How to Use Verbs in Creative Writing
Verbs play a vital role in your storytelling by supporting the action and adding depth to your narrative. Used correctly, verbs can elevate your creative writing, adding meaning and impact to your prose. But understanding the various types of verbs can be confusing for many writers.
Let's check them out and consider how to apply them to your writing.
Action verbs
Action verbs describe what your characters are doing, and are generally a stronger verb choice than other types. Instead of saying, "She walked into the library," a more interesting verb would bring this statement to life while revealing more context to your reader.
For example, “She dashed into the library.”
Why? Is this protagonist in a hurry? Late? Trying to get away from someone? By simply changing the action verb here, we have made the line significantly more compelling.
Modal verbs
Modal verbs express necessity, possibility, permission or ability, and add nuance to your characters' actions and motivations.
Consider the example: "He might have told her.” Here, "might" and "had" are the modal verbs, as they modify the main verbs "told" and "have."
The sentence implies uncertainty or hesitation, by suggesting that this character may or may not have told another character something, leading us to wonder, what is hidden or uncertain and why?
As further examples,"He barged into the room" implies determination, while "He crept into the room" suggests caution.
Copular/linking verbs
Copular verbs, also known as linking verbs, help paint a complete picture of your characters and their emotions by connecting them to a description or state of being.
For example, instead of just saying someone seemed happy, you can use a copular verb to paint a clearer picture of their emotions. E.g.,"She seemed happy" could be more vividly described as "She radiated happiness.” Or, instead of "He seemed nervous" you might say "He appeared jittery.”
Transitive and intransitive verbs
Transitive verbs require a direct object to complete their meaning, while intransitive verbs do not. In other words, it needs something or someone to receive the action.
For example. “She baked a cake.” In this sentence, "baked" is the transitive verb because it transfers the action of baking to the direct object "cake." Without the direct object "cake," the sentence would be incomplete.
Phrasal verbs
Phrasal verbs are verb combinations with prepositions or adverbs that, when combined, forming a single meaning. They often have figurative or idiomatic interpretations, making them essential in everyday English.
For instance, "turn on"(to activate something like a light or a device), "put off" (to be deterred or discouraged) or "broke down" (to cease working or lose control emotionally).
Helping verbs
Helping verbs, also known as auxiliary verbs, work alongside main verbs to express tense, mood, or voice. They assist in conveying specific meanings.
For instance, instead of "She sings," you could say "She will sing" for future tense or "She might sing" to indicate possibility.
Mastering different types of verbs and applying them correctly can enhance your creative writing efforts. Try to experiment with verbs and always remember to keep it simple.