Archive
Tag: to be verbs
Eliminate “To Be” Verbs: How to Revise Was and Were
Students can eliminate the was and were “to be” verbs in essays by using this strategy. Converting the was and were _ing to the strong, irregular…
Eliminate “To Be” Verbs: Substitute with Stronger Linking Verbs Lesson
We can get our students to reduce or eliminate “to be” verbs in their essays by using these strategies. Help your students learn to substitute weak…
Eliminate “To Be” Verbs: Convert Nouns and Adjectives into Vivid Verbs Lesson
So, how can we get our students to reduce or eliminate “to be” verbs in their essays to create precision of meaning, specificity, clarity, and just…
How to Teach Helping Verbs
English teachers learn early in their careers that strong nouns and “show-me” verbs are the keys to good writing. Of these two keys, verbs give developing…
How to Teach Verbs
We know that students have learned these parts of speech ad nauseum, but why can’t they remember them? Have their teachers been negligent or unskilled? Or…
Free Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics Resources
Find relevant articles, free resources (including diagnostic grammar and mechanics assessments), and tips regarding teaching grammar and mechanics in this collection from the Pennington Publishing Blog.…
The Great Grammar Debate
The Great Grammar Debate between those favoring part to whole and those favoring whole to part grammar instruction is still relevant.
How to Eliminate “To Be” Verbs in Writing
Every English teacher has a sure-fire revision tip that makes developing writers dig down deep and revise initial drafts. One of my favorites involves eliminating the…