USING STRONG VERBS

Verbs are the engine, the heart, the drivers of sentences. Choosing strong verbs is one way to bring your writing to life.

Choose Specific Verbs

It’s very easy to write sentences in English using some variation of TO BE, TO DO, and TO HAVE. These all-purpose verbs convey little to your reader and can produce boring sentences. Substitute more specific and interesting verbs to give your sentences vitality and sparkle!

NOT THIS BUT THIS

She is a frequent skydiver. She skydives frequently.

He does the shopping after work. He shops after work.

She has a nice jewelry collection. She collects all kinds of jewelry.

Choose Active Over Passive Voice

Active voice uses clear verbs and focuses attention on the one doing the action, rather than the person or thing that the action is done to. Using active voice makes for more direct sentences and less confusion for the reader.

NOT THIS (PASSIVE) BUT THIS (ACTIVE!)

The pie was baked by Norman. Norman baked the pie.

Mistakes were made. I made mistakes.

Different answers were discussed. Our group discussed the different answers.

Tuition was raised by the legislature. The legislature raised tuition.

Choose Simple Verb Tenses Over Progressive

The progressive tense – made by combining the verb to be with an “ing” infinitive -- is used to indicate an ongoing situation. For example

Present Progressive I’m watching tv.

Past Progressive He was sulking in his office.

Future Progressive Milly will be working on her homework.

This can be useful at times, but usually the simple past, present, or future is more clear and effective. Using the progressive tense ads an extra word and slows the pace of a sentence. To make this change, eliminate the “to be” stem, and change the form of the infinitive “ing” word to the correct verb tense.

NOT THIS BUT THIS

He was moping and eating ice cream all evening. He moped and ate ice cream all evening.

This ad is showing us that it’s cool to be sulky. This ad shows us that it’s cool to be sulky.

They will be complaining and weeping. They will complain and weep.


SOME USEFUL ACTIVE VERBS

Strong, ACTIVE verbs empower your writing, engage your readers, and convey your ideas effectively. Here are some ideas for strong verbs. Make sure you know the meaning of a word before you use it. If you are not certain of a word’s meaning, look it up before using.

Verbs For Writing About Texts

argue
articulate
assert
bewail
create
demonstrate
deny
diminish
define
depict
establish
exaggerate
focus
fill in / find
imply
insist
limit
manipulate (facts or data)
negotiate
outline
offer
prove
present
predict
preach
respond
reply / remind
reveal
sell
show
silence (critics or dissent)
transfer
trick (the reader)
understand
unravel
verbalize
withdraw (an argument)
withstand (an opponent)
wish

Verbs For Writing About Learning, Development, and Personal Growth

ally with
assert
argue
articulate
aspire
become aware of
begin
benefit
commit (to something)
conquer
conceptualize
create
change
clarify
connect
craft
deepen
demand
design / desire
develop
discover
dig in
empower
energize
enjoy
establish
find
flourish
grow
generate
integrate (ideas or concepts)
learn
love
notice
outline
organize
plan
prove / realize
rediscover
renew
reveal
revisit
strategize
succeed
surrender
transform
take responsibility
think
understand
verify
value
wish
wake up to
want
wonder
work with