Action verbs show what people, animals, or things do. Learning these words helps you talk about activities and make simple sentences.
Everyday Actions
Walk: To move using your feet at a normal speed Example: “I walk to school every day.”
Run: To move using your feet, very fast Example: “She runs in the park every morning.”
Sit: To rest your body on a chair or seat Example: “Please sit at this table.”
Stand: To be on your feet, not sitting or lying down Example: “The teacher stands in front of the class.”
Jump: To push your body up with your legs Example: “Children like to jump on the bed.”
Sleep: To rest with your eyes closed Example: “I sleep for eight hours every night.”
Eat: To put food in your mouth and swallow it Example: “We eat dinner at 7 o’clock.”
Drink: To take liquid into your mouth Example: “I drink water when I am thirsty.”
Talk: To say words to someone Example: “She talks to her friend on the phone.”
Listen: To hear something and pay attention Example: “Students listen to the teacher in class.”
Look: To turn your eyes toward something Example: “Look at that beautiful bird!”
Watch: To look at something for some time Example: “We watch TV in the evening.”
Read: To look at and understand written words Example: “I read books before sleeping.”
Write: To make words or letters on paper or computer Example: “He writes emails to his family.”
Movement Verbs
Come: To move toward a person or place Example: “Please come to my house tomorrow.”
Go: To move away from a person or place Example: “I go to work at 8 AM.”
Turn: To move your body or an object around Example: “Turn left at the traffic light.”
Stop: To not move anymore Example: “The car stops at the red light.”
Start: To begin doing something Example: “The movie starts at 7 PM.”
Open: To make something not closed Example: “Open the door, please.”
Close: To make something not open Example: “Close your books now.”
Push: To move something away from you Example: “Push the button to call the elevator.”
Pull: To move something toward you Example: “Pull the door to open it.”
Carry: To hold something while moving it Example: “She carries her bag to school.”
Work and School Verbs
Study: To learn about something Example: “I study English every day.”
Learn: To get knowledge or skill Example: “We learn new words in class.”
Teach: To help someone learn Example: “My mother teaches math at school.”
Work: To do a job Example: “My father works in a restaurant.”
Help: To make something easier for someone Example: “I help my mother clean the house.”
Clean: To remove dirt Example: “Please clean your room.”
Wash: To clean with water Example: “I wash my hands before eating.”
Cook: To prepare food with heat Example: “My father cooks dinner on weekends.”
Buy: To get something by paying money Example: “I buy bread at the bakery.”
Sell: To give something for money Example: “The shop sells fresh fruit.”
Communication Verbs
Say: To speak words Example: “She says hello to everyone.”
Tell: To give information to someone Example: “Tell me your phone number.”
Ask: To request information Example: “I ask the teacher a question.”
Answer: To respond to a question Example: “She answers all my questions.”
Call: To telephone someone Example: “I call my friend every day.”
Smile: To make a happy face Example: “The baby smiles at her mother.”
Laugh: To make a happy sound Example: “We laugh at funny jokes.”
Cry: To have tears from your eyes Example: “The baby cries when it’s hungry.”
Remember that we use action verbs to talk about what happens now, what happened in the past, and what will happen in the future. Learning these basic action verbs helps you make many useful sentences in English.