Meaning & use
commentary verbs
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Meaning
nounpluraltechnicalspecialist
Verbs used to report or comment on what someone says, thinks, or feels, such as 'say', 'believe', or 'argue'.
Grammar: Always plural; the singular 'commentary verb' is rare but possible in technical writing.
Patterns
- use commentary verbs
- commentary verbs like 'say'
- a list of commentary verbs
In academic writing, commentary verbs help you integrate sources smoothly.
Common commentary verbs include 'state', 'claim', and 'suggest'.
The teacher asked students to underline all the commentary verbs in the article.
Common combinations
- use commentary verbs
- Good writers use commentary verbs to show whose ideas they are presenting.
- common commentary verbs
- 'Argue' and 'maintain' are common commentary verbs in essays.
- list of commentary verbs
- The textbook provides a list of commentary verbs for reference.
Synonyms and how they differ
- reporting verbs
- Very similar; 'reporting verbs' is more common in British English and often used in journalism, while 'commentary verbs' is more academic.
- verbs of speaking
- A broader category that includes verbs like 'whisper' or 'shout', which describe how something is said, not just the act of reporting.
Word family
- commentary noun
- A description or explanation of an event, often given while it happens.
- verb noun
- A word that shows an action or state.
Commonly confused: commentary verbs or reporting verbs?
commentary verbs vs reporting verbs
These are almost the same, but 'reporting verbs' is the more everyday term. 'Commentary verbs' is used mostly in linguistics and academic writing.
Practice
Which of the following is a commentary verb?
Choose one answer.
'Argue' is a commentary verb because it introduces someone's opinion or claim (e.g., 'She argues that...'). The other verbs describe physical actions, not reporting or commenting.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “commentary verbs”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.