WHY START BY IMPROVING YOUR PROSE?
Because crisp prose makes reading a breeze. It draws readers in, making them forget the world around them, sinking them deep into the story you’ve spun. That’s how fans are born.
Imagine your writing as a river. If it’s clear and flows smoothly, readers will effortlessly drift along, catching every nuance, every emotion. But if there are hurdles, they’ll struggle, and that connection might be lost.
Does stellar prose guarantee a bestseller? Not necessarily. And neither does the opposite. Take Brandon Sanderson, for instance—his prose is straightforward, yet he’s a sensation. But let’s be real, great prose? It’s always a feather in your cap.
Excellent prose creates vivid imagery, letting your story unfold in the reader’s mind. It elevates ordinary writing, turning simple words into a captivating symphony.
LESSON 1: Beginning Prose – Verbs
Let’s be honest, if you were like me, then you probably spent English class daydreaming or doodling and missed some of the basics. But that’s ok, why? Because we’re diving right back in from the very beginning and learning it all over from scratch. So, let’s begin!
What is a verb?
A verb is traditionally defined as a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence. It’s the catalyst in a sentence, driving forward the action or conveying a situation or fact. Verbs are often considered the engine of expression, animating the narrative and interacting with other elements of the sentence to create a vivid mental picture.
Imagine a verb as the heartbeat of a sentence. It’s what gives life to the words, helping us understand what’s happening. When we say verbs are about action, we mean they tell us what someone or something is doing. For example, in “Maria dances,” the verb “dances” shows Maria’s action. But verbs aren’t just about physical action. They can also tell us about conditions or states of being. In the sentence “Carlos is happy,” the verb “is” helps us understand Carlos’s state of happiness. Sometimes, verbs help describe changes or events. For instance, in “The weather turned chilly,” the verb “turned” tells us about a change in the weather.
Now, spotting a verb in a sentence is like finding the moving part that makes the sentence come alive. Look for what’s happening, or the state being described, and you’ll find the verb. Whether someone is doing something, being a certain way, or a change is occurring, the verb is your key to unlocking the meaning. Through the lens of verbs, sentences become vibrant stories, each with its own rhythm and pulse. Here are several different types of verbs to look out for.
Action Verbs
Verbs are the backbone of sentences. They give life to the words around them by indicating action, state, or occurrence. Among the various types of verbs, action verbs are perhaps the most straightforward. As the name suggests, action verbs denote actions. These actions can be something you can physically do or a mental process.
Imagine a sentence without a verb; it would be like a car without an engine. Action verbs are the engine that drives the sentence forward. They can represent physical actions like “jump,” “write,” or “sing.” But not all actions are physical. Our minds are always buzzing with activity, and action verbs can also represent these mental actions. Words like “think,” “dream,” and “wish” are all action verbs that describe mental processes.
In essence, action verbs are the words in a sentence that tell us what is happening. They paint a picture of the activity, whether it’s something tangible like “dance” or intangible like “ponder.”
Examples:
She sings beautifully at the concert.
I often dream about traveling the world.
They create stunning artwork for the exhibition.
How to Spot It:
Spotting an action verb in a sentence is like finding the heartbeat of the statement. Ask yourself, “What is the subject doing?” or “What action is taking place?” The answer to these questions is usually the action verb. In the sentence, “He reads a book,” the action is “reads.” It’s what the subject (He) is doing. Look for the word that shows the activity or the process in the sentence, and you’ll have found the action verb.
Linking Verbs
In the world of verbs, not all are about action. Some verbs act as bridges, connecting one part of a sentence to another. These are called linking verbs. Linking verbs don’t denote action; instead, they connect the subject of a sentence to additional information about that subject. Think of them as the equals sign (“=”) in a mathematical equation, showing that one side is equivalent to the other.
For instance, when we say, “The sky is blue,” the word “is” doesn’t indicate any action. Instead, it connects “the sky” (the subject) to its condition or state, which is “blue.” Linking verbs often relate to a state of being, condition, or appearance. They provide more insight into the subject, helping us understand it better. It’s like giving a deeper description or context about the subject without implying any direct action.
While there are several linking verbs in the English language, some of the most common ones include “is,” “are,” “was,” “were,” “seems,” “becomes,” and “feels.” These verbs help in establishing a relationship between the subject and its descriptor, making sentences more informative and complete.
Examples:
The cake smells delicious.
She becomes anxious before exams.
The flowers are beautiful.
