Transcript Paint with Action Verb Brush Strokes

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.
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.
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.
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
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.
 Children
Debating about the
Weather