The problem is that the verb “to be” rarely has strong synonyms. These writers feel that by using other words instead of ask the writer is adding their own comments to the dialogue. Tell us in the comments! Writers commonly use "be" verbs, also known as "being verbs," "to be verbs" and "linking verbs," to convey meaning in essays. Impotent: The man was walking on the platform. Odds are it features a snooze-inducing verb. Of course not. little sense, Jeer, or to make rude and [Note how I replaced the state-of-being verbs in this paragraph.]. Want to download a copy of this strong verbs list to reference whenever you write? It is really interesting this article. In writing, active voice almost always trumps passive voice. (or fret impatiently), Decipher, or to convert into The concept of immortality is intriguing to me. I had taught my students to eliminate weak verb/adverb combinations and to use strong action verbs instead; furthermore, I taught them how to trade weak verbs for strong verbs. It is made up of the verbs am, is, are, was, and were, and these are be-ing verbs. Powerful: The man strode along the platform. https://www.theclassroom.com/replace-be-verbs-essays-3666.html deep, loud roar, typically in anger, Cajole, or to persuade someone Replace a to be verb + an -ing word with a simple verb: Weak & Wordy Strong & Specific The stock market was fluctuating wildly before the crash. This paper discusses the Civil War. The linking verb in the first sentence, however, cannot be eliminated because the sentence would not make sense without the "were." All Rights Reserved. groaned (verb) to utter a deep, mournful sound expressive of pain or grief. April 23, 2015 That’s not to say there’s no place for adjectives. After reading 2300 papers that averaged 34 to be verbs each, I wanted to suck out my brain with the plunger I found lying in the custodial closet. These words demonstrate the skills you have used in previous jobs to achieve success. “was” and “were” are B-O-R-I-N-G, boring. He heads to bed, disappointed, despite having finished his to do list. Something simple I learned from The Elements of Style years ago changed the way I write and added verve to my prose. Until they don't. You want Make your prose to be your own creation, not yours plus Roget or Webster or Jenkins. There are many reasons for the discrepancy. At the end of this post I suggest a list of 249 vivid verbs you can experiment with to replace tired ones. "Be" verbs often occur when writers use passive voice, a grammatical structure in which the subject is acted upon by the object, such as in the sentence, "The bill was passed by the committee." They don’t give any meaning but they are used to describe a subject. Seconds before engulfing my face with rubberized fecal matter, my colleague down the hall recommended I teach students how to eliminate to be verbs. I felt good…until I read their next set of essays. Is the word 'very' really the most useless word in the English language? 180-82). Another word for replace. There are a few words and phrases you should leave off your resume because they don’t add any new or differentiating information. These (and others) can be acceptably used in academic texts. The point is that good writing is more about well-chosen nouns and strong verbs than it is about adjectives and adverbs, regardless what you were told as a kid. The words in the linking verbs list are words that connect the subject of a … Your first hint is your own discomfort with a sentence. Teaching Students How to Combine Sentences and Improve their Writing, Lesson Plan: Eliminate Weak Verb-Adverb Combinations, Lesson Plan: Active Voice vs. It just links the subject and the subject complement.