Using Vivid Verbs
Paragraph #1
Underline the verbs and identify whether they convey Claire’s physical or mental action or whether they act as a connecting verb.
Claire walked down the crowded hallway on this first day of school. She looked quickly to her left, and then to her right. Then, she walked out and joined the throng of students. Was anyone watching her? Although she wanted to look around, she kept looking straight ahead. However, it seemed that none of her classmates looked at her as they walked quickly to their classes.
Now, rewrite the paragraph, replacing the bland verbs with vivid verbs.
Claire ______down the crowded hallway on this first day of school. She ______quickly to her left, and then to her right. Then, she ______out and ______the throng of students. Was anyone ______her? Although she ______to ______, she ______straight ahead. However, it ______that none of her classmates ______at her as they ______to their classes.
Paragraph #2
Underline the verbs and identify whether they convey a physical or mental action or whether they act as a connecting verb.
Spring had come to western Pennsylvania unannounced. The oaks and the maples were very colorful and even the sedate elms were changing the boring line of the rundown farmhouses and barns by showing their colors. Full of the optimism that spring brings, Joe Freeman, jobless and broke, walked down the streets of his hometown smelling the scented air of the morning. Today was a perfect day to open the door of opportunity.
Now, rewrite the paragraph, replacing the bland verbs with vivid verbs.
Spring had ______into western Pennsylvania unannounced. The oaks and the maples were ______with color and even the sedate elms were ______the boring line of the rundown farmhouses and barns by ______their colors. Full of the optimism that spring brings, Joe Freeman, jobless and broke, ______down the streets of his hometown ______the scented air of the morning. Today was a perfect day to ______the door of opportunity.
Paragraph #3
Underline the verbs and identify whether they convey a physical or mental action or whether they act as a connecting verb.
Images of the Moon show enormous craters across its landscape whose jagged walls stick out against the horizon. Millions of years’ worth of debris falling on the satellite has changed its surface. However, has the landscape only been changed by falling debris? The flat, broad plains may be from lava flowing form ancient volcanoes. Volcanoes indicate an active subsurface, yet today, scientists see a quiet subsurface underneath a dead landscape. How and why was the Moon changed? Scientists are looking for the explanation to this mystery and perhaps help Earth from having the same fate.
Now, rewrite the paragraph, replacing the bland verbs with vivid verbs.
Images of the Moon ______enormous craters______across its landscape whose jagged walls ______against the horizon. Millions of years’ worth of debris ______the satellite has ______its surface. However, has the landscape only been changed by ______debris? The flat, broad plains ______lava flowing form ancient volcanoes. Volcanoes ______an active subsurface, yet today, scientists ______a quiet subsurface underneath a dead landscape. How and why was the Moon ______? Scientists are ______for the explanation to this mystery and perhaps ______Earth from ______the same fate.
Using Vivid Verbs
Use the vivid verbs listed below to rewrite the following sentences, which use weak, general verbs.
Proclaimed revealed craved debated constructed
Gawking hustled devour contemplated eavesdropping
1. The bank robber showed us his place for hiding the stolen money.
2. The crew made the building in less than six months.
3. I thought about joining the circus as I walked around under the big top.
4. Unaware that Marty was listening to them, Grace and Ann talked about the surprise party they were planning for him.
5. In the summertime, I eat apples by the dozen.
6. I rushed about the house as I tried to prepare for the party.
7. The boys spent all day looking at the cute girls.
8. The politicians spent hours talking about what was the proper course of action.
9. Jim wanted an ice cream bar all day.
10. The art exhibit showed the Picasso was the greatest artist of that era.