This is going to sound bad, but...

[Lightfoot]

Through all the years of writing I have done and the years of school I went through, I never really learned what action verbs were. Now, by some random coincidence, I might have been using them all along and didn't know it, but now I physically want to know what they are with examples and everything.

I've noticed with my writing that when the going gets tough and I need to write an action scene, my stuff kind of drags sometimes. So, please, for my - and my score's - sake, explain it to me.

Much Obliged,
-VA

[Alydia Ettermire]

Action verbs are doing verbs, straightforward action. The active voice uses such verbs over passive verbs.

Like: Alydia sneaked into the darkened house, took the precious Jar of Unfathomability, and escaped into the night. (Note, "snuck" might sound right, instead of "sneaked," but "snuck" isn't even a word.)

Passive would be more along the lines of: Once Alydia was out of the house, she was seen by the police, so she was chased by them.

Active voice is more powerful. Inactive verbs are traditionally the "be" verbs: am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been. To pair any of these verbs with a past participle (normally the past tense of the verb) creates the passive voice.

Most writers will tell you to avoid the passive voice like the plague since the active voice is clearer, stronger, etc. Watch how my passive example becomes stronger and more intense just by changing it into the active voice.

Passive: Once Alydia was out of the house, she was seen by the police, so she was chased by them.

Active: Once Alydia was out of the house, the police saw and chased her.

[Lightfoot]

Okay. Thanks.