Action Words
Action words are verbs — words that show what a person, animal or thing does. Run, jump, eat, write, sing and read are all action words. Every complete sentence needs one, because it tells you what is happening.
Examples of action words
| Action word | Used in a sentence |
|---|---|
| run | The children run in the park. |
| eat | We eat lunch at one o'clock. |
| write | She writes a letter to her friend. |
| jump | The frog can jump very high. |
| read | He reads a story every night. |
| sing | Birds sing in the morning. |
How to spot an action word
Ask 'what is the person or thing doing?' The answer is the action word. In 'The dog barks loudly,' the dog is doing the barking — so 'barks' is the action word.
Action words can describe things you can see (jump, kick, dance) or things you cannot see happening but still do (think, know, believe).
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Related concepts
Frequently asked questions
Action words are verbs — they show what someone or something does, like run, eat or write.
Run, jump, eat, read and sing are all action words.
Yes. 'Action word' is the simpler term used in early grades for a verb that shows an action.