Identifying Action Verbs

Lesson Plan - Get It!

Audio:

A verb is a word used to express action or being.

Most verbs express action. The following list of verbs tell about someone's action.

• dances
• runs
• dreams
• writes
• sings
• jumps
• studies

• Can you think of a time when someone would do one of those verbs?

The child writes his name.

The word writes in this sentence is a verb that tells what the child does.

Your turn. Try using one of the verbs listed above in a sentence.

Say your sentence aloud and emphasize the verb that describes the action.

• Why is your sentence's verb important?

The verb describes the action!

Every sentence must have a verb. A verb can also be the only word in a sentence.

Run.

Run is a sentence because the subject (you) is implied.

Look at the following groups of words. Drag and drop to sort them into two categories: sentences and non-sentences or phrases.

Great job!

Compare the two categories to notice how the verbs tell the action in the sentences. The non-sentences are missing the action or the verb.

• Are you wondering how this information may help you as a reader or writer?

Venture into the Got It? section to learn more.