Saying Verbs Explained for 13-Year-Old Students

What Are Saying Verbs?

Saying verbs are action words that describe the way someone says something. They tell us how or in what manner words are spoken. Instead of just using "said," we can use different saying verbs to make our writing more interesting and clear.

Common Saying Verbs

• Say – the most common word to show someone speaks.
• Ask – when someone is questioning.
• Reply – when someone answers.
• Shout – when someone says something loudly.
• Whisper – when someone says something softly.
• Murmur – when someone speaks quietly, like a soft sound.
• Exclaim – when someone says something with strong feeling.

Why Use Different Saying Verbs?

Different saying verbs help the reader understand how something is said, which makes stories more exciting and easier to imagine. For example:

• ""I'm hungry," she said."
• ""I'm hungry," she whispered.
• ""I'm hungry," she shouted."

As you can see, the way the sentence feels changes depending on the saying verb.

How to Use Saying Verbs in Sentences

Saying verbs are usually followed by what is being said. You can start your sentence with the person speaking or use the saying verb in the middle, like this:

• Tom asked, "Are you coming to the party?"
• "I'm tired," he murmured.

Practice

Try using different saying verbs the next time you write dialogue. Replace "said" with words like "asked," "whispered," or "exclaimed" to make your story more lively!