Transcript Verb tense and verb choice

Verb tense and verb choice
Taking our writing to the next level…
Use past tense to:
“express an action or a condition that occurred
at a specific, definite time in the past, as when
discussing another researcher’s work” (APA,
2010, p. 78).
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Copeland and Keefe collaborated on several
important works in the area of literacy
development among individuals with intellectual
disability and severe disabilities (Copeland &
Keefe, 2007; Copeland & Keefe, 2017;
Copeland, Keefe & de Valenzuela, 2014).
Use present perfect to:
“express a past action or condition that did not occur at
a specific, definite time or to describe an action
beginning in the past and continuing to the present”
(APA 2010, p. 78).
 Copeland has researched the literacy development
of individuals with intellectual disability and severe
disabilities (e.g., Copeland, Keefe, Calhoon, Tanner, &
Park, 2011; Copeland, McCord, & Kruger, 2016).
 Researchers have examined… (Abe, 2013; Baca &
Cecil, 2000; Duncan, 2015).
Find the errors!
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Pair up.
Read through the handout provided and find all of
the errors in verb tense.
Circle them and write the verb that should have
been used.
Verb Choice
Do not use the same verb in successive
sentences – rock it up!
 Check carefully to see if the verb you use is
exactly the one you want. For example, is it
really correct to write that the author “says”
when it is a written text?
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Whole Group Practice
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Let’s try to find some different verbs:
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Gomez (2011) wrote that…
Allison and Parker (2000) found…
Chavez (2016) said…
The results of this study proved…
Research shows that…
Mad Libs
Pair up.
 Using the two-page handout with lists of
different verbs, try to pick words to fill in the
blanks on the four page handout that are
precise and specific. Try to use a different verb
every time.
 When you are done, ask for a copy of the
original text and compare it with your choices.
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