90 Action Verbs with Pictures

Verbs can be one of the most fun and most frustrating parts of learning English. Kids enjoy the active aspect of verbs, but memorizing conjugations can be really hard. Teaching action verbs with pictures make it easier for kids to understand what each verb means and how it is used.

Actions verbs are the easiest verbs for young kids to learn because they can be physically seen and practiced. As well, there are lots of fun and easy games you can play to get your child learning about action verbs.

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If you are interested in learning more about verbs in English, we have plenty of verb resources at our Verbs in English page.

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Actions Verbs with Pictures

Our action verbs are sorted in alphabetical order. As well, we have included two sample sentences with each verb. The first action verb example will be in the simple present tense, while the second example is in the present continuous. 

Ask

""

He asks for a favor.

I am asking a question.

Bark

""

The dog often barks at other dogs.

The dog is barking loudly.

Bend

""

He rarely bends the pages of his books.

She is bending her pencil.

Break

""

He breaks his games when he gets angry.

Tom is breaking his ruler.

Buy

""

Sarah buys water often.

Tom and Jerry are buying some snacks.

Carry

""

I carry my wallet in my bag.

I am carrying my son on my shoulders.

Catch

""

He rarely catches butterflies.

He is catching fish with his dad.

Clap

""

The class claps loudly.

We are clapping for my friend.

Clean

""

He cleans the floor.

I am cleaning my bedroom.

Climb

""

A monkey climbs the tree.

He is climbing a rope.

Close

""

She closes the door after him.

The door is closing by itself.

Cook

""

Jane cooks very well.

Jane is cooking for Tim.

Count

""

He counts on his hand.

He is counting his money.

Crawl

""

He crawls to his dad.

He is crawling on the floor.

Cry

""

They cry after the movie.

They are crying because of her mom’s news.

Cut

""

Tim cuts the paper.

Joyce is cutting the wrapping paper.

Dance

""

He dances on the roof.

He is dancing with his girlfriend.

Dive

I dive into the water.

I am diving into the pool.

Draw

""

She draws a picture.

She is drawing a dog.

Dream

""

We dream of puppies.

We are dreaming together.

Drink

""

They drink water.

They are drinking some wine.

Drop

""

You drop the book on your bed.

You are dropping a cup on the ground.

Eat

He eats lunch.

He is eating his lunch right now.

Fight

""

She fights with her mom.

She is fighting her bullies.

Fly

""

It flies over the house.

It is flying quickly through the sky.

Give

""

We give her a present.

We are giving you our old car.

Hit

""

They hit a car with their bicycle.

They are hitting baseballs.

Hold

""

I hold my bag close to me.

I am holding my cup in my hand.

Hug

""

You hug your mom.

You are hugging your boyfriend.

Jog

""

I jog quickly.

I am jogging through the park.

Jump

""

He jumps through the hoop.

He is jumping on the trampoline.

Kick

""

She kicks him hard.

She is kicking her car.

Kiss

""

We kiss often.

We are kissing right now.

Kneel

""

They kneel on the ground.

They are kneeling during the meeting.

Laugh

""

I laugh with her.

I am laughing at the joke.

Lean

""

You lean on the bookshelf.

You are leaning on your friend.

Leap

""

He leaps across the puddle.

He is leaping across the hole.

Lift

""

She lifts the table up.

She is lifting her bag up from the chair.

Listen

""

It listens to your voice.

It is listening for problems.

Look

""

We look for our dog.

We are looking at the tv.

March

""

They march in the streets.

They are marching to the park.

Open

""

I open the car for her.

I am opening the cupboard.

Paint

""

You paint on the canvas.

You are painting a watercolor.

Pick

""

He picks a blueberry shake.

He is picking out his clothes.

Pick up

""

She picks up her clothes.

She is picking up her toys.

Play

""

We play soccer every week.

We are playing baseball.

Point

""

They point to the mountains.

They are pointing at the painting.

Pour

""

I pour out a drink.

I am pouring my friend a cup of tea.

Pull

""

You pull a door open.

You are pulling your bag behind you.

Punch

""

He punches her friend.

He is punching the table.

Push

""

She pushes a cart.

She is pushing her car.

Put

It puts bottles in the machine.

It is putting everything in order.

Read

""

We read a book together.

We are reading the newspaper.

Ride

""

They ride the rollercoaster.

They are riding their horses through the park.

Run

""

I run quickly.

I am running on the street.

Say

""

You say it is hard.

You are saying that you should run more often.

Scratch

""

He scratches his mosquito bite.

He is scratching his leg.

Shake

""

She shakes her fist at the dog.

She is shaking from the cold.

Sing

""

We sing every weekend.

We are singing at the dance.

Sit

""

They sit on the chairs.

They are sitting for an hour.

Skate

""

I skate every winter.

I am skating on the pond.

Ski

""

You ski on the tall mountain.

You are skiing really well.

Sleep

""

He sleeps for 8 hours.

He is sleeping right now.

Slip

""

She slips on a banana.

She is slipping across the kitchen.

Smell

It smells bad.

He is smelling the apple pie.

Snore

""

They snore loudly.

They are snoring.

Spell

""

We spell new words together.

We are spelling the word dog.

Squat

""

They squat on the ground.

They are squatting around the living room.

Stack

""

I stack the books on the table.

I am stacking my plates in the cupboard.

Stand

""

You stand beside me.

You are standing at the back of the bus.

Stretch

""

He stretches his arms.

He is stretching after soccer.

Study

""

She studies French in her bedroom.

She is studying French right now.

Swim

""

It swims faster than a shark.

It is swimming through the cold water.

Talk

""

I talk with my parents often.

I am talking with them on the phone.

Teach

""

I teach kids about math.

I am teaching my class math today.

Think

""

You think that he is wrong.

You are thinking about the problem.

Throw

""

He throws the ball far.

He is throwing a football with his dad.

Throw Away

""

She throws her garbage away.

She is throwing her phone away this week.

Tiptoe

""

We tiptoe through the house.

We are tiptoeing so that we don’t wake them up. 

Trip

""

They trip over the nail.

They are tripping too often.

Turn Off

""

I turn off the TV.

I am turning off the radio.

Turn On

""

You turn on the computer.

You are turning the car on.

Wait

""

He waits for his dog to come back.

He is waiting for the bus.

Walk

""

She walks in the park.

She is walking along the street.

Wash

""

It washes your clothes quickly.

It is washing your car.

Watch

""

We watch TV after dinner.

We are watching an action movie tonight.

Wave

""

They wave at their family.

They are waving their arms above their head.

Win

""

I win a lot of games.

I am winning the game right now.

Write

""

You write down your address.

You are writing your novel.

Yawn

He yawns loudly.

He is yawning at the table.

Need More Help?

Verbs can be difficult to learn and teach. If you have any questions, please comment on this post or click on the image below. 

Don’t see an action verb you are looking for? Comment on this post and we can try to add it for you.