How to Spot It:
To identify a linking verb in a sentence, first, locate the subject. Then, see if there’s a verb that connects the subject to a description, condition, or state of being without indicating any action. If you can replace the verb with “equals” or “is equal to” and the sentence still makes sense, you’re likely looking at a linking verb. For example, in “The cat is fluffy,” the word “is” can be thought of as “equals,” making the cat equal to fluffy. This connection without action is the hallmark of a linking verb.
Helping (Auxiliary) Verbs
In the intricate dance of language, some verbs don’t stand alone. Instead, they partner up with other verbs to create a richer, more nuanced meaning. These supportive verbs are aptly named “helping verbs.” Their primary role is to assist the main verb in a sentence, providing additional context regarding tense, mood, or voice. In other words, helping verbs help us understand when an action took place, the nature of the action, or who performed it.
Imagine you’re watching a movie, and the main character is about to embark on a significant action. The background music that builds up the tension, setting the mood and tone, is like the helping verb. It doesn’t take the main action, but it sets the stage for it. For instance, in the sentence “She will sing at the concert,” “will” is the helping verb that tells us the action (sing) is going to happen in the future.
Helping verbs are essential in English because they allow us to convey complex ideas and nuances. Without them, our sentences would lack depth and precision. For example, the difference between “I sing” and “I am singing” is subtle but significant, and it’s the helping verb “am” that provides this distinction.
Examples:
They have traveled to Spain before.
We do not understand the assignment.
She will be attending the seminar.
How to Spot It:
Identifying a helping verb is like recognizing the supporting actor in a movie scene. First, find the main action or verb in the sentence. Then, look for any verbs that precede it and seem to modify or extend its meaning. If you can remove the potential helping verb and the sentence loses a layer of meaning or tense, you’ve likely spotted a helping verb. Remember, helping verbs don’t stand alone; they always accompany a main verb to give it additional context.
Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
Verbs, as we’ve learned, are action words. But not all actions are directed towards something or someone. This distinction brings us to the concepts of transitive and intransitive verbs. These terms might sound a bit technical, but they’re simply ways to describe whether a verb’s action is directed towards an object or not.
Transitive verbs are like arrows that need a target. They require a direct object to complete their meaning. Think of the action as being transferred from the subject to something else. For instance, in the sentence “She reads a book,” the verb “reads” is transitive because the action of reading is directed towards “a book,” which is the direct object. Without the book, the action of reading would be incomplete; we’d be left wondering, “She reads… what?”
On the other hand, intransitive verbs stand alone. They don’t transfer their action to anything; the action begins and ends with the subject. In the sentence “He sleeps,” the verb “sleeps” is intransitive. There’s no direct object because nothing is receiving the action of sleeping. The action is complete in itself without needing an object to clarify or complete its meaning.
Examples:
(Transitive) She plays the piano.
(Intransitive) Birds fly.
(Transitive) He wrote a letter.
How to Spot It:
To determine whether a verb is transitive or intransitive, look for a direct object after the verb. Ask the question “What?” or “Whom?” in relation to the verb. If you can answer that question with a noun in the sentence, then the verb is transitive. For example, “She eats what?” The answer is “cake,” making “eats” a transitive verb. If there’s no answer to the “What?” or “Whom?” question, the verb is intransitive. For instance, “He runs.” Runs what? There’s no answer, so “runs” is intransitive.
Regular and Irregular Verbs
Language is a blend of patterns and exceptions, and verbs are no exception to this rule. When it comes to changing tenses, verbs can be classified into two main categories: regular and irregular. The distinction between these two lies in how they transform to indicate different times of action.
Regular verbs are the predictable ones. They follow a consistent pattern when changing tenses, especially from present to past. Most regular verbs form their past tense by simply adding “-ed” to the base form. For instance, the verb “play” becomes “played” in the past tense. It’s like having a reliable recipe that you follow every time, ensuring consistent results. This predictability makes regular verbs easier to learn and use.
Irregular verbs, on the other hand, are the rebels of the verb world. They don’t adhere to the standard “-ed” pattern when changing tenses. Instead, they undergo unique transformations. For example, the verb “sing” becomes “sang” in the past tense and “sung” in the past participle form. There’s no one-size-fits-all rule for irregular verbs, which can make them a bit challenging to master. But with practice and exposure, they become familiar.
Examples:
(Regular) “talk,” “talked,” “talking.”
(Irregular) “go,” “went,” “going.”
(Irregular) “drink,” “drank,” “drunk.”
