Action verbs list
These are common examples, grouped by the type of action.
| Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Physical | run, jump, write, carry, build, cook, drive, open |
| Mental | think, decide, plan, imagine, calculate, consider |
| Speaking | say, argue, explain, shout, ask, describe |
| Change | increase, fall, grow, improve, reduce, expand |
Transitive and intransitive action verbs
A transitive action verb has an object, which receives the action: "She opened the door." An intransitive one doesn't: "The baby laughed." Some verbs work both ways: "He reads books" and "He reads every night."
Action verbs, linking verbs and state verbs
Linking verbs connect a subject to a description. State verbs describe a condition rather than an activity, so they usually avoid continuous forms. Some verbs can be either, depending on meaning.
| Verb | As an action | As a state or link |
|---|---|---|
| taste | The chef is tasting the soup. | The soup tastes salty. |
| think | I am thinking about my plan. | I think it is a good plan. |
| look | She looked at the map. | She looks tired. |
| have | We are having lunch. | We have a car. |
Common mistakes
Wrong: I am knowing the answer.
Right: I know the answer.
Know is a state verb, not an action verb, so it avoids the continuous.
Wrong: The sales increased up.
Right: The sales increased.
Increase already means go up.
Wrong: She discussed about the problem.
Right: She discussed the problem.
Discuss takes an object directly, with no about.
Using this in IELTS and PTE
Strong action verbs make your writing more precise. In IELTS Writing Task 1, verbs such as rose, fell, doubled and peaked describe trends better than "went up". In IELTS and PTE essays, verbs such as reduce, encourage and prevent often replace weaker phrases such as "make less".
5 questions
Exercise
Try each one, then open it to check your answer.
1. Find the action verb: "The dog chased the cat."
chased
It tells you what the dog did.
2. Is "is" an action verb in "He is a doctor"?
No.
It is a linking verb.
3. Is "think" mental or physical?
Mental.
It is an action of the mind.
4. Correct this: "She is owning two houses."
She owns two houses.
Own is a state verb.
5. Transitive or intransitive? "The children slept."
Intransitive.
There is no object.
Frequently asked questions
Is "be" an action verb?+
Not usually. It normally works as a linking verb or a helping verb. Only rare uses, such as "Be careful", suggest behaviour.
Are mental verbs action verbs?+
Yes, when they describe an activity, such as deciding or planning. Think can also be a state verb when it means "believe".
Can a sentence have more than one action verb?+
Yes: "She ran to the bus and jumped on."
Keep going
More grammar lessons
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