Here are four rules for avoiding verb mistakes in your police reports. Clear, jargon-free explanations help you understand the rules - and examples are included for you.

1. Solving Verb Problems in
Police Reports
by Jean Reynolds, Ph.D.

2. Verbs (“action words”)
are important
components of police
reports.

3. Every sentence in your reports must
include at least one verb.

4. We use verbs
every time we talk
or write.

5. Most verbs are easy to use.

6. But verb mistakes
sometimes
happen.
Let’s see how to
avoid them.

7. Rule #1: Use the
correct form of
the verb.

8. “Seen” requires a helping verb (is, are,
was, were, has, have).
The suspect was last seen running north
on Main Street.
Watson said she had seen him in her shop
earlier that day.

9. If you don’t use a helping verb, saw is
the correct verb.
I saw the suspect running north on Main
Street.
Watson said she saw him in her shop
earlier that day.

10. The correct past tense for drag is
dragged, not drug.
He drug Cole’s body to the back door.
Incorrect
He dragged Cole’s body to the back door.
Correct

11. The correct past tense for pass is
passed, not pasted.
He pasted me going 65 mph in a 40 mph
zone.
Incorrect
He passed me going 65 mph in a 40 mph
zone.
Correct

12. Rule #2: Be
careful with verb
endings.

13. Be sure to use verb
endings whenever
they’re needed. It’s
easy to overlook “s”
and “-ed” when you’re
writing quickly.

14. Writers
sometimes
forget the “s” in
verbs like lists,
asks, constructs,
sweats.

15. Read these sentences aloud, making
sure to say the “s” and “-ed” endings.
It’s easy to omit them!
Although he always sweats during our morning run,
he isn’t really pushing himself.
If the town constructs a youth center, we’ll have a
safe place for teens to gather.
The old handbook listed all the departments.
I asked if she had a permit for the weapon.

16. Rule #3: Match
each verb to the
correct word.
(English teachers
call this
agreement.)

17. Try this sentence:
The misuse of prescription drugs (is,
are) a significant problem.

18. What is the “significant problem”? Is it
the prescription drugs...or the misuse of
them?

19. Answer: The misuse.
So here’s how the sentence should read:
The misuse of prescription drugs is are a
significant problem.

20. Here it is again:
The misuse of prescription drugs is a
significant problem.

21. Let’s try another one.

22. The policy about
weekends and
holidays (need,
needs) to be
updated.

23. What needs updating: The policy, or the
weekends and holidays?

24. The policy. So here’s the correct
sentence:
The policy about weekends and holidays
needs need to be updated.

25. Here it is again:
The policy about
weekends and
holidays needs to
be updated.

26. Let’s try a few more of these. (Look for
the important word. Hint: It always
comes first.)
The box of knives and razor blades (was, were) hidden
under a blanket.
The family, including Jill and her three children, (live,
lives) upstairs.
Workshops for the coming year (include, includes)
communication, first aid, and leadership.

27. Here are the answers. How did you do?
The box of knives and razor blades (was, were) hidden
under a blanket.
The family, including Jill and her three children, (live,
lives) upstairs.
Workshops for the coming year (include, includes)
communication, first aid, and leadership.

28. Here they are again:
The box of knives and razor blades was hidden under a
blanket.
The family, including Jill and her three children, lives
upstairs.
Workshops for the coming year include communication,
first aid, and leadership.

29. We have one more
rule. It’s #4:
Be careful with
sentences
beginning with
here and there.

30. Try this sentence:
There’s the
handcuffs we were
looking for.
Is that correct?

31. Here’s how you
figure it out: Flip
the sentence
around.
The handcuffs we
were looking for is
there.

32. Oops! You would say
the handcuffs are
there.
The handcuffs we
were looking for
are there.

33. So here’s the
correct sentence:
There are the
handcuffs we were
looking for.

34. Let’s try another one:
There (was, were) four people in the
car.

35. First, flip it around:
Four people were there in the car.

36. Were is correct:
There were four people in the car.

37. Now you know how
to avoid the most
common verb
problems.
Congratulations!

38. You can learn more about verbs (and
many other usage issues) at
www.YourPoliceWrite.com.

39. Everything there is free, and no
registration is needed:
www.YourPoliceWrite.com.

40. And if you’re
looking for a
low-cost,
practical book…

41. Criminal Justice
Report Writing is
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View a free sample
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42. A discount price is
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44. A free Instructor’s
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