What are powerful verbs?
What are powerful verbs? Powerful verbs are simply verbs which are more descriptive and accurate and impactful than other words.
The best way of explaining this is to show a simple sentence like this:
- The old man told the young lad to get down from the table.
The verb told is not very engaging and there are lots of other more powerful verbs the writer could have used to bring that sentence to life for example:
- The old man screamed at the young man to get down from the table.
- The old man pleaded with the young man to get down from the table.
Both these sentences have been brought to life by the use of more powerful verbs.
How to help children use more powerful verbs?
Teachers should have posters of powerful verbs up in the classroom and should be helping their children to understand that they should be using varied and interesting vocabulary to bring their writing to life and this includes powerful verbs.
One way of helping children is to get them to re-write stories and try to use better vocabulary and more powerful verbs throughout. As they re-write their work gradually their standard will improve so that they naturally write using more complex words.
Using more powerful verbs should be part of learning to use a wide vocabulary
Children will gradually understand that they need to use more powerful verbs than ‘said’ or ‘walked’ or ‘looked’ in the same way that they learn that they should use more descriptive words than ‘nice’ or ‘bad’ or ‘great’.
Building a wide vocabulary does take time and changing writing habits to include the use of more complex vocabulary takes a consistent effort. Often children will use descriptions banks to help them develop their use of a wider vocabulary and powerful verbs.
How does Learning Street help children to develop their use of powerful verbs?
To start with, developing and using a wide vocabulary is central to all the work we do with children from 7 through to 11 +. We encourage children to develop an outstanding working vocabulary and help them to keep this at the front of their minds and in use.
We emphasise good writing habits throughout our courses and encourage children to develop a wide range of descriptions banks that really help to bring their writing to life. Inevitably this means developing use of their broad vocabulary in their writing including the use of powerful verbs.
Our Courses
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- Independent School 11 Plus Exam Preparation Courses
- Grammar School 11 Plus Exam Preparation Courses
- Primary School Improvement/Development Courses
Our 11 Plus Mock Exam Papers
Berkshire Reading 11 Plus Mock Exam Papers
Kendrick 11 Plus Mock Exam Papers Bundle ( packs 1-4)
Reading School ( FSCE) 11 Plus Mock Exam 1
Reading School ( FSCE) 11 Plus Mock Exam 2
Reading School ( FSCE) 11 Plus Mock Exam 3
Reading School ( FSCE) 11 Plus Mock Exam 4
Reading School ( FSCE) 11 Plus Mock Exam Papers Bundle (packs 1-4)
Berkshire Slough 11 Plus Mock Exams
Slough 11 Plus Mock Exam Papers Bundle (Packs 1-4)
Barnet 11 Plus Mock Exams
Henrietta Barnett 11 Plus Mock Exam 1
Henrietta Barnett 11 Plus Mock Exam 2
Henrietta Barnett 11 Plus Mock Exam 3
Henrietta Barnett 11 Plus Mock Exam 4
Henrietta Barnett 11 Plus Mock Exam Papers Bundle ( Packs 1-4)
QE Boys 11 Plus Mock Exam Papers Bundle (packs 1-4)
Bexley 11 Plus Mock Exams
Bexley 11 Plus Mock Exam Papers Bundle (packs 1-4)
Bromley 11 Plus Mock Exams
Newstead Wood School Mock Exam 1
Newstead Wood School Mock Exam 2
Newstead Wood School Mock Exam 3
Newstead Wood School Mock Exam 4
Newstead Wood School Mock Exam Papers Bundle ( Packs 1-4)
St Olave’s Grammar School Mock Exam 1
St Olave’s Grammar School Mock Exam 2
St Olave’s Grammar School Mock Exam 3
St Olave’s Grammar School Mock Exam 4
St Olave’s Grammar School Mock Exam Papers Bundle (Packs1-4)
Bucks 11 Plus Mock Exams
Bucks 11 Plus Mock Exam Papers Bundle (packs 1-4)
Cumbria 11 Plus Mock Exams
Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School 11 Plus Mock Exam 1
Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School 11 Plus Mock Exam 2
Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School 11 Plus Mock Exam 3
Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School 11 Plus Mock Exam 4
Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School 11 Plus Mock Exam Papers Bundle (Packs 1-4)
Devon and Torbay 11 Plus Mock Exams
Devon and Torbay 11 Plus Mock Exam 1
Devon and Torbay 11 Plus Mock Exam 2
Devon and Torbay 11 Plus Mock Exam 3
Devon and Torbay 11 Plus Mock Exam 4
Devon and Torbay 11 Plus Mock Exam Papers Bundle (packs 1-4)
Colyton School FSCE 11 Plus Mock Exam 1
Colyton School FSCE 11 Plus Mock Exam 2
Colyton School FSCE 11 Plus Mock Exam 3
Colyton School FSCE 11 Plus Mock Exam 4
Colyton School FSCE 11 Plus Mock Exam Papers Bundle ( packs 1-4)
Dorset 11 Plus Mock Exams
Dorset 11 Plus Mock Exam Papers Bundle (packs 1-4)
Enfield 11 Plus Mock Exams
The Latymer School 11 Plus Mock Exam 1
The Latymer School 11 Plus Mock Exam 2
The Latymer School 11 Plus Mock Exam 3
The Latymer School 11 Plus Mock Exam 4
The Latymer School 11 Plus Mock Exam Papers Bundle ( packs 1-4)
Essex CSSE and FSCE 11 Plus Mock Exams
Essex CSSE 11 Plus Mock Exam 1
Essex CSSE 11 Plus Mock Exam 2
Essex CSSE 11 Plus Mock Exam 3
Essex CSSE 11 Plus Mock Exam 4
Essex CSSE 11 Plus Mock Exam Papers Bundle (packs 1-4)
Chelmsford County High School for Girls FSCE 11 Plus Mock Exam 1
Chelmsford County High School for Girls FSCE 11 Plus Mock Exam 2
Chelmsford County High School for Girls FSCE 11 Plus Mock Exam 3
Chelmsford County High School for Girls FSCE 11 Plus Mock Exam 4
Chelmsford County High School for Girls FSCE 11 Plus Mock Exam Papers Bundle ( packs 1-4)
Gloucestershire 11 Plus Mock Exams
Gloucestershire 11 Plus Mock Exam 1
Gloucestershire 11 Plus Mock Exam 2
Gloucestershire 11 Plus Mock Exam 3
Gloucestershire 11 Plus Mock Exam 4
Gloucestershire 11 Plus Mock Exam Papers Bundle (Packs 1-4)
Hertfordshire 11 Plus Mock Exams
Dame Alice Owen’s 11 Plus Mock Exam 1
Dame Alice Owen’s 11 Plus Mock Exam 2
Dame Alice Owen’s 11 Plus Mock Exam 3
Dame Alice Owen’s 11 Plus Mock Exam 4
Dame Alice Owen’s 11 Plus Mock Exam Papers Bundle (Packs 1-4)
Hertfordshire Southwest 11 Plus Mock Exams
Hertfordshire South West 11 Plus Mock Exam 1
Hertfordshire South West11 Plus Mock Exam 2
Hertfordshire South West11 Plus Mock Exam 3
Hertfordshire South West 11 Plus Mock Exam 4
Hertfordshire South West 11 Plus Mock Exam Papers Bundle (Packs 1-4)
Kent 11 Plus Mock Exams
Kent 11 Plus Mock Exam Papers Bundle (packs 1-4)
Kent Medway 11 Plus Mock Exams
Kent Medway 11 Plus Mock Exam 1
Kent Medway 11 Plus Mock Exam 2
Kent Medway 11 Plus Mock Exam 3
Kent Medway 11 Plus Mock Exam 4
Kent Medway 11 Plus Mock Exam Papers Bundle (packs 1-4)
Kingston-Upon-Thames 11 Plus Mock Exams
Stage 1 Tiffin 11 Plus Mock Exam 1
Stage 1 Tiffin 11 Plus Mock Exam 2
Stage 1 Tiffin 11 Plus Mock Exam 3
Stage 1 Tiffin 11 Plus Mock Exam 4
Stage 1 Tiffin 11 Plus Mock Exam Papers Bundle (Packs 1-4)
If a pupil passes the stage 1 process, they will be invited back to take a second test.
Stage 2 Tiffin 11 Plus Mock Exam 1
Stage 2 Tiffin 11 Plus Mock Exam 2
Stage 2 Tiffin 11 Plus Mock Exam 3
Stage 2 Tiffin 11 Plus Mock Exam 4
Stage 2 Tiffin 11 Plus Mock Exam Bundle (Packs 1-4)
Lancashire 11 Plus Mock Exams
Lancashire 11 Plus Mock Exam 1
Lancashire 11 Plus Mock Exam 2
Lancashire 11 Plus Mock Exam 3
Lancashire 11 Plus Mock Exam 4
Lancashire 11 Plus Mock Exam Papers Bundle (packs 1-4)
Lincolnshire 11 Plus Mock Exams
Lincolnshire 11 Plus Mock Exam 1
Lincolnshire 11 Plus Mock Exam 2
Lincolnshire 11 Plus Mock Exam 3
Lincolnshire 11 Plus Mock Exam 4
Lincolnshire 11 Plus Mock Exam Papers Bundle (packs 1-4)
Redbridge 11 Plus Mock Exams
Redbridge 11 Plus Mock Exam Papers Bundle (packs 1-4)
Sutton 11 Plus Mock Exams
Sutton 11 Plus Mock Exam Papers Bundle (packs 1-4)
If a pupil passes stage 1, they will be invited back to take a stage 2 test.
