Finding the Right Vibe with Verbs
Verbs … move.
They’re the vibe you’re looking for.
Verbs are the action heroes of the writing world, giving your sentences life, energy, and motion.
Without them, well, your story’s going nowhere! And I mean literally.
Jimmy ___ by the fountain to ___ the water ___ across the surface.
Blech. What exactly is Jimmy doing with the fountain? What’s happening here? Where’s this turkey author taking me anyway?
Verbs move the story.
So, today, we're diving deep into the world of verbs. Whether you’re a newbie or just brushing up on your skills, this is your ultimate guide to mastering those action-packed words.
What Exactly Is a Verb?
In the simplest terms, verbs are words that show action or state of being. If your character is running, jumping, laughing, thinking, or even existing, verbs make it happen.
Verbs are the engine that drives your story forward.
Almost every sentence requires a verb.
Without verbs, you'd have a bunch of nouns just sitting there, like “Jimmy,” “the fountain,” and “the water.” And while that might make for an interesting art exhibit, it’s not the best approach to storytelling.
There are three types of verbs: Action, Stative, and Linking.
Action Verbs
These are your classic verbs. They describe what the subject of your sentence is doing. Action verbs are physical (like run, jump, write) but can also describe mental actions (like think, believe, dream). Action verbs give movement and create visual images. Example:
Marcus runs down the street.
Liora believes in the impossible.
See how those verbs bring the sentence to life? They let you know exactly what's going on.
Stative Verbs
Stative verbs describe a state of being or a condition rather than an action.
Unlike action verbs, which show movement or dynamic activities (like run, jump, write), stative verbs refer to situations, feelings, thoughts, relationships, or qualities that are more static and unchanging over a period of time.
Examples of Stative Verbs:
Verbs of Thinking or Belief: know, believe, understand, doubt, imagine, suppose.
She knows the answer.
I believe in your potential.
Verbs of Emotion or Feeling: love, hate, like, prefer, desire, fear.
He loves chocolate.
I hate waiting in line.
Verbs of Possession: have, own, possess, belong.
They own a beach house.
The book belongs to me.
Verbs of the Senses: see, hear, smell, taste, feel.
I see a bird in the tree.
This soup tastes great.
Verbs of Relationship or Identity: be, seem, appear, consist, include.
She is my friend.
The book seems interesting.
Stative verbs are usually not used in continuous or progressive tenses (-ing form). This is because they represent states or conditions that are not seen as having a clear beginning or end, unlike actions that can happen now. Example:
Incorrect: I am knowing the answer.
Correct: I know the answer.
However, some stative verbs can be used in continuous tenses when they take on a different meaning. For instance:
Normal use (stative): I think you're right. (think means "believe" here.)
Continuous use (action): I am thinking about what to do. (think refers to the active process of considering something.)
Why Are Stative Verbs Important?
Understanding the difference between stative and action verbs is crucial for using the correct verb tenses in your writing. Using a stative verb in the wrong form, especially in continuous tense, can make your writing feel awkward or incorrect. Stative verbs allow you to describe states of mind, conditions, and abstract concepts that make your characters and settings feel more complex and grounded.
Linking Verbs
Linking verbs don’t show action. Instead, they connect the subject of your sentence to more information about the subject. The most common linking verb is to be in all its forms (am, is, are, was, were, etc.).
Example:
Simone is terrified.
David was a hero.
Linking verbs help describe a state of being. They don’t do anything per se, but they help your reader understand more about your character.
Infinitive Forms of Verbs
The infinitive form of a verb is its most basic, uninflected form, usually preceded by the word to. In other words, it's the "to + verb" version, like to run, to write, or to eat. The infinitive isn’t tied to a particular subject, tense, or number — it’s the raw, neutral form of the verb. Example.
To jump over the fence was a challenge.
She wants to learn French.
He needs to call his mother.
There are two types of infinitives:
A Bare Infinitive: Verbs without the to (e.g., run, jump). They’re often used after certain verbs like can, should, make, and let.
I can run fast.
She made me stay late.
A Full Infinitive: This is the classic to + verb form.
He hopes to travel soon.
I want to read that book.
When Do We Use Infinitives?
Infinitives can be used in various ways:
As a subject. To travel is my dream.
As an object. He loves to dance.
To show purpose. She went to the store to buy groceries.
Verb Tense: Why It Matters
Tense tells the reader when something is happening: in the past, present, or future. Choosing the right tense keeps your story clear and helps your readers stay grounded in the timeline.
Past tense: He walked to the store.
Present tense: He walks to the store.
Future tense: He will walk to the store.
Most fiction is written in the past tense, but some writers experiment with present or even future tense to create a unique vibe.
