Year 7 · English · Descriptive writing · Lesson 2

Powerful vocabulary and figurative language

Powerful verbs and figurative language for descriptive writing - upgrading weak verbs, similes, metaphors, personification and onomatopoeia, and why less is more.

17-minute video lesson

Teaching, worked examples and 20 practice questions solved step by step.

Watch free for a month

What your child will learn

Choose powerful verbs
Use four kinds of figurative language
Avoid piling up adjectives
Upgrade a sentence

The method

Better verb.
Cut adjectives.
Add an image.
Read aloud.

Key words: verb, onomatopoeia, simile, metaphor, personification, precise.

Worked examples

The first three practice questions from the lesson, with every step.

Question 1

What is a verb?

Step 1: Action

Answer: an action or doing word

Question 2

Give a powerful verb for ‘went’.

Step 1: Slow and quiet

Answer: crept / sprinted / staggered

Question 3

Give a powerful verb for ‘said’.

Step 1: Quiet

Answer: whispered / snapped / muttered