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Original poster

What are "powerful adjectives"?

64 replies

Hathor · 14/10/2008 15:11

I know that adjectives are describing words, but what exactly are "powerful adjectives"?
I am sure we never had them when I was at school.

OP posts:
Bride1 · 14/10/2008 17:24

"I never claimed that teachers wouldn't know powerful ADJECTIVES", that should read.

childrenofthecornsilk · 14/10/2008 17:25

Are you for real?

Bride1 · 14/10/2008 17:26

Yes. You seem to be accusing me of something I haven't ever said.

soapbox · 14/10/2008 17:31

I think you are being a bit mean to Bride here.

She has said nothing at all that is terribly controversial. Merely said that as a writer she feels using 'better' verbs should be more of a focus than adjectives.

Then when someone suggested that that wasn't helpful to the OP, she then provided a list of examples.

Why is that in anyway deserving of the derision you seem to be directing her way?

nooka · 14/10/2008 17:32

My ds loves this sort of thing. He can't spell for toffee but has great vocab. I like squelchy and grotesk too . It's all about creating interesting images of things in your head IMO.

Bride1 · 14/10/2008 17:32

Thank you, soapbox. I would like to apologise again for any offence I caused.

I do feel strongly about the verbs, though. That's my job: feeling passionate about my subject. I do appreciate that children need to learn all the parts of speech, though.

childrenofthecornsilk · 14/10/2008 17:33

because of the phrase 'I have given up explaining this to teachers.' It is patronising.

childrenofthecornsilk · 14/10/2008 17:34

I agree that chn need to learn all parts of speech BTW. It is also part of my job.

Bride1 · 14/10/2008 17:35

Well I'm glad we can agree on one thing.

sadbarratthomeowner · 14/10/2008 17:37

But is this phrase "powerful adjectives" part of the curriculum? I find it so amusing because dd1's teacher last year was so OTT about it - leaping round the classroom waving his arms about and shouting "POWERFUL ADJECTIVES"!! It certainly made dd laugh and she hasn't forgotten it!

MrsWeasley · 14/10/2008 17:39

The teacher asks for powerful adjectives to avoid everything being described as the big bike, the big house, the big horse, the big cake, etc etc the teacher wants to read things like the rusty broken bike, the large haunted spooky house, the enormous grey horse, the gigantic yummy chocolate cake

We did this with a group of year 3's and everthing was described as blue or brown. The brown horse, the blue bike etc etc

Bride1 · 14/10/2008 17:40

I can remember a lesson about adverbs when I was eight which involved the teacher walking across the classroom 'in the manner of..' for adverbs. I never forgot that lesson, or what an adverb was.

fumf · 14/10/2008 17:59

that sounds like great teaching!
My ds is dyslexic so can never remember the difference between verbs, adverbs, adjectives etc. He can do it if you say ''a desribing word, or a doing word.''.

He would definitely remember a lesson like that though

soapbox · 14/10/2008 18:10

Cornsilk - I didn't read it as patronising at all - I read it as someone who was rather frustrated about the focus on adjectives in teaching. It is certainly what they bang on about at my DCs school with nary a word about good adverbs or verbs indeed!

Moomin · 14/10/2008 18:21

Unless you're doing the actual job of teaching children for a job, I don't think it's very fair to claim that you are frustrated with the way parts of speech are taught - unless it's a particular teacher against whom you have evidence and a valid point. To tar all teachers is a bit harsh, and I agree it sounded patronising, even if you didn't intend it to be.

It's like you coming in to teach one aspect of writing for an afternoon, snatching the class off the regular teacher and saying in an exasperated voice "Here, let me do it - properly" with a on your face.

Bride1 · 14/10/2008 18:24

I have now apologised twice. How many more times would you like me to do it?

fumf · 14/10/2008 18:47

tell you what Bride, see if you can do using lots of powerful adjectives...

Bride1 · 14/10/2008 18:49

My apology is great, heart-felt, sincere, total, complete.

ScummyMummy · 14/10/2008 18:51

Don't apologise any more bride1. Lighten up all you offended ones, ffs. Touchy touchy. I think I'm going to start spelling "scrumptious" "scrumshus". That is cool.

slayerette · 14/10/2008 18:52

I am an English teacher who encourages powerful adjectives.

I have also played 'In the manner of the adverb' with many a class.

I have also devoted whole lessons to drawing huge posters with all the alternatives we can come up with to the verb 'to say' or 'to walk' and so on.

Do I get a big tick and possibly a gold star too?

slayerette · 14/10/2008 18:52

That was a nice apology, Bride

fumf · 14/10/2008 18:53

That'll do for me..
I am now going to find some scrumshus biscuits and brave the hell which is watching my ds trying to write his own homework

Bride1 · 15/10/2008 11:11
Smile
Litchick · 15/10/2008 11:25

Bride - i'm a writer too and it is also thing with me.
When I see all those adjectives I imagine my editor's big red pen .

Litchick · 15/10/2008 11:26

Or should that be huge, crimson pen??