1. Dead Verbs

2. What Are Dead Verbs?
•They do not show action.
Herman was a lazy dog.
Herman is a very lazy dog.

3. What Are Dead Verbs?
•They are weak.
Harry is unable to carry
his own papers.

4. What Are Dead Verbs?
•They are boring.
Tony’s eyes are very heavy.

5. What Makes Verbs Interesting?
•Excitement
H elga tossed her papers into
the air as the bell rang.

6. What Makes Verbs Interesting?
•Action
George raced around
the track and jumped
the hurdles to victory!

7. Wha t A re D e a d Ve rb s ?
am have feels
are is looks
be was sounds
had were smells
has acts seems
becomes

8. How Can Dead Verb
Sentences be Fixed?
subject linking verb
The professor’s classroom was crowded
prepositional phrase
with chattering students.

9. How Can Dead Verb
Sentences be Fixed?
subject action verb
Chattering students crowded the
direct object
professor’s classroom.

10. Good Writing
Action-filled sentences paints
a picture of the author as
a mature and sophisticated writer.

11. Remember- - dead verbs
lack - - SPIRIT.
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