Paint with Action Verb

Brush Strokes

Brush Stroke: Action Verbs

Action Verbs are like engines. They move noun images into action as in these examples: The car screeched. The dog howled.The eagle soared.Notice how the action verb in each sentence brings the noun to life. Car is a stationary noun, a still photograph. “The car screeches” creates a motion picture.

Being Verbs are forms of the verb to be: is, was, were, are, am, and others. These are often used in definitions of nouns as in “He is a policeman.” Also, they can link an adjective to the noun as in “The policeman is tall.” Notice, that being verbs create still images– photographs instead of films. Sometimes being verbs are necessary, but skilled writers use far more action verbs than being verbs. Here is why:

Picture the following image in your mind:

The cold wind was along the back side of the tent.

This image is like a still photograph. Being verbs– is, was, were, are, am, and other forms of the verb be--- freeze the image. Now, watch what happens when an action verb is used.

The cold wind whipped along the back side of the tent.

The image literally moves in your mind like a motion picture. This is the difference between being verbs and action verbs. When you revise your writing, try to use action verbs seventy to eighty percent of the time.

View the following video clip and make a list of as many action verbs as you can think of based on the video clip. Then, create a sentence using several action verbs.

Marching Band: Ohio State Pays tribute to Michael Jackson

The glinting surface suddenly made a noise, splitting along a crack. Out of it came a long, writhing tentacle of mist that went toward the boy. The vapors were near his chin, and were around his ear, then came a back. All at once, the Mirror was completely flat. Our reflections, clearer than before but more deeply shadowed, were in front of us. At the same time, the sound of a distant chime came out of the depths, rising from somewhere far beneath the surface.

The glinting surface suddenly ___________________, splitting along a crack. Out of it _______________ a long, writhing tentacle of mist that ___________ toward the boy. The vapors ___________ near his chin, and ____________________ around his ear, then came a back. All at once, the Mirror __________________ completely flat. Our reflections, clearer than before but more deeply shadowed, ________________ in front of us. At the same time, the sound of a distant chime __________________ out of the depths, rising from somewhere far beneath the surface.

Directions: Many of the original verbs in the paragraph have been replaced with weaker ones. Your task will be to replace as many of the weak boldfaced verbs (or phrases) as you can with action verbs.

Day 2

View the following video clip and make a list of as many action verbs as you can think of based on the video clip. Then, create a sentence using several action verbs.

Thor vs. Frost Giants

View the following video clip and make a list of as many action verbs as you can think of based on the video clip. Then, create a sentence using several action verbs.

Children Debating about the Weather