Action Verb and Examples
Action verbs, also called dynamic verbs, express an action whether it be physical or mental. An action verb explains what the subject of the sentence is doing or has done. Looking at action verb examples helps make it clear the function of action verbs in sentences and what purpose they serve.
An action verb is a verb that describes an action, like run, jump, kick, eat, break, cry, smile, or think.
When using action verbs, the sentence structure will be SUBJECT--->ACTION VERB---> THE REST OF THE SENTENCE (noun)(verb)(adjective, adverb, noun, complement, or nothing). Here are some examples of action verbs in sentences. Greg is kicking the ball now. The action verb is kicking. It describes what Greg is doing. The wind blows constantly in Chicago. The action verb is blows. It describes what the wind does. He accepted my apology. The action verb is accepted. It describes what 'he' did.
What are LINKING verbs?
A linking verb is a verb that links (connects) the subject of the sentence to information about that subject. Linking verbs do not describe action. When using linking verbs, the sentence structure will be : SUBJECT--->LINKING VERB---> INFORMATION ABOUT THE SUBJECT (noun)(verb)(adjective, noun, or complement)
Some verbs are ALWAYS linking verbs because they never describe an action. Other verbs can be linking verbs in some sentences and action verbs in other sentences.
The following three verbs are ALWAYS linking verbs:
to be (is, am, are, was, were, has been, have been, had been, is being, are being, was being, will have been, etc.) to become (become, becomes, became, has become, have become, had become, will become, will have become, etc.) to seem (seemed, seeming, seems, has seemed, have seemed, had seemed, is seeming, are seeming, was seeming, were seeming, will seem) Here are some examples of linking verbs that are ALWAYS linking verbs in sentences: “The ball is red.”'Is' is a linking verb that connects the subject, ball, to information about that subject (that it is red). “The children are smart.”'Are' is a linking verb that connects the subject, children, to information about that subject (that they are smart). “The child will be tall five years from now.”'Will be' is the linking verb connecting 'child' to the fact that he will be 'tall five years from now.'“The cat seems fine.”'Seems' links the subject, cat, with information about the cat (that it is fine). “The dog became thin after his surgery.” 'Became' links the subject, the dog, with information about him (that he became thin).
Common Action Verbs
There are endless action verbs used in the English language. An action verb can express something that a person, animal or even object can do. To determine if a word is an action verb, look at the sentence and ask yourself if the word shows something someone can do or something someone can be or feel. If it is something they can do, then it is an action verb (if it is something they can be or feel, it is a non-action, or stative, verb).
Below is a list of commonly used action verbs:
Act
Agree
Arrive
Ask
Bake
Bring
Build
Buy
Call
Climb
Close
Come
Cry
Dance
Dream
Drink
Eat
Enter
Exit
Fall
Fix
Give
Go
Grab
Help
Hit
Hop
Insult
Joke
Jump
Kick
Laugh
Leave
Lift
Listen
Make
March
Move
Nod
Open
Play
Push
Read
Ride
Run
Send
Shout
Sing
Sit
Smile
Spend
Stand
Talk
Think
Throw
Touch
Turn
Visit
Vote
Wait
Walk
Write
Yell
Examples of Action Verbs in Sentences
The following are examples of how action verbs are used in sentences, keep in mind that you can use more than one action verb in a sentence. The action verb is in bold in each sentence. Remember that action verbs don't have to describe movement; the action can be mental.
Anthony is throwing the football.
She accepted the job offer.
He thought about his stupid mistake in the test.
John visited his friend for a while and then went home.
The dog ran across the yard.
She left in a hurry.
She yelled when she hit her toe.
The cat sat by the window.
I'll play this song on my guitar.
He hit a home run at the last game.
In the summer, we will swim in our pool.
Will you help me with the laundry?
He rode his new bike around the block for hours.
The horse trotted along the trail.
We ate dinner then walked around the park.
Did you fix the mistake in your homework?
She waited for her friend at the mall.
She lay on the couch and slept there all night.
Close the door!
The bird sings a cheery song every morning.
The teacher reads a book to her students then asks them questions about the story.
The roof on the house leaks.
The lightning struck the tree.
They bought a new house.
Action Verb Tenses
What separates action verbs from non-action verbs (stative verbs) is that they can be used in continuous tenses, meaning they have a present, past and future tense. The following are examples:
Action verb: eat
Present tense: I eat when I am hungry.
Past tense: She ate dinner last night at six.
Future tense: We will eat lunch tomorrow at noon.
Action verb: swim
Present tense: We swim when it is hot outside.
Past tense: Last week, we swam in the pool.
Future tense: We will be swimming at the lake next month.
Action verb: sleep
Present tense: The baby sleeps in the nursery.
Past tense: She slept all night.
Future tense: We will be sleeping in tents at summer camp.
Action verb: play
Present tense: The kids play basketball at recess.
Past tense: We played the last game on Monday.
Future tense: The girls will be playing at the park this weekend.
The Importance of Action Verbs
Action verbs are used to deliver important information in a sentence and add impact and purpose. These verbs play a vital role in grammar and signal to the reader what action the subject is performing in the sentence.
_________________________________________________________________
This article is taken from:
https://www.gallaudet.edu/tutorial-and-instructional-programs/english-center/grammar-and-vocabulary/verbs/action-verbs-and-linking-verbs/
https://examples.yourdictionary.com/action-verb-examples.html
