Some words tell us what people and things do. They are called action words. Let us get moving!
What is a verb?
A verb is an action word. It tells what someone or something does.
Can you do these actions?
run · jump · swim · eat · sleep · walk · talk · dance · jog · cut
Look and say
Read each one. The action word is in bold.
I swim at the beach.
We dance to soca.
The dog runs fast.
Mom cuts the mango.
Brennan plays pan.
Activity A: Popping verbs
Colour only the balloons that have action words. Or tap them in the game below to pop them!
TRY ITAction word games
Choose a game. Tap the action words.
Activity B: Act it out
A grown-up says an action word. You act it out! Then swap.
hop
clap
wave
sit
sing
Activity C: Fill in the action
Choose a word from the box. You can also play Fill in the action in the game above.
eat · swim · sleep · run · read
1. 🐟 Fish can ___.
Show answer
swim
2. 📖 I ___ my book.
Show answer
read
3. 🌙 At night I ___.
Show answer
sleep
4. 🍽️ We ___ roti for lunch.
Show answer
eat
5. 🏃 I ___ in the race on Sports Day.
Show answer
run
Activity D: Verb or not?
Circle the action word in each sentence. You can also play Verb or not? in the game above.
1. The cat sleeps.
Show answer
sleeps
2. I eat a red apple.
Show answer
eat
3. We walk to school.
Show answer
walk
4. The bird sings.
Show answer
sings
5. Dad kicks the ball.
Show answer
kicks
Quick check
1. What is a verb?
Show answer
An action word. It tells what someone or something does.
2. Is “jump” an action word?
Show answer
Yes! You can jump.
3. Is “pencil” an action word?
Show answer
No. A pencil is a thing. You cannot “pencil”.
Words to know
Say these words with a grown-up. Can you use each one in a sentence?
verb · action word · does · act · move
Parents’ corner
- Simon Says with action words: “Simon says hop! Simon says clap!” Ask: what was the action word?
- On the way to school: name what people are doing. “That man is sweeping. The children are walking.”
- Verb of the day: pick one action word (for example “jump”) and use it as many times as you can all day.
For parents and teachers
After this lesson, your child should be able to:
- say what a verb (action word) is
- tell action words apart from naming and describing words
- find the action word in a short sentence
- choose the right action word to finish a sentence
Answer key
Activity A: swim, run, cut, eat, sleep, walk, talk, jog, dance.
Activity B: answers will vary.
Activity C: swim, read, sleep, eat, run.
Activity D: sleeps, eat, walk, sings, kicks.
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Next: Infants 2 lessons (all subjects)
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