In your notebook, match the base forms of the speech verbs in purple in the story and in Exercise 5 with the definitions in the LANGUAGE FOCUS. LANGUAGE FOCUS Speech verbs You can make your writing more descriptive and dramatic by using alternatives to say. Use them to describe the way in which the characters speak, or the noises they make to express their emotions. 1 breathe in suddenly because you are surprised or in pain = gasp 2 say | Focus 4. Second Edition. Student's Book | 6/111