How to Spot It:
To determine if a verb is regular or irregular, first, look at its past tense form. If the verb follows the predictable “-ed” pattern, it’s regular. For instance, “jump” becomes “jumped.” If the verb changes in a way that doesn’t fit this pattern, it’s irregular. For example, “write” becomes “wrote.” Over time, as you encounter more verbs and their variations, you’ll develop an intuition for spotting regular and irregular verbs. But initially, it might be helpful to maintain a list or refer to verb tables as a guide.
Verb Tenses
Time is a fundamental concept in our lives, and language has evolved to capture this essence. One of the primary ways we express time in language is through verb tenses. Tenses allow us to pinpoint when an action or state took place, whether it’s something that happened in the past, is happening now, or will happen in the future. In essence, verb tenses are the linguistic tools that help us navigate the timeline of events.
The past tense is like a window into our memories. It describes actions or states that have already occurred. When you recount a story from your childhood or talk about what you did yesterday, you’re using the past tense. It’s a way to travel back in time and revisit moments that are no longer in the present.
The present tense, as the name suggests, captures the here and now. It’s the tense of the current moment, describing actions or states that are ongoing as we speak. Whether you’re talking about your feelings, habits, or general truths, the present tense keeps you anchored in the present moment.
Lastly, the future tense is the realm of possibilities and plans. It’s all about what’s yet to come. Whether you’re making predictions, setting goals, or scheduling events, the future tense helps you look ahead and envision what might be.
Examples:
Past: “She danced at the party last night.”
Present: “Birds sing in the morning.”
Future: “They will travel to Europe next summer.”
How to Spot It:
Identifying verb tenses is about recognizing the time frame of the action or state. For the past tense, look for verbs that indicate completed actions, often ending in “-ed” (though there are irregular verbs to watch out for). For the present tense, verbs typically appear in their base form, though they might change slightly with third-person singular subjects (e.g., “he runs”). The future tense often employs helper words like “will” or “shall” before the main verb. By asking yourself, “Is this action in the past, present, or future?” and observing the verb’s form and any helper words, you can determine its tense.
Mood and Voice
Language is not just about conveying facts; it’s also about expressing feelings, attitudes, and perspectives. When it comes to verbs, two essential features help us achieve this depth of expression: mood and voice. While they might sound abstract, they play a crucial role in shaping the tone and clarity of our sentences.
Mood of a verb refers to the speaker’s attitude toward the action or state they’re describing. The most common mood in English is the indicative mood, which is used to state facts, ask questions, or express opinions. It’s the straightforward, just-the-facts mode of speech. When you say, “The sun rises in the east,” or ask, “Do you like chocolate?”, you’re using the indicative mood. It’s the mood of reality, describing things as they are.
Voice, on the other hand, focuses on the relationship between the subject and the action of the verb. In English, there are two primary voices: active and passive. The active voice is direct, with the subject performing the action: “The chef cooked the meal.” The passive voice flips this around, emphasizing the receiver of the action or the action itself: “The meal was cooked by the chef.” While both voices are grammatically correct, the active voice is often preferred for its clarity and conciseness. However, the passive voice can be useful when the doer of the action is unknown or when the focus is on the action itself.
Examples:
Indicative Mood: “Birds fly in the sky.”
Active Voice: “John wrote the letter.”
Passive Voice: “The letter was written by John.”
How to Spot It:
To identify the mood of a verb, look at the overall tone of the sentence. If it’s stating a fact, opinion, or asking a straightforward question, it’s likely in the indicative mood. For voice, focus on the action and the subject. If the subject is doing the action, it’s in the active voice. If the subject is receiving the action or if the action is emphasized, it’s in the passive voice. Passive constructions often include forms of the verb “to be” (like “was” or “were”) followed by a past participle (like “written” or “cooked”).
Verbals
In the vast landscape of language, verbs are versatile performers. While they’re best known for depicting actions or states, they can also take on other roles, disguising themselves as different parts of speech. When verbs do this, they’re called “verbals.” Think of them as actors taking on different roles in various scenes of a play, showcasing their range and adaptability.
Gerunds are one type of verbal. They are verb forms that end in “-ing” and function as nouns in a sentence. Imagine you love to dance. Instead of just expressing the action of dancing, you might want to talk about the concept or activity of dancing as a whole. That’s where gerunds come in. In the sentence, “Dancing is my passion,” the word “dancing” is a gerund, acting as a noun that represents the activity itself.
