Show Don’t TellShow Don’t Tell

Verb UsageVerb Usage

Rules for Writing Real GoodRules for Writing Real GoodLinking verbLinking verb– PassivePassive– Connect the Connect the subjectsubject of the of the verbverb to additional to additional

information about the subject (see pg. 11)information about the subject (see pg. 11)

Helping verbHelping verb– PassivePassive– help the main verb in a sentence by extending help the main verb in a sentence by extending

the meaning of the verb the meaning of the verb

Action verbAction verb– Active!Active!– Show that the Show that the subjectsubject is is doingdoing something, not something, not

just existing. just existing.

Keila is a shopaholic.

Ising isn't something that Keila can do. Is connects the subject, Keila, to additional information about her, that she will soon have a huge credit card bill to pay.

We are running in a race.

What is the helping verb here?Notice that many helping verbs can also be linking verbs…

Jackie ran a race last weekend

What is the action verb here?Notice that action verbs help you be more concise

Quadrant 1

Define linking, action and helping verbs in your own words

Action verbs SHOW rather than Action verbs SHOW rather than TELL. TELL.

The man is a monster.The man is a monster.

Does this show or tell? Does this show or tell? – Not very vivid…in fact it’s dull. Not very vivid…in fact it’s dull. – So…change it to So…change it to actionaction to to show show he is a he is a

monster. monster.

The man ripped off the sheep’s head and ate the eyeballs with a sickening squishy crunch.

Quadrant 2

How is this more effective?

Be precise; use words that convey Be precise; use words that convey a better sense of the actiona better sense of the action

(a)  The goalie crouched low, swept out his stick, and hooked the rebound away from the net.

(b)  The goalie crouched low, reached out his stick, and sent the rebound away from the net.

Be Specific: Concrete language Be Specific: Concrete language is always better than abstractis always better than abstract

a)  The senator spoke about the challenges of the future: problems of famine, global warming, and arms control.

(b)  The senator spoke about the challenges of the future: problems concerning the environment and global peace.

Use definite, specific and Use definite, specific and concrete languageconcrete language

(a)  In proportion as men delight in battles, bullfights, and combats of gladiators, will they punish by hanging, burning, and the rack.

(b)  In proportion as the manners, customs, and amusements of a nation are cruel and barbarous, the regulations of the penal code will be severe.

The Holy Matrimony of Verbs & The Holy Matrimony of Verbs & SubjectsSubjects

Strongest verbs SHOW rather Strongest verbs SHOW rather than_______. than_______.

Subjects are _____ and ________ Subjects are _____ and ________ that PERFORM the action of the that PERFORM the action of the verbverb

Subject (Noun/Pronoun) & Verb Subject (Noun/Pronoun) & Verb AgreementAgreement

A SUBJECT is either ________ (one) or A SUBJECT is either ________ (one) or ______ (many) ______ (many)

The VERB must always AGREE The VERB must always AGREE (change form to match) with the (change form to match) with the SUBJECTSUBJECT

SINGLE subject = ________ verb; SINGLE subject = ________ verb; PLURAL subject = ________ verbPLURAL subject = ________ verb

REGULAR VERBSREGULAR VERBSHINT: ‘s’ is added to 3rd person singular. Most regular verbs work this way

Singular Plural

First Person I like bananas. We like bananas.

Second Person You like bananas.

Third Person He/she/it likes bananas. They like bananas.

Jessie is/are pretty.

The Goatherds yodel/yodels loudly.

The boy love/loves the girl.

Irregular VerbsIrregular Verbs

Infinitive formSingular Plural

To do I do. He/she/it does.

To have I have. He/she/it has.

To go I go. He/she/it goes.

To be I am. He/she/it is.

