Identify action verbs

key notes:

What Are Action Verbs?

  • Definition: Action verbs are words that show what someone or something is doing. They express physical or mental activities and describe an action that the subject of the sentence performs.

Examples of Action Verbs

  1. Physical Actions:
  • run
  • jump
  • eat
  • swim
  • dance
  • play
  • sing
  • walk
  • kick
  • write
  1. Mental Actions:
  • think
  • dream
  • imagine
  • remember
  • believe
  • understand
  • hope
  • wish

How to Identify Action Verbs in a Sentence

  1. Find the Subject: Identify who or what is performing the action.
  • Example: The dog barks.
  1. Look for the Action: Determine what the subject is doing.
  • Example: The dog barks. (“Barks” is the action verb because it shows what the dog is doing.)
  1. Ask “What is Happening?”: The answer will usually be the action verb.
  • Example: What is the dog doing? The dog is barking.
  1. Check the Word’s Function: Ensure the word describes an action that can be performed physically or mentally.
  • Example: She writes a letter. (“Writes” is the action verb because it is something she does.)

Practice Identifying Action Verbs

  • Underline the Action Verb:
  1. The boy runs fast.
  2. The bird flies high in the sky.
  3. She thinks about her homework.
  • Circle the Action Verb:
  1. I read a book before bed.
  2. They play soccer in the park.
  3. The teacher explains the lesson.
  • Match the Subject with the Action Verb:
  1. The cat _ (sleep, jump).
  2. The students _ (study, dance).
  • Fill in the Blank with the Correct Action Verb:
  1. The dog _ the ball. (run, chase)
  2. I _ my teeth every day. (brush, clean)

Activities to Practice Action Verbs

  1. Action Verb Charades: Act out different action verbs like “run,” “jump,” “eat,” and have others guess the verb.
  2. Verb Sorting Game: Sort a list of words into action verbs and non-action verbs categories.
  3. Create a Story: Write a short story using as many action verbs as possible.
  • Example: “Yesterday, I walked to the park, played on the swings, and ran around with my friends.”
  1. Verb Hunt: Find and list all the action verbs in a short paragraph or story.

Self-Check: Identify the Action Verbs

Identify the action verbs in the sentences below:

  1. The cat chased the mouse.
  2. We jumped in the puddles.
  3. She painted a beautiful picture.
  4. He thinks about his favorite game.
  5. They play together in the garden.

Answers:

  1. chased
  2. jumped
  3. painted
  4. thinks
  5. play

Let’s practice!🖊️