ks1 verb activity

5 Fun Activities for Teaching Verbs in the Primary Grades

• March 29, 2020

Looking for some activities for teaching verbs to your Kindergarten, 1st, or 2nd grade students? 

Whether your students are just starting to learn about the parts of speech or are well on their way to being grammar gurus, these five activities will make learning about verbs a ton of fun!

Activity #1: Play Simon Says with action words. 

Introduce the concept of verbs as action words with a game of “Simon Says!”

First, brainstorm a list of action words with your students to use for the game.

You can also use these ready-made word cards from my Kindergarten Grammar Alive curriculum – just cut them out and make a stack or stick them on a binder ring for easy access:

This activity works well as part of a mini-lesson about verbs, and you can also play again during transitions.

Activity #2: Have students look for verbs “in the wild.”

In order for grammar to be meaningful, students need to make connections between grammar concepts and actual text.

As a class, we practice identifying verbs in sentences (and acting out the sentences, too!):

Students can also search for verbs in the books they read:

Both of these activities come from my First Grade Grammar Alive program.

Activity #3: Build Verb Vocabulary with Games

Building students’ verb vocabulary is important – both for helping them learn verb shades of meaning (see Activity #4 for more on that) AND for helping them learn to use a variety of verbs in their writing.

One easy way to build their vocabulary is to play charades. You or a student acts out a verb, and the class guesses what verb they’re trying to show.

Here’s another verb vocabulary game, where students move around the board and have to name the depicted verbs that they land on:

Activity #4: Put Verbs in Order to Practice Shades of Meaning

To teach students how to choose just the right verb for their writing, work on verb shades of meaning!

First, model how to put the verbs “jog,” “run,” and “sprint” in order from slowest to fastest.

Then, divide students up into small groups. Give each group their own set of cards to put in order.

Once students have ordered the verbs, they can present their work to the class and get feedback.

Finally, you can glue the groups of verbs to chart paper. This creates an anchor chart that students can refer back to during writing time!

Activity #5: Play “Parts of Speech 4 Corners “

Once your students have learned about verbs and other parts of speech, get them up and moving with a few rounds of 4 Corners! 

To play, label the corners of your classroom as:

“WILD CARD!”

Give each child a word card. The words on the cards should be a mix of nouns, verbs, and adjectives. Several of them should say “WILD CARD.”

Students should read the word on their card and then go to the corresponding corner of the classroom.

You or a student leader should stand in the middle of the classroom, eyes closed. The leader calls out a corner (nouns, verbs, adjectives, or wild card) and all the students who were standing in that corner are out of the game and must sit down.

The remaining players trade cards and go to the corresponding corner. Again, the leader calls out “nouns,” “verbs,” “adjectives,” or “wild card,” and the game continues.

Keep playing until only one student is left – that student becomes the leader next!

All the materials to play this game are included in my First Grade Grammar Alive curriculum.

Need more ideas and materials for teaching grammar? 

I hope you got a few new ideas for teaching verbs!

For complete grammar lesson plans and many more grammar activities (including the ones featured in this blog post), check out my Grammar Alive programs for Kindergarten, first grade, and second grade:

Or maybe you already have a grammar curriculum – but you stil need independent practice activities for your students!

If so, check out my BoomCards TM Grammar Games . They’re digital grammar activities that your students can use on any computer, chromebook, or tablet with internet.

My students love using BoomCards!! And the audio directions are great for providing support even when students are working independently.

Happy teaching!

Related Posts:

Thank you Alison! These are such great ideas. I’m a first time home schooler. So these are very helpful. But I wonder how I can make the Game: Parts of the Speech corners work for us (with only 1 child).

Hey, Shan, good question! Since it’s meant to be a classroom game, it obviously won’t directly translate to a one-on-one setting. However, you could simply have lots of cards for each part of speech and have your child sort them? You could also do something a little different like play 20 questions with different word cards and then have your child identify the word and part of speech?

Thank you so much for these ideas!!

You’re welcome!

I’m Alison, a literacy specialist. I love getting kids excited about reading and writing – and sharing teaching ideas with other teachers!

