Show Don’t TellShow Don’t Tell

Verb UsageVerb Usage

Writing Handbook Page 12Writing Handbook Page 12Linking 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

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.

Page 14 of your writing handbook

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.

Page 19 of your writing handbook

Be specific

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.

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.

11. Cinderella lost the shoe. 12. Snow White ate the apple. 13. Mary Poppins sang"

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”.

14. The housekeeper cleaned the mirror15. The mother fed the baby. 16. The gardener pruned the trees. 17. JK Rowling wrote the book. 18. The little girl with blonde curls picked the

flowers. 19. The pirate with one eye loaded the canon. 20. The polite teenager vacuumed the living room.

11. The shoe was lost by Cinderella. 12. The apple was eaten by Snow White. 13.“Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” was sung by Mary

Poppins. 14. The mirror was cleaned by the housekeeper. 15. The baby was fed by the mother. 16. The trees were pruned by the gardener. 17. The book was written by JK Rowling. 18. The flowers were picked by the little girl with blonde curls. 19. The canon was loaded by the pirate with one eye.

20. The living room was vacuumed by the polite teenager.

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.

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

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)

Practice subject/verb agreement

handout

Pronouns and Antecedents

Must also agree

Pronouns pg 21Replace nounsShould agree with and HAVE an antecedent (a noun that precedes it)– Suzy loves her new bag. (underline the

pronoun and circle the antecedent)

Possessive pronouns show ownership– John’s bag is on the counter = His bag is on the

counter

Singular/pluralA singular personal pronoun should be used with 2 or more singular antecedents joined by or or nor– Neither Tom nor Ken brought his equipment. (circle the

pronoun; underline the antecedent)A plural personal pronoun should be used with 2 or more antecedents joined by and. – Sue and Stan have chosen their instruments. (circle the

pronoun; underline the antecedent)EXCEPT when distinguishing between joint and individual ownership.

– Neither Linda nor Maria let me play her guitar (they both have a guitar)

– Neither Linda nor Maria let me play their guitar (the guitar belongs to both of them)

Indefinite pronouns

anyone, anybody, everyone, everybody, someone, somebody, no one, and nobody are always singular. Circle the grammatically correct sentence. – Somebody left his or her bag at the

station. – Somebody left their bag at the station.

Compound pronouns

Form should stay the same when something is compounded. – This bag is for me. – This bag is for Fred and me/I. (circle the

correct pronoun)

Who, whom, whoseTo choose correctly among the forms of who, rephrase to choose between he and him. – Whom/Who do you think is responsible?

(Do you think he/him is responsible?)– Whom/Who should we ask to the club?

(Should we ask he/him to the party?)

Use the chart to help you circle the correct pronouns in the sentence above.

Practice page 22

Pronouns and antecedents

ReviewReview

Parallelism passage B on Parallelism passage B on page 18 of your writing page 18 of your writing

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