one of the things to consider is the choice of verb.
The following sentences are modified from the story ‘Buried’ from The School Magazine. Let’s think about how we can improve
the sentence by using better verbs. Replace the bolded word with a better verb.
Sentences
1. The afternoon sun went behind the mountain.
2. As each chairlift came to a halt, its duties done for another day, the mountain quietened.
3. The rumble of the snowmobile was heard off the ridge as we approached the avalanche site.
Share your choices with the class, then compare with the choices the author made.
6. Guided: Author choices
Verbs are powerful tools in writing. We really want to use powerful verbs to bring our images to life. When reviewing your
writing, one of the things to consider is the choice of verb.
Here are the authors verbs from the previous slide:
Sentences
1. The afternoon sun dipped behind the mountain. (instead of went)
2. As each chairlift ground to a halt, its duties done for another day, the mountain quietened. (instead of came)
3. The rumble of the snowmobile echoed off the ridge as we approached the avalanche site. (instead of was heard)
7. Your task
Examine the sentences below
Read the sentences and then choose which sentence is better. Explain your reasoning.
A. He moved across a dozen metres of open space, and expertly grabbed at a sturdy branch in Mellie’s gum tree. He
sped through the foliage until he was nearing her; then he sat on a slender branch, his lengthy toes gripping the wood
firmly.
B. He arced across a dozen metres of open space, and expertly grabbed at a sturdy branch in Mellie’s gum tree. He
danced through the foliage until he was nearing her; then he perched on a slender branch, his lengthy toes gripping the
wood firmly.
8. Examples
Your task
Here are some sentences with some excellent verbs. Identify the verbs in the sentences
A. He arced across a dozen metres of open space, and expertly grabbed at a sturdy branch in Mellie’s gum tree. He
danced through the foliage until he was nearing her; then he perched on a slender branch, his lengthy toes gripping the
wood firmly.
B. Colvin and Mellie scampered down the gum tree without hesitation.
C. As Colvin watched, one of the trees edging the rainforest trembled
D. I let out a terrified howl, scrambled to my feed and lurched away from his boney, outstretched hand.
9. Examples
Answers
Here are some sentences with some excellent verbs. Identify the verbs in the sentence
A. He arced across a dozen metres of open space, and expertly grabbed at a sturdy branch in Mellie’s gum tree. He
danced through the foliage until he was nearing her; then he perched on a slender branch, his lengthy toes gripping the
wood firmly.
B. Colvin and Mellie scampered down the gum tree without hesitation.
C. As Colvin watched, one of the trees edging the rainforest trembled.
D. I let out a terrified howl, scrambled to my feed and lurched away from his boney, outstretched hand.