Participles are another form of verbals. They can function as adjectives, describing nouns. Participles often come in two flavors: present participles (ending in “-ing”) and past participles (often ending in “-ed,” “-en,” or other forms for irregular verbs). For instance, in the sentence “The shattered window needs repair,” the word “shattered” is a past participle describing the window.
While gerunds and participles are the most common verbals, there’s also a third type called infinitives, which are the base form of a verb often preceded by “to” (like “to run” or “to eat”). They can function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs, but that’s a topic for another day.
Examples:
“Swimming is a great workout.” (Gerund as noun)
“The rising sun painted the sky with colors.” (Participle as adjective)
“She has a painting to finish.” (Infinitive as noun)
How to Spot It:
To identify a verbal, look for verb forms that aren’t acting as the main verb in a sentence. If you see an “-ing” or “-ed” form (or other past tense forms for irregular verbs) that’s describing a noun or representing an activity or concept, you’re likely looking at a verbal. Ask yourself: Is this word derived from a verb but not showing the primary action in the sentence? If the answer is yes, then it’s probably a verbal.
Phrasal Verbs
Language is full of nuances, and sometimes, simple verbs just don’t cut it when we want to convey a specific or more complex action. Enter phrasal verbs, a unique linguistic concoction that adds depth and variety to our expressions. Phrasal verbs are like a special team-up in a superhero movie, where two (or sometimes three) words come together to create a meaning different from their individual definitions.
A phrasal verb is formed by combining a main verb with one or more particles. These particles can be prepositions (like “on,” “in,” or “at”) or adverbs (like “up,” “down,” or “away”). The magic of phrasal verbs lies in their combined meaning, which often differs from the literal sense of the individual words. For instance, “give up” doesn’t mean to “provide something in an upward direction.” Instead, it means to “surrender” or “quit.”
The beauty and challenge of phrasal verbs are that they are idiomatic. Their meanings aren’t always obvious from the words that form them. For example, “take off” can mean “to remove something,” like taking off a jacket. But in another context, it can mean “to depart,” especially when talking about airplanes. This versatility makes phrasal verbs both fascinating and, at times, tricky to master.
Examples:
“She turned down the job offer.” (Meaning: She rejected the job offer.)
“I need to look up this word in the dictionary.” (Meaning: I need to search for this word’s definition.)
“They ran into each other at the mall.” (Meaning: They unexpectedly met each other.)
How to Spot It:
To identify a phrasal verb, look for a verb followed closely by a preposition or adverb that together convey a meaning different from their individual definitions. If you can replace the combination with a single verb that retains the sentence’s overall meaning, you’ve likely spotted a phrasal verb. Additionally, context is crucial. The same phrasal verb can have different meanings in different situations, so always consider the broader sentence and scenario.
Modal Verbs
In the realm of verbs, there are special helpers that add a layer of meaning, indicating the mode or manner of the action. These are called “modal verbs.” While their name might sound formal, you’ve likely encountered and used them countless times in everyday conversations. Modal verbs are like the seasoning in a dish, adding flavor and nuance to the main action.
Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs, meaning they’re used in conjunction with main verbs to express a range of attitudes towards the action or state of the main verb. These attitudes can relate to necessity, possibility, permission, or ability. For instance, if you say, “She can swim,” the modal verb “can” indicates the ability to swim. Similarly, “You must finish your homework” uses the modal verb “must” to express necessity.
What’s unique about modal verbs is that they don’t change their form based on the subject. Unlike regular verbs, which might take on different endings (like “he runs” vs. “they run”), modal verbs remain consistent. They’re also followed directly by the base form of the main verb, without “to.” For example, we say “She should go,” not “She should to go.”
Examples:
“You may enter the room now.” (Permission)
“He might visit us tomorrow.” (Possibility)
“They should apologize for their behavior.” (Necessity)
How to Spot It:
Identifying a modal verb is relatively straightforward. Look for verbs that precede the base form of another verb and express attitudes of necessity, possibility, permission, or ability. They don’t change form based on the subject and don’t use “to” before the main verb. Familiarizing yourself with common modal verbs like “can,” “could,” “will,” “would,” “shall,” “should,” “must,” “might,” and “may” will also make them easier to spot in sentences.
CHATGPT TUTOR
Now for the best part. Let’s turn ChatGPT into your own personal tutor! All you have to do is Copy and paste the text below into ChatGPT and hit “enter”. It will turn the AI into your own personal tutor and quiz you on the material in lesson 1. DO NOT MOVE ON TO LESSON 2 UNTIL YOU HAVE MASTERED LESSON 1. ChatGPT will tell you when you have mastered it. Every question you miss, write it down and study it. Then come back and take the quiz again. ONLY USE CHATGPT v 3.5 as there are unlimited responses. Version 4 has a response limit. Good Luck!
