Powerful Verbs

Verbs are action words, right? We all remember that from elementary school. Verbs describe the action that is taking place.

But verbs don't have to surrender all the fun and emotional power to adjectives--the words that traditionally paint the pictures in our heads. As a matter of fact, the most powerful writers use verbs quite effectively to illustrate their writing.

Invent Your Own Verbs

One way to make verbs more interesting is to invent them from other word forms. Sounds illegal, doesn't it?

Well, it's not actually against the law to invent your own verbs; after all, it's not like you're printing dollar bills in your basement. But then again, it's not a tactic you should use carelessly. Choose your words wisely. Think about this example, in which the verb is created from a noun:

My mother was able to octopus the clumsy pile of laundry until she reached the bedroom.

Does it conjur the image of a woman with several arms, carrying a pile of unruly laundry? Now, think about the sentence again, minus the invented verb:

My mother was able to carry the giant laundry pile...

It just isn't the same, is it?

Inventing your own verbs is a skill you should use carefully. It's a writing trick that can pay off if you do it well, but it can be disastrous if you do it poorly. Made-up verbs will only confuse your reader (your teacher) if you don't use nouns packed with lots of meaning and emotion.

Animal Names as Verbs?

One type of noun that works well is animal types, since some animals have very strong characteristics. Skunks, for instance, have a reputation for being stinky or spoiling the air.

Do the following sentence fragments evoke powerful images?

He skunked the party...
She snaked the hallways...
The man buffaloed the room...
She wormed her way out of the class...

Jobs as Verbs?

Another noun type that works well is names of occupations. We often use doctor as a verb, as in the following sentence:

She doctored the paper until it was perfect.

Doesn't that evoke the image of a woman hovering over a piece of writing, tools in hand, crafting and nurturing the paper to perfection? What other occupations could paint such a clear scene? How about police?

Mrs. Parsons policed her garden until it was completely pest free.

Any type of object can become a verb, as long as the object has a personality and evokes an emotion of some sort. What does this sentence suggest?

The presence of the burly guard was enough to scarecrow the troublemakers from the bonfire...

Look through this list of phrases, just to get a feel for the process. Think of other ways you could use these nouns as homemade verbs.

tornado the bedroom
housecoat the window
bubbled the family
porched your idea
hawked the meeting

You can really be very creative with this writing trick. It's a way to give your paper color and energy. Just be sure to choose your "verbs" carefully.