GCAS Strategies 20 Presentations: Trends

A. Verbs to describe trends

These verbs describe trends.

1. Up: increase, go up, grow, improve, rise.
2. Down: decrease, go down, decline, fall, dip (go down a little).
3. Up a lot: double/triple/etc., jump, rocket, shoot up, soar, surge.
4. Down a lot: drop, halve, plummet, plunge.
5. Consistent over time: plateau, stabilize, remain.

Can you think of others?

Pick one verb from each section. Use it to describe January in the graph, above.

B. Adverbs to describe size or speed of changes

Adverbs modify verbs. Use them to describe the size or speed of changes.

Let's start with the size of the change.

• Big: dramatically, significantly.
• Medium: moderately, somewhat.
• Small: marginally, negligibly.

Now, let's look at the speed of the change.

• Fast: sharply, quickly, rapidly.
• Slow: slowly, slightly.
• Consistent over time: gradually, steadily.

Recall the examples you gave in section A. Can you use adverbs in those sentences?

C. Adjectives and nouns to describe change

Adjectives and nouns can also be used to describe change. Verbs can usually be changed to their noun forms (e.g., "to rise" → "a rise"), and adverbs can become adjectives (e.g., "dramatically" → "dramatic"). Adjectives are used to modify nouns.

Adjectives:

• Bigger/Faster: dramatic, significant, sharp, quick, rapid. 
• Medium/More slowly: moderate, gradual.
• Smaller: negligible, slight, slow.
• Consistent over time: gradual, steady.

Nouns:

• Up: an increase, a rise, an improvement, a surge, a jump.
• Down: a decline, a fall, a dip, a plunge.
• Consistent over time: a plateau, a stabilization.

Note that when you use a noun or adjective, the sentence structure changes. To learn the difference, finish the incomplete sentences with a verb vs. a noun or adjective. (The first example has been completed for you.)