Stage 2 Sutton 11 Plus Mock Exam 1
Stage 2 Sutton 11 Plus Mock Exam 2
Stage 2 Sutton 11 Plus Mock Exam 3
Stage 2 Sutton 11 Plus Mock Exam 4
Stage 2 Sutton 11 Plus Mock Exam Papers Bundle (packs 1-4)
Trafford 11 Plus Mock Exams
Trafford 11 Plus Mock Exam Bundle (Packs 1-4)
West Midlands 11 Plus Mock Exams
West Midlands 11 Plus Mock Exam 1
West Midlands 11 Plus Mock Exam 2
West Midlands 11 Plus Mock Exam 3
West Midlands 11 Plus Mock Exam 4
West Midlands 11 Plus Mock Exam Papers Bundle (packs 1-4)
Wiltshire 11 Plus Mock Exams
Bishop Wordsworth’s 11 Plus Mock Exam 1
Bishop Wordsworth’s 11 Plus Mock Exam 2
Bishop Wordsworth’s 11 Plus Mock Exam 3
Bishop Wordsworth’s 11 Plus Mock Exam 4
Bishop Wordsworth’s 11 Plus Mock Exam Papers Bundle (packs 1-4)
South Wilts 11 Plus Mock Exam 1
South Wilts 11 Plus Mock Exam 2
South Wilts 11 Plus Mock Exam 3
South Wilts 11 Plus Mock Exam 4
South Wilts 11 Plus Mock Exam Papers Bundle (packs 1-4)
Wirral 11 Plus Mock Exams
Wirral 11 Plus Mock Exam Papers Bundle (Packs 1-4)
Upton Hall School Mock Exam Papers Bundle (Packs 1&2)
Yorkshire Calderdale 11 Plus Mock Exams
Yorkshire Calderdale 11 Plus Mock Exam 1
Yorkshire Calderdale 11 Plus Mock Exam 2
Yorkshire Calderdale 11 Plus Mock Exam 3
Yorkshire Calderdale 11 Plus Mock Exam 4
Yorkshire Calderdale 11 Plus Mock Exam Papers Bundle (packs 1-4)
Yorkshire-North 11 Plus Mock Exams
Erymsted’s 11 Plus Mock Exam 1
Erymsted’s 11 Plus Mock Exam 2
Erymsted’s 11 Plus Mock Exam 3
Erymsted’s 11 Plus Mock Exam 4
Erymsted’s 11 Plus Mock Exam Papers Bundle (Packs 1-4)
Ripon Grammar School 11 Plus Mock Exam 1
Ripon Grammar School 11 Plus Mock Exam 2
Ripon Grammar School 11 Plus Mock Exam 3
Ripon Grammar School 11 Plus Mock Exam 4
Ripon Grammar School 11 Plus Mock Exam Papers Bundle ( Packs 1-4)
Skipton Girls’ High School 11 Plus Mock Exam 1
Skipton Girls’ High School 11 Plus Mock Exam 2
Skipton Girls’ High School 11 Plus Mock Exam 3
Skipton Girls’ High School 11 Plus Mock Exam 4
Skipton Girls’ High School 11 Plus Mock Exam Papers Bundle (Packs 1-4)
Independent School Mock Exams
Independent School 11 Plus Mock Exam 1
Independent School 11 Plus Mock Exam 2
Independent School 11 Plus Mock Exam 3
Independent School 11 Plus Mock Exam 4
Independent School 11 Plus Mock Exam Papers Bundle (Packs 1-4)
Northern Ireland Transfer Test
Northern Ireland Transfer Test Mock Exam Paper 1
Northern Ireland Transfer Test Mock Exam Paper 2
Northern Ireland Transfer Test Mock Exam Papers 1-4 Bundle
Northern Ireland Transfer Test Mock Exam Papers 5-8 Bundle
Our Worksheets
We have over ten thousand worksheets listed that can be drawn on to focus on any area of primary school development. We have broken these down into subject and school year.
