Action Verb: Types, Rules and Examples to Use in Sentence

What Is an Action Verb?

An action verb is used to express an action performed by the subject of a specific sentence. These verbs are also known as active or dynamic verb, which show processes, movements or actions a subject can perform. The meaning of action verb suggests that it conveys what someone is doing.

By using these verbs, you can make your sentence more vivid and dynamic, adding energy and clarity to your writing.

Types of Action Verbs With Examples

Now that you have learned about the definition of action verb, let's go through its different types, which are vital for making better sentences with grammatical accuracy. Action verbs are mainly classified into two types: transitive verbs and intransitive verbs. They are classified by the action they signify, such as mental and physical verbs. Here is the detailed information regarding the various types of action verbs:

1. Transitive Verbs

A transitive verb shows an action that is directed towards a pronoun or noun that serves as the direct object. These are important in action verbs as they transfer the action to the direct object to complete the sentence's meaning.

Example: 

He reads the newspaper.

In this sentence, "reads" is a transitive verb and "newspaper" is a direct object.

2. Intransitive Verbs

An intransitive verb articulates an action that does not require a direct object to complete its meaning. Further, the action of these verbs doesn't transfer to any pronoun or noun. Refer to the example of action verb for a clearer understanding.

Example:

The pigeon flew.

In the above sentence, the verb "flew" is considered intransitive, as it does not require a direct object to define its action.

3. Mental Verbs

Mental action verb in English grammar defines cognitive, internal actions related to feeling, perceiving or thinking rather than highlighting any physical movement. They are used to represent mental processes and emotions.

Example: 

He thinks about the options.

Here, "thinks" shows a mental procedure of considering various choices or possibilities, making it a mental action verb.

4. Physical Verbs

Physical verbs are another essential type of action verb used to describe physical activities or bodily movements. By using these verbs within a sentence, you can represent things that an object or individual can do with tools or with their body.

Example:

The boy runs in the garden.

Here, the word runs shows the physical activity of the boy, indicating it is a physical action verb.

Key Characteristics and Rules of Action Verb

Having come across the above information, you must have understood the action verbs, so now take a look at the key characteristics and rules of action verbs to frame correct sentences.

Important Characteristics of Action Verbs

The key characteristics of action verbs will help you speak and write sentences more clearly and engagingly. Now, take a glance at the following features of an action verb.

• Demonstrate Action – The basic and key feature of an action verb is that it indicates actions of an object and not a specific condition.
• Dynamic Nature – These verbs possess a dynamic nature because they frequently convey a change or movement.
• Mental or Physical – This feature shows that you can use action verbs to define an action performed with the body or the mind.
• Transitive or Intransitive – You can use action verbs with or without an object. In other words, transitive verbs need a direct object for framing a sentence, but intransitive verbs do not need any direct object for receiving action.
• Changes in Verb Form with Tense – The action verbs change their form to show the time or tenses of actions.

Rules to Use Action Verbs

It is essential to know that using these verbs can make your sentence more impactful and specific. But to use them correctly, you must know about the rules of action verbs. Below are some vital rules you should consider while using action verbs.

• Verb Agreement – This rule of verb agreement, when using action verbs, suggests that a verb must match the subject in number. This means that when the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular. However, with a plural subject, you should consider a plural verb. For instance, “she runs” (singular) and “they run” (plural).
• Tense Uniformity – The action verb is used in different tenses based on the time when an action occurs. Such as, “She walked to university yesterday” and “She will walk to university tomorrow”.

In the above examples, you can see the use of the past tense to show an action that occurred yesterday and the future tense to show an action that will take place in the future.

• Avoid Using Passive Voice – This rule highlights that you should emphasise the subject to make it a doer of action by avoiding the use of passive voice. First, identify the verb, then the subject of the sentence that is acting, and structure the sentence.

For instance, “the pastry was eaten” is in the passive voice, which indicates that the subject has undergone an action.On the other hand, “Someone ate the pastry” is in the active voice and highlights that the subject has taken action.

List of Common Action Verbs

The most frequently used action verbs are run, think, eat, sing, jump, and drink. Below is a table that includes an everyday action verb list that is used so often.

Using Action Verbs in Sentences

To make correct use of action verb in a sentence, place the verb immediately next to the subject and use a suitable verb tense to indicate when an action is happening.

Here are a few examples that help you understand the correct sentence pattern of action verb and how to use them.

• "I wrote the application to my teacher requesting one day leave."

