Using Strong Verbs
Worksheet 1 explains what a strong verb is, with examples of recasting sentences with weak verbs into sentences with strong verbs. Exercises in both worksheets give students the opportunity of writing complete sentences by using strong verbs rather than weak ones. If you would like the suggested answers and teaching tips, please see below.
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| Worksheet 1, Using Strong Verbs, 12 Exercises |
| Worksheet 2, Using Strong Verbs, 17 Exercises |
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The Problem
Some of our writing becomes weak when we use verbs like "to be" and "to have." These verbs add little to our prose; instead, they inflate our writing and make us sound verbose. Add power to your writing by using strong verbs. The sentence, "The bridegroom walked proudly across the dance floor" sounds so much more compelling if you write, "The bridegroom strutted across the dance floor." In this case we converted a weak verb + adverb combination (walked proudly) to a strong verb (strutted). Although weak verbs serve a useful role as helpers, to improve your writing style, let the majority of your verbs express strength.
Recasting Sentences with Weak Verbs Into Sentences with Strong Verbs
Although readers may not notice the problem because there is nothing grammatically wrong with the sentences, weak verbs still affect how they perceive your writing. Examine the following sentences:
- Weaker: The cabinet minister is careful to visit only organizations that have a socially-conscious agenda.
- Stronger: The cabinet minister visits only organizations with a socially-conscious agenda.
Are the sentences identical? No, but the subtle difference in the care with which the minister selects organizations to visit may not warrant the extra four words and the weak "is careful" construction. Unless you mean to emphasize this care, the second sentence conveys the message more strongly than the first. The second sentence is also shorter by four words. Shorter is usually better. Length matters sometimes, but sometimes it doesn't.
- Weaker: Marjorie is always early to class.
- Stronger: Marjorie always arrives early to class.
These two sentences use the same number of words, six. However, note how the verb in the second sentence, "arrives," sounds more vigorous, describes the act of arriving early, more strongly than the verb in the first, "is," which merely describes a state of being.
Beware of the verbs "to be" and "to have." Any time you use one of these verbs (Be, Is, Are, Was, Been, Being, Were, Has, Have, Having, Had) ask yourself if the sentence should be rewritten.
To rewrite sentences using strong verbs:
- Underline any use of Be, Is, Are, Was, Been, Being, Were, Has, Have, Having, Had.
John is the manager of the produce department.
-
Look for a noun or adjective that you can convert to a strong verb.
John is the manager of the produce department. ("manager," noun -- predicate nominative)
- Rewrite the sentence using that strong verb.
John manages the produce department.
Always use good grammar in English when you write, but do not neglect using strong verbs for strong writing and a more robust writing style.
Links for Using Strong Verbs in Your Writing
These links will give you additional hints for recasting sentences with weak verbs into sentences with strong verbs. Some links provide lists of strong verbs. They are quite useful.
- Writing Center, University of Houston, Clear Lake
The strength of this page is that it is short, with a few examples, and that it includes a list of strong verbs. If you like lists, start here.
- Bright Hub! Lesson Plan
Trent Lorcher provides a short, accurate definition of strong verbs. He offers examples and procedures for revising essays to include strong verbs.
- The Cain Project, Rice University
Dr. Janice L. Hewitt provides a comprehensive list of what she calls "active, precise verbs" for graduate students in science and engineering at Rice University. High school students and freshmen will find this list extremely useful.
- Molly Clare Wilson's "Strong Verbs for History Essays"
Molly Clare Wilson offers a list of strong, vigorous verbs that she compiled for students to use in history essays. The verbs adapt quite well to most English classes.
- UNCG, Weak vs. Strong Verbs
This PDF file offers recommendations for taking weak verb constructions and turning them into strong verbs.
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