Using Vivid Verbs
Paragraph #1
Underline the verbs and identify whether they convey Claire’s physical or mental action or
whether they act as a connecting verb.
Claire walked down the crowded hallway on this first day of school. She looked quickly to her
left, and then to her right. Then, she walked out and joined the throng of students. Was
anyone watching her? Although she wanted to look around, she kept looking straight ahead.
However, it seemed that none of her classmates looked at her as they walked quickly to their
classes.
Now, rewrite the paragraph, replacing the bland verbs with vivid verbs.
Claire _________ down the crowded hallway on this first day of school. She _________ quickly
to her left, and then to her right. Then, she _________ out and _________ the throng of
students. Was anyone _________ her? Although she _________ to _________, she
_________ straight ahead. However, it _________ that none of her classmates _________ at
her as they _________ to their classes.
Paragraph #2
Underline the verbs and identify whether they convey a physical or mental action or whether
they act as a connecting verb.
Spring had come to western Pennsylvania unannounced. The oaks and the maples were very
colorful and even the sedate elms were changing the boring line of the rundown farmhouses
and barns by showing their colors. Full of the optimism that spring brings, Joe Freeman, jobless
and broke, walked down the streets of his hometown smelling the scented air of the morning.
Today was a perfect day to open the door of opportunity.
Now, rewrite the paragraph, replacing the bland verbs with vivid verbs.
Spring had _________ into western Pennsylvania unannounced. The oaks and the maples were
_________ with color and even the sedate elms were _________the boring line of the rundown
farmhouses and barns by _________their colors. Full of the optimism that spring brings, Joe
Freeman, jobless and broke, _________down the streets of his hometown _________the
scented air of the morning. Today was a perfect day to _________the door of opportunity.
Paragraph #3
Underline the verbs and identify whether they convey a physical or mental action or whether
they act as a connecting verb.
Images of the Moon show enormous craters across its landscape whose jagged walls stick out
against the horizon. Millions of years’ worth of debris falling on the satellite has changed its
surface. However, has the landscape only been changed by falling debris? The flat, broad
plains may be from lava flowing form ancient volcanoes. Volcanoes indicate an active
subsurface, yet today, scientists see a quiet subsurface underneath a dead landscape. How and
why was the Moon changed? Scientists are looking for the explanation to this mystery and
perhaps help Earth from having the same fate.
Now, rewrite the paragraph, replacing the bland verbs with vivid verbs.
Images of the Moon _________ enormous craters_________ across its landscape whose jagged
walls _________against the horizon. Millions of years’ worth of debris _________the satellite
has _________ its surface. However, has the landscape only been changed by
_________debris? The flat, broad plains _________lava flowing form ancient volcanoes.
Volcanoes _________ an active subsurface, yet today, scientists _________ a quiet subsurface
underneath a dead landscape. How and why was the Moon _________? Scientists are
_________ for the explanation to this mystery and perhaps _________ Earth from _________
the same fate.
Using Vivid Verbs
Use the vivid verbs listed below to rewrite the following sentences, which use weak, general
verbs.
Proclaimed
revealed
craved
debated
Gawking
hustled
devour
contemplated
constructed
eavesdropping
1. The bank robber showed us his place for hiding the stolen money.
2. The crew made the building in less than six months.
3. I thought about joining the circus as I walked around under the big top.
4. Unaware that Marty was listening to them, Grace and Ann talked about the surprise
party they were planning for him.
5. In the summertime, I eat apples by the dozen.
6. I rushed about the house as I tried to prepare for the party.
7. The boys spent all day looking at the cute girls.
8. The politicians spent hours talking about what was the proper course of action.
9. Jim wanted an ice cream bar all day.
10. The art exhibit showed the Picasso was the greatest artist of that era.