Practice
Action verbs: meaning and examples
In the sentence The mechanic checked the engine, checked tells you what the mechanic did. That word is an action verb.
Identify action verbs and choose a verb that shows what the subject does.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
action verb /ˈækʃən vɜrb/
The short answer
Action verbs name actions or processes. They can describe a physical action, such as carry, or a mental action, such as consider. Find the subject first, then ask what that person, thing, or group does.
The volunteers sorted the donated books after lunch.
Why it works: Sorted is the action verb because it tells us what the volunteers did.
5 more examples
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Omar repaired the loose shelf before dinner.
Repaired names a physical action completed by Omar.
Not this:Omar
wasthe repair person before dinner. What changes: Was links Omar to a noun that describes his role. It does not name the work he did. -
The students considered two answers before they chose one.
Considered is an action verb even though the thinking happens in the mind.
Not this:The students
wereuncertain about two answers. What changes: Were links the students to the adjective uncertain. It does not describe their thinking process. -
A delivery truck crossed the bridge at dawn.
Crossed tells us what the truck did.
Not this:The delivery truck
wason the bridge at dawn. What changes: Was gives the truck's location. Crossed describes movement from one side to the other. -
Priya noticed a mistake in the address.
Noticed describes a mental action: Priya became aware of the mistake.
Not this:The address
wasincorrect. What changes: Was links address to the adjective incorrect. It does not say who recognized the problem. -
The children laughed and waved at the train.
The subject performs two actions, so the sentence has two action verbs.
Not this:The children
werehappy near the train. What changes: Were links children to happy. Laughed and waved name actions.
Read the full guide
Start with the subject and look for the word that gives its action. The action may be visible, as in lift a box, or invisible, as in plan a trip. A sentence can also contain more than one action verb when the subject does several things.
Find what the subject does
Look for the subject first. Then ask, What does this subject do? The answer often gives you the action verb. The action can be quick, gradual, physical, or mental.
The nurse measured the patient's temperature.
Nurse is the subject. Measured is the action because it tells us what the nurse did.
What did the nurse do?
The nurse measured the temperature.
Physical actions are only one group
Many action verbs describe something you can see: fold, drive, paint, or climb. These verbs help the reader picture the action. A subject can perform one physical action or a sequence of actions.
The technician lifted the cover and replaced the battery.
Lifted and replaced are both action verbs. The technician does two separate things.
How many actions does the technician perform?
The sentence has two action verbs: lifted and replaced.
Mental actions count too
Some actions happen in the mind. Decide, remember, understand, hope, and notice can all function as action verbs. You may not see the action, but the verb still tells you what the subject is doing or experiencing.
I remembered the appointment while I was on the bus.
Remembered describes a mental action. It is different from a verb that only connects a subject to a description.
Can an action verb describe thinking?
Yes. A mental process can be an action for grammar purposes.
Separate action verbs from linking verbs
A linking verb connects the subject to information about that subject. Be is a common linking verb. Other verbs can act as linking verbs when they describe a state or quality, not an action. Read the whole sentence before deciding.
The soup smells spicy, but the cook smelled the soup before serving it.
In the first part, smells links soup to spicy. In the second part, smelled names the cook's action.
Does the verb name an action, or does it connect the subject to a description?
Use the words around the verb to decide which job it has.
Build a clearer sentence with verbs
A precise action verb can make a sentence clearer. Instead of writing The team did work on the plan, choose a verb that names the work, such as discussed, revised, or approved. Choose a verb that matches the action you mean.
The team revised the plan after the meeting.
Revised tells the reader what changed. Did work gives much less information.
Which verb tells the reader more about the team's work?
Revised is the more precise action verb.
Before you go
Remember this
Ask what the subject does, thinks, notices, or experiences. The word that answers that question is usually an action verb. Check the words after the verb when you are unsure, because a verb such as look or taste can have more than one job.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Action verbs: meaning and examples"
What is an action verb?
An action verb tells you what the subject does, thinks, notices, or experiences. Physical action verbs include repair, carry, and cross. Mental action verbs include consider, remember, and notice. To find one, identify the subject and ask what it does in the sentence.
Omar repaired the loose shelf before dinner.
Can a mental verb be an action verb?
Yes. A mental action does not need visible movement. In the lesson example, the students considered two answers before choosing one. Considered describes their thinking process, so it works as an action verb. Verbs such as decide, remember, and imagine can work in the same way.
Omar was the repair person before dinner.
How do action verbs differ from linking verbs?
Action verbs tell you what the subject does. Linking verbs connect the subject to a word that describes or identifies it. In The delivery truck crossed the bridge, crossed shows movement. In The delivery truck was on the bridge, was gives the truck's location instead of an action.
The students considered two answers before they chose one.
Can one sentence have two action verbs?
Yes. One subject can do more than one thing. In The children laughed and waved at the train, laughed and waved are both action verbs. Coordinating words such as and often join two actions performed by the same subject.
The students were uncertain about two answers.
Can look, smell, or taste be action verbs?
Sometimes. The job of the verb depends on the sentence. In The cook smelled the soup, smelled names an action. In The soup smells spicy, smells links the soup to a description. Check whether the verb has an object or is followed by a describing word.
A delivery truck crossed the bridge at dawn.