What Are Weak Verbs?

 

Understanding Verbs: The Heart of Action

Before we talk about weak verbs, let’s remind ourselves what verbs are. Verbs are action words or words that express a state of being. They tell us what’s happening in a sentence—what the subject is doing or experiencing.

For example:

• She runs fast.

• They are happy.

• He writes a letter.

Verbs are crucial because they drive your sentence and your story forward.

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What Makes a Verb "Weak"?

A weak verb is a verb that is vague, dull, or lacks impact. It doesn’t create a strong image or clearly show the action. Instead, it often forces you to add extra words (usually adverbs or adjectives) to clarify what you mean.

Some common weak verbs include:

• Be (is, am, are, was, were)

• Have

• Do

• Get

• Go

• Make

• Come

These verbs aren’t always “wrong” — in fact, they’re necessary in English. But overusing them or using them without clear context often weakens your writing.

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Example of Weak Verb Use:

• She is very tired.

• He got very angry.

• They did their homework.

• The dog went to the park.

Notice how these sentences don’t feel very vivid or exciting? The verbs are there, but they don’t give us much detail about the action or feeling.

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Why Should You Replace Weak Verbs?

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Here’s why swapping out weak verbs is a game-changer:

1. Makes Your Writing More Vivid and Engaging

Strong verbs paint clear pictures in the reader’s mind. Instead of just knowing something happened, the reader feels it.

2. Reduces Need for Extra Words

Weak verbs often need adverbs or extra explanation to make sense. Strong verbs can stand on their own.

• Weak: She ran quickly.

• Strong: She sprinted.

See how “sprinted” replaces the verb plus adverb with one powerful word?

3. Creates a More Confident Tone

Strong verbs make your writing sound more confident and precise.

4. Improves Clarity and Flow

Strong verbs move your story or explanation along smoothly and clearly.

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How to Identify Weak Verbs in Your Writing

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Before you can replace weak verbs, you have to find them! Here are some tips:

• Look for verbs like is, was, were, have, do, get, go, make, come.

• Check sentences that rely on adverbs like quickly, very, really, quite — this often signals a weak verb is compensating.

• Notice if your sentences feel flat or boring. Weak verbs might be the cause.

• Ask yourself: Does this verb tell the whole story, or do I need to add more words to explain?

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How to Replace Weak Verbs with Stronger Alternatives

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Let’s explore practical ways to replace weak verbs.

Step 1: Use Specific, Strong Action Verbs

Instead of vague verbs, pick verbs that show exactly what’s happening.

Weak Verb	Stronger Alternatives	Example
is	stands, appears, seems, feels	Weak: She is happy. Strong: She glows with happiness.
have	possess, own, hold	Weak: They have a plan. Strong: They hold a plan.
do	perform, execute, complete	Weak: He did his work. Strong: He completed his work.
get	receive, obtain, become, arrive	Weak: She got a gift. Strong: She received a gift.
go	travel, march, hurry, stroll	Weak: He went home. Strong: He marched home.
make	create, build, prepare, produce	Weak: They made a cake. Strong: They baked a cake.
come	approach, arrive, emerge	Weak: He came to the door. Strong: He approached the door.

Step 2: Use Verbs That Show Emotion or Physical Action Clearly

Look for verbs that describe feelings or movement vividly.

• Instead of She was angry, say She fumed.

• Instead of He got scared, say He panicked.

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Step 3: Use Strong Verbs to Replace Verb + Adverb Combinations

Often, a weak verb plus an adverb can be replaced by one strong verb.

• He ran quickly → He sprinted.

• She looked carefully → She examined.

• They talked quietly → They whispered.

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Step 4: Consider Using Active Voice

Strong verbs often shine brightest in active voice.

• Passive: The book was read by the student.

• Active: The student read the book.

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Examples of Replacing Weak Verbs

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Let’s see some before-and-after examples so this becomes crystal clear.

Example 1:

• Weak: She is very tired after the trip.

• Strong: She feels exhausted after the trip.

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Example 2:

• Weak: He got angry at the news.

• Strong: He stormed out after hearing the news.

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Example 3:

• Weak: They did the project quickly.

• Strong: They completed the project swiftly.

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Example 4:

• Weak: The cat went under the table.

• Strong: The cat slid under the table.

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When Is It Okay to Use Weak Verbs?

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Don’t worry—weak verbs aren’t always bad! They’re part of natural English, and sometimes they’re the best choice.

• When you want to emphasize the state of being, like She is happy.

• When the verb is part of an important idiom or phrase, like He got up early.

• When you want a simple, straightforward tone without being overly descriptive.

• When paired carefully with strong verbs or descriptive language.

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Tips to Practice Replacing Weak Verbs

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Here’s how you can build the habit of spotting and replacing weak verbs:

1. Read and Analyze Good Writing

Notice how strong verbs bring scenes to life in novels, articles, and essays.

2. Keep a List of Strong Verbs

Build your own “power verb” list for easy reference.

3. Edit Your Writing

Review your drafts focusing on verbs—try swapping weak verbs with stronger alternatives.

4. Use a Thesaurus Wisely

Look up verbs you want to replace, but choose synonyms that fit your tone and meaning.

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Summary: What You Should Remember About Weak Verbs

• Weak verbs are common, vague verbs that don’t show clear or strong action.

• Overusing weak verbs can make writing dull and wordy.

• Replacing them with strong, specific verbs improves clarity, impact, and engagement.

• Watch for weak verbs like is, have, do, get, go, make, and come.

• Strong verbs can often replace verb + adverb pairs.

• Weak verbs have their place, but knowing when and how to swap them is a powerful skill.