Collective NounsCollective NounsNouns that SEEM like they are plural, but Nouns that SEEM like they are plural, but they are in a they are in a groupgroup and that and that groupgroup acts as acts as one UNIT. one UNIT. – A swarm of bees = 1 swarm, containing many A swarm of bees = 1 swarm, containing many

bees (The swarm attacks my friend. [not bees (The swarm attacks my friend. [not attack])attack])

– A pack of cards = 1 pack, containing many A pack of cards = 1 pack, containing many cards (The pack of cards sits on the chair. [not cards (The pack of cards sits on the chair. [not sit])sit])

– A family of 5 = 1 family, containing multiple A family of 5 = 1 family, containing multiple members (The family goes on vacation. [not members (The family goes on vacation. [not go])go])

Compound SubjectsCompound SubjectsSUBJECTS joined by OR or NOR then the SUBJECTS joined by OR or NOR then the verb takes the form of the CLOSEST verb takes the form of the CLOSEST subjectsubject– Either the actors or Either the actors or the directorthe director is at fault. is at fault.– Either the director or Either the director or the actorsthe actors are at fault. are at fault.SUBJECT is MORE THAN ONE thing/person SUBJECT is MORE THAN ONE thing/person (Joined by AND)(Joined by AND)– My colleague and manager were promoted. My colleague and manager were promoted.

(THEY were promoted)(THEY were promoted)– Rupert and Jane are football fans, but Colin Rupert and Jane are football fans, but Colin

prefers shopping. (They are football fans, but prefers shopping. (They are football fans, but he prefers shopping) he prefers shopping)

Active Voice = A+Active Voice = A+Active voice: When the subject Active voice: When the subject performs the actionperforms the actionPassive voice: When the action is Passive voice: When the action is performed on the subject. In other performed on the subject. In other words, you’ve made the object into words, you’ve made the object into the subject. the subject. – Weak: The truckWeak: The truck was loaded with was loaded with

crates of bananas by the workers. crates of bananas by the workers. – Better: Better: The workers loaded the truck The workers loaded the truck

with crates of bananas.with crates of bananas.

Q3 Practice Active/Passive voiceQ3 Practice Active/Passive voice

1. The police officer arrested the man. 1. The police officer arrested the man. 2. The family took a vacation last year. 2. The family took a vacation last year. 3. The ten year old girl adopted the dog. 3. The ten year old girl adopted the dog. 4. The jubilant dog caught the frisbee. 4. The jubilant dog caught the frisbee. 5. The fifty year old man won the lottery. 5. The fifty year old man won the lottery. 6. Landon Donovan kicked the soccer ball. 6. Landon Donovan kicked the soccer ball. 7. The student wrote the research paper. 7. The student wrote the research paper. 8. The errant assassin killed the man. 8. The errant assassin killed the man. 9. The turtle beat the hare in a race. 9. The turtle beat the hare in a race. 10. The princess slept on the pea. 10. The princess slept on the pea.

1. The man was arrested by the police officer. 2. A vacation was taken by the family last year. 3. The dog was adopted by the ten year old girl. 4. The Frisbee was caught by the jubilant dog. 5. The lottery was one by the fifty year old man. 6. The soccer ball was kicked by Landon

Donovan. 7. The research paper was written by the

student. 8. The man was killed by the errant assassin. 9. The hare was beaten by the turtle in a race. 10. The pea was slept on by the princess.

Passive voice is NOT Passive voice is NOT Grammatically incorrect!Grammatically incorrect!

It’s a It’s a stylestyle issue. Active voice issue. Active voice makes the writing more concise makes the writing more concise and thus more enjoyable for the and thus more enjoyable for the

reader. reader.

Practice Time!Practice Time!

Flip to page 12 and complete the Flip to page 12 and complete the practices on this page. practices on this page.

ReviewReview

Parallelism, subject/verb agree and Parallelism, subject/verb agree and passive voicepassive voice

Write the grammatically correct Write the grammatically correct sentence in quadrant 4sentence in quadrant 4

The ball were thrown, kicked and The ball were thrown, kicked and carrying by the kid. carrying by the kid.