Descriptive Verb Worksheets

Core Standard
Answer Keys Here

Using language in powerful way often takes a good bit of planning and care. It helps to master the use of vocabulary that elevates your work to that next level, whatever that may be. Until now we have focused on the use of common verbs. Replacing these basic thoughts with descriptive verbs can help you get that kick you were looking for. They will provide your language strength for your readers. They will leave a vivid image in your audience’s memory of your work. This can help us in all the major facets of writing. Marketers spend most of their looking for that one powerful word that will help them sell more products. There is an entire industry built around the use of language with the focus on being more compelling and robust toward the mindset of their audience. This series of lessons and worksheets will help students learn the process of shift verbs to heighten the value of their writing.

Descriptive Verb Worksheets:

Prepare for Your Debate - Circle the verb. Rewrite the sentence using a better one.

Amp It Up - You are given a word and must dream up a more explosive term.

Get Vivid - Complete each sentence with a "vivid" action word of your choice.

My Pictures - Write a sentence to describe each picture.

Of the Three - Choose the best descriptive verb to complete each sentence.

HorsePlay - Take these sentences to the top of the mountain with a single word change.

Last Weekend I... - Write a descriptive paragraph about what you did last weekend.

Not That - Choose the term that does not fit the criteria.

More Than an Image - Given an image, describe this is a brilliant fashion.

All Boxed Up - The box below contains sixteen verbs composed of eight pairs of synonyms. Choose the best for your statement.

A Thousand Words - You do not need that many, just capture the essence for your readers.

Other Ways to Say It - Think of three better word uses that could replace the verb in each box.

Said - Think of a whole bunch of different directions to take this term in. Loud, soft, and somewhere in between.

Went - We do the same thing, bu we are working with a different word. Remember this is past tense.

Descibe It - Make each of your thoughts colorful and geared towards your audience.

How to Super Charge Your Writing with The Help of Descriptive Verbs


Why would you hop over a puddle in the street when you could vault over that same puddle? In the same sense, why would you buy a gray Xbox controller with a custom grip, if you had the alternative of buying an ash-engrained Xbox controller with a Kung Fu grip? In that simple instance you can see how one simple word change can take your audiences breathe away. Using descriptive verbs can change how the work is received by audiences. This is why some copywriters that specialize in this can charge upwards of five-hundred dollars an hour for their time. A few changes here and there and your work can be transformed into something incredibly special.


Where do we get started with learning how to alter our work to this end? It all starts with understand the three main forms of descriptive verbs. There are verbs that indicate a level or degree of movement. The best way to use words that indicate movement are to focus on the extremes whether it be slow or fast. They can also be used to indicate depth or vertical height if you were to be climbing or flying. While there are verbs that focus on the speed of movement, there is another branch that focus on how still something is. This is the opposite of movement verbs; they indicate a complete lack of movement. While there are extremes with how fast or slow something moves, there are also extreme expressions and speech. You can either whisper, say, shout, or cry out words each of those offer a varying degree of intensity.


How do we use these words to hoist our writing? The first thing to consider is that you do not want to overuse this technique. It is just like cooking a little salt and pepper makes many things taste better, but too much and it becomes inedible. I find that the best time to use this technique is during your third draft of your work during the proof-reading phase. I start by locating verbs at key points with a work that fit one of the three criteria that we have explored (movement, lack thereof, expressions, and speech). You can underline or highlight these words. Then I break out the thesaurus and look for vocabulary terms that offer a great deal more to match the reality of what I am trying to get across to my readers.