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Learn how to you can use statement sentences to tell your reader a fact or idea about a topic.

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All verbs have a past, present and future form. Find out when to use them.

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Verb Worksheets

Free verb worksheets.

These printable worksheets help students learn to  recognize and use verbs .  Verbs are doing words or 'action' words.  All worksheets are free, printable pdf files.

Grade 1 verbs worksheets

• Identifying action words and verbs
• Writing sentences with verbs
• Verb-noun agreement
• Past, present and future tenses
• Verbs ending in "ed" and "ing"

Grade 2 verbs worksheets

• Identifying verbs
• Writing verbs in sentences
• Action verbs vs linking verbs
• Conjugating verbs
• Commonly confused verbs (saw/seen; lie/lay/laid; is/are)
• Verb tenses: past, present and future tenses
• Irregular verbs

Grade 3 verbs worksheets

• Identifying verbs (actions, mental actions, state of being)
• Identify verbs and nouns
• Completing sentences with verbs
• Commonly confused verbs
• Phrasal verbs
• Subject-verb agreement
• Action verbs
• Linking verbs
• Helping verbs
• Verb tenses
• Progressive verb tenses

Grade 4 verbs worksheets

• Past perfect, present perfect and future perfect tenses
• Progressive (or continuous) verb tenses
• Helping or auxiliary verbs
• Can vs could
• May vs might vs must
• Action verbs and linking verbs

Grade 5 verbs worksheets

• The perfect tenses
• The progressive (continuous) tenses
• The perfect progressive tense
• Verb conjugation
• Noun-verb agreement
• Descriptive verbs
• Correcting verb tenses
• Verb tense shifts
• Verb tense practice (longer texts)

Sample verbs Worksheet

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KS1 Resources & Worksheets > KS1 Vocabulary, Spelling, Punctuation & Grammar Resources & Worksheets >

Verbs Resources and Worksheets

About these resources.

Differentiated KS1 verbs resources designed to help children in years 1 and 2 recognise and use verbs effectively.

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Free KS1 Noun or Verb IWB GPS Question of the Day – Day 3

KS1 Noun or Verb IWB - Question of the Day. Day 3's activity is based on Noun or verb. Challenge your class to work together and figure out the answer.

Free Year 2 Different Types of Verbs Homework Extension Word Classes 2

Step 1: Free Year 2 Different Types of Verbs Homework Extension provides additional questions which can be used as homework or an in-class extension for the Free Year 2 Different Types of Verbs Resource Pack and are differentiated three ways.

Year 1 Verbs Homework Extension Word Classes

Step 2: Year 1 Verbs Homework Extension provides additional questions which can be used as homework or an in-class extension for the Year 1 Verbs Resource Pack and are differentiated three ways.

Year 1 Noun or Verb? Homework Extension Word Classes

Step 3: Year 1 Noun or Verb? Homework Extension provides additional questions which can be used as homework or an in-class extension for the Year 1 Noun or Verb? Resource Pack and are differentiated three ways.

Year 1 Recognising Verbs in Sentences Homework Extension Word Classes

Step 5: Year 1 Recognising Verbs in Sentences Homework Extension provides additional questions which can be used as homework or an in-class extension for the Year 1 Recognising Verbs in Sentences Resource Pack and are differentiated three ways.

Year 1 Using Nouns and Verbs in Sentences Homework Extension Word Classes

Step 6: Year 1 Using Nouns and Verbs in Sentences Homework Extension provides additional questions which can be used as homework or an in-class extension for the Year 1 Using Nouns and Verbs in Sentences Resource Pack and are differentiated three ways.

Summer Year 2 GPS Assessment

This Summer Year 2 GPS Assessment Resource Pack has been created to assess pupil knowledge of all the blocks and small steps covered so far in the Summer term. The pack includes an SATs style assessment with 16 questions linked to all of the small steps in Summer; a mark scheme with content domain coverage, small step coverage with suggested levels and a teacher assessment spreadsheet.

