Strong Verbs

Strong Verbs in Stargirl

Verbs are words that describe the action in a sentence. Some verbs are said to be stronger than others, and these are the ones that tend to make your writing more effective. 

Here’s how it works: take a verb like drop and another verb with a similar meaning like plummet. Now, compare these two sentences: 

 

• (1) I watched the stick drop into the river.

• (2) I watched the stick plummet into the river. 

Drop vs Plummet

In the first sentence, you learn that the stick dropped, but in the second sentence, you also learn how the stick dropped. The word plummet means “to drop sharply and abruptly”. When I say plummet, I get all the meaning of the verb drop, plus the additional meaning that explains how the stick dropped as well. That is what makes it stronger! Strong verbs SHOW, not just TELL!

Multiple Choice

Identify the strong verb in the sentence: But Kevin was screaming on the phone.

• was

• screaming

• but

• phone

Multiple Choice

Identify the strong verbs in the sentence: I jumped in the family pickup and raced to the stadium.

• pickup and raced

• family and stadium

• jumped and raced

Multiple Choice

Identify the strong verbs in the sentence: I bolted from the truck.

• bolted

• from

• truck

Multiple Choice

Identify the strong verbs in the sentence: Kevin was at the gate, windmilling his arm: “Hurry!”

• was and windmilling

• windmilling and hurry

• gate and arm

Multiple Choice

Identify the strong verbs in the sentence: I threw the two-dollar admission at the ticket window and we raced for the field.

• field and window

• admission and ticket

• threw and raced