Grammar Girl: For Writers and Language Lovers. The hidden superpower of verbs, with Sarah L. Kaufman
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Apr 30, 2026 Sarah L. Kaufman, a Pulitzer Prize–winning dance critic turned author and writing teacher, shares why verbs are a hidden superpower. She explores English’s knack for manner verbs. Short, vivid verbs can shape memory, speed emergency action, and bring interior life to writing. The conversation also touches on child language patterns and when adverbs still matter.
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Author's Own Verb Obsession During Editing
- Kaufman described obsessively reworking a sentence in her book to avoid pretentious fancy verbs like utilize or exude.
- She ultimately chose plain verbs like relied on, illustrating her guidance to prefer blunt, simple verbs.
Book Born From Dance Criticism And Lockdown
- Sarah L. Kaufman traced the book's origin to COVID lockdowns and her background as a dance critic who needed action-rich prose.
- Her decades of dance criticism and teaching writing produced examples and the impulse to emphasize verbs.
Why Babies Learn Prepositions Before Verbs
- English-speaking children often learn nouns and prepositions before verbs, unlike children learning Korean where verbs appear earlier.
- Kaufman cites a study showing Korean parents ask What is he doing? while English parents label the noun, shifting attention to actions.