– Will
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Prompt:
ChatGPT Verb Mastery Quiz
Instruction: Evaluate the user’s response for accuracy. If correct, acknowledge and present the next question with a new randomly generated example or a new direct question. If incorrect, provide the correct answer and the next question with a new randomly generated example or a new direct question. Continue with the rapid-fire questioning. The order of questions and examples should be randomized to prevent memorization. If the user achieves 100% accuracy two times in a row for all questions, congratulate them on mastering this section and affirm readiness for the next lesson.
Dynamic Example Generation:
Identify the action verb:
Generate a sentence with a random subject and action verb.
What type of verb is “is” in the sentence:
Generate a sentence with a random subject and the verb “is” followed by an adjective or noun.
In the sentence, identify the helping verb:
Generate a sentence with a random subject, helping verb, and main verb.
Determine whether the verb in the sentence is transitive or intransitive:
Randomly select between generating a sentence with a transitive verb and a direct object, or an intransitive verb with no direct object.
Identify the verb tense in the sentence:
Generate a sentence with a verb in a randomly selected tense (past, present, future).
Determine whether the verb in the sentence is in active or passive voice:
Randomly select between generating a sentence in active voice or passive voice.
What type of verbal is in the sentence:
Randomly select between generating a sentence with a gerund, infinitive, or participle.
Identify the phrasal verb in the sentence:
Generate a sentence with a random phrasal verb.
What type of verb is in the sentence:
Generate a sentence with a random modal verb.
Identify the regular verb in the pair:
Provide a pair of verbs, one regular and one irregular.
Direct Questions:
What is an action verb?
What is a linking verb?
What is a helping (auxiliary) verb?
Explain the difference between transitive and intransitive verbs.
What are regular and irregular verbs? Give an example of each.
Describe verb tenses and provide an example of a verb in past, present, and future tense.
What is mood and voice in verbs?
What are verbals and provide examples of gerunds, infinitives, and participles.
What is a phrasal verb? Provide an example.
What is a modal verb? Provide an example.
Demonstration Questions:
Please provide an example of an action verb.
Please provide an example of a linking verb.
Provide an example of a sentence with a helping (auxiliary) verb.
Provide examples of a transitive and an intransitive verb in sentences.
Please provide an example of a regular verb and an irregular verb.
Provide an example of a verb in passive voice.
Provide an example of a verbal in a sentence.
Provide an example of a phrasal verb in a sentence.
Provide an example of a modal verb in a sentence.
In-depth Exploration:
Definition of Verbs:
What is a verb traditionally defined as?
Role of Verbs:
How can you imagine a verb in relation to a sentence?
What do verbs help us understand in the sentence “Maria dances”?
How do verbs convey states of being, as seen in the sentence “Carlos is happy”?
In the context of “The weather turned chilly,” what does the verb indicate?
Identifying Verbs:
How can you spot a verb in a sentence?
Action Verbs:
What do action verbs denote?
Can you give an example of an action verb?
Linking Verbs:
What is the purpose of linking verbs in a sentence?
Provide an example of a linking verb.
Helping (Auxiliary) Verbs:
How do helping verbs function alongside main verbs?
Name an example of a helping verb.
Transitive and Intransitive Verbs:
What is the difference between transitive and intransitive verbs?
Give an example of a transitive verb in a sentence.
Can you provide an example of an intransitive verb in a sentence?
Regular and Irregular Verbs:
How do regular verbs differ from irregular verbs in terms of changing tenses?
Provide an example of a regular verb in its different tenses.
Name an irregular verb in its various tenses.
Verb Tenses:
What do verb tenses indicate?
Give examples of verbs in past, present, and future tenses.
Mood and Voice:
How does the mood of a verb express a speaker’s attitude?
What does the voice of a verb indicate?
Provide an example of a verb in the indicative mood.
Can you give an example of a verb in the passive voice?
Verbals:
What are verbals and how do they function in sentences?
Give an example of a gerund functioning as a noun.
Provide an example of a participle functioning as an adjective.
Phrasal Verbs:
What constitutes a phrasal verb?
Can you provide an example of a phrasal verb?
Modal Verbs:
What do modal verbs express?
Name an example of a modal verb.
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Written by : willmegenney