Here, the verb is placed next to the subject in simple past tense, making it the doer of the sentence.

• "The dog barks very loudly."

In this sentence, the action verb "barks" is supported by the adverb "loudly" to define the action, making it grammatically correct.

• "The chef cooks a delightful meal."

You can see the use of active voice to show the action performed by the subject (chef) on its object (delightful meal). It is crucial to avoid passive voice and to use action verbs correctly.

• Nia drinks a glass of milk every night.

Here, the action verb ("drinks") is placed with the simple present tense to define a habitual action, which is drinking milk daily.

• His grandmother walks with a stick.

This sentence uses an action verb, which is ("walks"), to show a physical action executed by its subject ("grandmother"). It is supported with a prepositional phrase ("with a stick") that modifies its verb.

• He thinks the coffee tastes delicious.

In this sentence, the use of an action verb ("thinks") with a stative verb (tastes) is done to define the quality of coffee.

Practice Exercises to Master Action Verbs

Finally, that you have gained all the key knowledge about action verbs, let’s test your knowledge with the help of worksheets.

Here are two action verb exercises to evaluate your understanding of the topic.

Worksheet 1: Underline the Action Verbs

Underline the action verbs in the following sentences.

1. He ran to the park.
2. The girl thought about the book.
3. The teacher experienced a class that acted like creatures.
4. I assumed that my sister ate the last slice of cake.
5. The carpenter gradually shaved the entire wood.
6. You should take some time to exercise.
7. She slammed the door.
8. He refused to open the closet.
9. Sherryl delivered an impressive speech in the auditorium.
10. Siya passed the book to her friend sitting behind her.

Answer Key

1. He ran to the park.
2. The girl thought about the book.
3. The teacher experienced a class that acted like creatures.
4. I assumed that my sister ate the last slice of cake.
5. The carpenter gradually shaved the entire wood.
6. You should take some time to exercise.
7. She slammed the door.
8. He refused to open the closet.
9. Sherryl delivered an impressive speech in the auditorium.
10. Siya passed the book to her friend sitting behind her.

Worksheet 2: Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks by selecting an appropriate action verb from the options given below.

(wrote, walked, painted, ate, bought, throwing, barked, watched, ran, slept)

1. He ______ a new shirt.
2. She ______ a book in two weeks.
3. Jenny ______ to the school.
4. I _____ all night.
5. The dog ______ across the road.
6. He ______ the bird’s nest.
7. She _____ the whole cake.
8. Her dog ______ at me.
9. Riya _______ the house white.
10. Teena is ________ the ball.

Answer Key

1. He bought a new shirt.
2. She wrote a book in two weeks.
3. Jenny walked to the school.
4. I slept all night.
5. The dog ran across the road.
6. He watched the bird’s nest.
7. She ate the whole cake.
8. Her dog barked at me.
9. Riya painted the house white.
10. Teena is throwing the ball.

Conclusion: Why Action Verbs Matter

In conclusion, an action verb is crucial for conveying an action, an accomplishment, and skills clearly to make the writing impactful. It can elevate your sentences by making them precise and engaging. Besides the above details, if you have any queries, you can connect with our experts at Gradding.com. They will provide tailored guidance to solve your doubts and enhance your grammatical knowledge. Connect with us to improve your writing skills with the help of proficient tutors.

FAQs:

1. Importance of Action Verb in Writing?

Action verbs play a key role in writing because they create sentences that are more engaging and dynamic by clearly signifying what the subject of the sentence is doing. They add precision and clarity, making sentences more interesting.

2. Action Verb Vs Stative Verb?

Stative verbs generally describe a condition, perception, or state, while action verbs show an action that is performed by the subject. Stative verbs express feelings or thoughts and are not used in a continuous tense. On the other side, action verbs represent mental and physical actions that can be used in continuous and simple tenses.

3. What Is the Difference Between an Action Verb and A Linking Verb?

Action verbs define what a subject performs, indicating a mental or physical activity, while the linking verb connects the subject with a phrase or word that describes or renames it. In simple terms, action verbs define what the subject does, and linking verbs indicate what the subject is.

4. How Can I Identify an Action Verb in A Sentence?

Look for a word that defines what the subject is performing and whether it is a mental process or physical action to identify the action verb within a sentence. 

5. Can Action Verbs Be Used in Passive Voice?

Yes, you can use action verbs in passive voice. The subject of the sentence receives the action of the verb in passive sentences rather than doing it. Such as "the ball was chased by the cat."