Helping Verbs: The Sidekicks of the Verb World
Sometimes, verbs need extra help to fully convey what’s going on. Enter helping verbs, also known as auxiliary verbs. These verbs assist the main verb in expressing tense, mood, or voice.
Example:
Liora is running toward the ship. (Helping verb is helps express that the action is happening right now.)
Marcus has eaten the last slice of pizza. (Helping verb has shows that the action was completed.)
Helping verbs often include be, have, and do.
The Role of Adverbs: Modifying Verbs
Adverbs are words that modify or describe verbs (er, and other adjectives, or even other adverbs, but I digress.) They give us more detail about how, when, where, or to what extent something happens. They help clarify or intensify the action or description in a sentence. Most adverbs end in -ly (but not always).
Example:
Marcus runs quickly.
Liora sings beautifully.
Adverbs are like the spices of your writing. But be careful—too many adverbs can clutter your sentences. Instead of saying, “He ran quickly,” it might be better to say, “He sprinted.”
Common Questions Adverbs Answer:
How? – He ran quickly.
When? – She left yesterday.
Where? – They looked everywhere.
To what extent? – I'm completely exhausted.
Examples of Adverbs:
Modifying a verb: She quietly opened the door. (How did she open it? Quietly.)
Modifying an adjective: The cake is extremely delicious. (How delicious? Extremely.)
Modifying another adverb: He ran very quickly. (How quickly did he run? Very quickly.)
Types of Adverbs:
Adverbs of Manner – Describe how an action is performed.
Example: She sings beautifully.
Adverbs of Time – Indicate when something happens or for how long.
Example: We'll meet tomorrow.
Adverbs of Place – Show where the action occurs.
Example: He searched everywhere for his keys.
Adverbs of Frequency – Explain how often something happens.
Example: I always forget my umbrella.
Adverbs of Degree – Show the intensity or degree of something.
Example: The movie was really good.
The -ly Rule
A lot of adverbs are formed by adding -ly to adjectives. For example:
Quick → Quickly
Careful → Carefully
However, not all adverbs follow this rule. Some, like fast, hard, late, and well, are adverbs without the -ly ending.
Adverb Placement
Adverbs can be flexible regarding their position within a sentence, but their placement can affect meaning or emphasis.
Beginning of the sentence: Quickly, he ran to the store.
Middle of the sentence: He quickly ran to the store.
End of the sentence: He ran to the store quickly.
Notice how the meaning stays the same in each case, but the emphasis shifts depending on where the adverb is placed.
Watching Out for Adverb Overuse
While adverbs can add important detail, overusing them (especially -ly adverbs) can make your writing feel cluttered or weak. For instance, instead of writing "She spoke softly," you might choose a stronger verb like "She whispered."
Weak vs. Strong Verbs: The Writer’s Power Move
Strong verbs are one of the easiest ways to level up your writing.
Weak verbs are the ones that don’t pack much of a punch — words like is, are, has, and does. Strong verbs, on the other hand, are more specific and help paint a more vivid picture.
Weak verb:
She is walking to the door.
Strong verb:
She strides to the door.
See how the second sentence feels more dynamic? Strong verbs help your writing pop.
Choosing a better verb is a component of editing and proofreading. Sure, we can say Sally walked to the door, and there’s nothing mechanically wrong with that. However, if we’re trying to paint pictures with words, we must choose the best verb to describe the situation.
Sally sauntered to the door.
Sally sprinted to the door.
Sally dashed to the door.
Sally rushed to the door.
Each of these paints a very different picture.
How can you quickly distinguish an amateur writer from a pro? Everyone walks. Everyone whispers. Everyone falls. Everyone looks. Instead of editing their work to include the most robust verb possible, they’ll repeatedly reuse the same weak verbs. Watch for it.
A Quick Tip: Watch for Passive Constructions
We’ve all been there. You’re cruising along in your writing when suddenly — bam — you hit passive voice. Passive voice happens when the subject of your sentence isn’t doing the action. Instead, the action is being done to the subject.
Example of passive voice:
The book was read by Marcus.
Active voice:
Marcus read the book.
The active voice is more direct, more engaging, and generally preferred in fiction. If you want your readers to feel immersed in your story, aim for an active voice.
Put It All Together: A Verb-Driven Sentence
Let’s put everything we’ve learned together into a sentence. Here’s how to use action verbs, strong verbs, and adverbs to create a sentence that pops.
Weak sentence:
She is walking slowly toward the door.
Strong sentence:
She drags her feet to the door, hesitating before pushing it open.
Now, that’s a sentence that moves!
Wrapping Up
Verbs are the engine of writing.
They move your characters, set the pace, and bring your world to life.
Whether choosing between action, stative, linking verbs, or deciding if you need that adverb, remember that verbs are your secret weapon for writing stories that readers won’t be able to put down.
So, what are you waiting for? Go find the vibe in your verbs.
R