Be Vebs and Prepositions

Question

Hello people,Those pesky 'be verbs' and prepositions! I'm looking to improve my academic prose and my writing has too many 'be verbs' and prepositions.Are there any tools or strategies anybody uses to reduce these? If you come across a be verb and you want to replace it, how do you go about finding a better phrase or word?The same with prepositions - how do you go about changing your phrasing? Are there any website dedicated to this or do you have your own system?Thanks,Lee.

Fivejedjon · Accepted Answer

What do you mean by 'be' verbs?

LeeMills771 · Answer

Just noticed - I missed the r from verb! Oh well...

Typically, 'be' verbs are the following:

Am
Is
Are
Was
Were
Be
Being
Been.

Authors advise using active verbs like shun, masquerade instead of be verbs.

Fivejedjon · Answer

You have listed the parts of BE, the most commonly used verb in the language. I don't really see how you can replace it with so-called 'action' verbs when it is the primary state verb. Which authors suggest this replacement? Can you give any examples in context of replacements they suggest?

LeeMills771 · Answer

Hi John,

Helen Sword and Jack Hart suggest this. I have some examples:

Use of 'be verbs':

The experiment was
This proposition shows

Replacements:

The experiment shuns
This proposition reveals

Hope this gives a brief explanation

Fivejedjon · Answer

These examples are pointless as they stand. We need complete sentences to show if alternative verbs are possible.

I cannot imagine a sentence in which BE can be replaced by SHUN - particularly not if you change the tense!

SHOW has nothing to do with BE.

LeeMills771 · Answer

Ok,

One sentence that has far too many be verbs:

After many attempts to "revive" downtown Greensboro, it finally appears to be happening. Streets that were once empty after dark are now bustling with activity - or at least they are showing signs of life. There are now clubs and bars lining Elm Street and the surrounding area, and they are full of twenty- and thirty-somethings. A slightly older crowd has been lured downtown by new art galleries, and live performances are now offered at two theatres. There are a few fine restaurants that have been before- and after-theatre specials. There is also a new park in the middle of town that has live concerts on a live basis. Some lunch hour performances are held there, and many downtown workers have been attracted to them. Young families are also discovering downtown, thanks in large part to the Children's Museum that has been open for a few years and the baseball stadium, which is brand new and which has a playground that is loved by kids.

An edited version which reduces Be and also HAVE verbs from 19 to 3:

After many attempts to "revive" downtown Greensboro, it finally appears to be happening. Streets that once stood empty after dark now bustle with activity - or at least show signs of life. Clubs and bars full of twenty- and ~~thirty somethings line Elm Street and the surrounding area. New art galleries and two theatres offering live performances have lured a slightly older crowd downtown, where they can find before~~ and after-theatre specials at a few fine restaurants. A new park in the middle of town hosts live concerts on a regular basis, including some lunch-hour performances that attract many downtown workers. Young families are also discovering downtown, thanks in large part to the Childrens' Museum that opened a few years ago and the brand new baseball stadium with a playground that kids love.

Taken from 'The University Writing Centre.'

I like the edited version as it sound much clearer. But, it's a process I'm still learning and finding replacements for Be and Have words is a difficult step for me currently.

I was hoping people had a system of improving their writing in this regard.

Lee.

Be Vebs and Prepositions

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions