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Updated: Oct. 10, 2007

Power Verbs 

Students sometimes experience challenging vocabulary on standardized tests 
like the N.E.C.A.P. and the Houghton Mifflin Theme tests.
Help your child grasp the concepts behind these 12 "POWER VERBS" by talking 
about the meaning and applying these words to their subjects.
Compare

  • Alike

  • All the ways they are alike

 Contrast

  • Different

  • All the ways they are different

 Describe

  • Tell about

  • Tell ALL about
Evaluate

  • Judge

  • In your own words

 Explain

  • Tell how

  • Put into your own words

 Predict

  • Make a guess

  • What will happen next?
Formulate

  • Put together

  • Create

 Trace

  • Outline

  • List the steps

 Analyze

  • Break apart

  • Study the pieces
Summarize

  • Sum it up

  • Give me the short version

 Infer

  • A good guess

  • Read between the lines

 Support

  • Give the facts

  • Back up with details

Created by Claire Dietsche  Highgate Elementary 2007
Check out:

Websites for Power Verbs

New

Activities at home

Facts and Internet Activities

The Vocabulary Visionaries

Claire Dietsche

  Christina Therrien 

 Edna Iannaco

Power Verbs 2007

These words are based on a book by Larry Bell.