How many power verbs are their?

Answer 1

Take the number of verbs that exist and subtract one and you have the number of power verbs! A writer creates a power verb when he uses the active voice to show a person doing something. You can say, "He stood, waiting for the car to stop." In that case, "stood," is a power verb. If you say, "He was standing, waiting for the car to stop," you used passive voice and brought your action to a stop. You made him powerless. In the first example he showed power. In the second case, he does not show power. Of course, there may be a time or two when you want to stop the action, as just before a bank robbery. In that case, you need the contrast. Normally, you want to keep the action flowing.