Autumn Year 1 GPS Assessment

Autumn Year 1 GPS Assessment Resource Pack to assess pupil knowledge of all the blocks and small steps covered so far in the Autumn term. The pack includes an SATs style assessment with 25 questions linked to all of the small steps in Autumn; a mark scheme with content domain coverage, small step coverage with suggested levels and a teacher assessment spreadsheet.

Year 2 End of Year GPS Assessment

This Year 2 End of Year GPS Assessment helps identify progress by assessing against each of the Year 2 National Curriculum Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling objectives. The Teacher Objectives Sheet allows you to identify progress as well as gaps in pupils' knowledge.

Labelling Parts of a Sentence KS2 SPAG Test Practice

Four differentiated activities for labelling parts of a sentence to practise question types from the KS2 SPAG Test 2014.

Converting Verb Tenses KS1 SPAG Test Practice

Five differentiated activities to practise changing verbs from the present tense to the past tense.

Converting Past Tense Verbs KS2 SPAG Test Practice

Six differentiated activities to convert verbs into the present tense to practise question types from the 2014 KS2 SPAG Test (3-5).

Identifying Word Classes KS2 SPAG Test Practice

Four differentiated activities to help children identify word classes correctly. Question types are from the KS2 SPAG Test (Level 3-5) 2015.

Finding Verbs KS2 SPAG Test Practice

Four differentiated activities to practise finding verbs from the KS2 2015 (3-5) SPAG Test.

Verbs KS2 SPAG Test Practice

Four differentiated verbs activities to practise question types from the 2015 KS2 Level 6 SPAG test.

Imperative Verbs – Commands KS2 SPAG Test Practice

Four differentiated commands activities to practise question types from the KS2 SPAG test (New Curriculum 2014).

Verb Agreement KS2 SPAG Test Practice

Three differentiated verb agreement activities to practise question types from the KS2 2015 (Levels 3-5) SPAG test (New Curriculum 2014).

Adding Plurals KS1 SPAG Test Practice

Four differentiated activities to practise adding plurals from the Sample KS1 GPS test.

Converting Tenses KS1 SPAG Test Practice

Four differentiated tense activities to practise converting tenses from the Sample KS1 SPAG test (New Curriculum 2014).

Identifying Verbs KS1 SPAG Test Practice

Four differentiated activities to practise identifying verbs from the KS1 SPAG test.

Types of Word KS1 SPAG Test Practice

Four differentiated word classes activities to practise question types from the KS1 SPAG Test.

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• KS1 English

Our quiz introduces children to verbs (doing words) as suggested in the National Curriculum. KS1 children in their English and Literacy classes should be able to identify a verb in writing and when reading.

A verb is usually a "doing" word. It is a word that describes action and tells us that something is happening. For example, the rabbit "jumps".

It can also be a "being" word to describe a feeling. My hand "itches".

Finally, verbs can be words which describe something that is happening but not being "done", for example, a caterpillar "becomes" a butterfly.

Every sentence must have a verb in it to make sense.

To see a larger image, click on the picture.

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What is a verb? – 16 of the best primary grammar worksheets and resources for KS1 and KS2 English

It's not quite as simple as 'doing words', but these activities for Years 1 through Year 6 will have children learning all about the different types of verbs and how and when to use them…

What is a verb?

The English programme of study says:

The surest way to identify verbs is by the ways they can be used: they can usually have a tense, either present or past.

Verbs are sometimes called ‘doing words’ because many verbs name an action that someone does; while this can be a way of recognising verbs, it doesn’t distinguish verbs from nouns (which can also name actions). Moreover many verbs name states or feelings rather than actions.

It also explains that verbs can be classified in various ways:

• as auxiliary, or modal
• as transitive or intransitive
• and as states or events

Verb examples

• He lives in Birmingham. [present tense]
• The teacher wrote a song for the class. [past tense]
• He likes chocolate. [present tense; not an action]
• He knew my father. [past tense; not an action]

Year 1 verbs

What Year 1 students need to learn

• Suffixes that can be added to verbs where no change is needed in the spelling of root words (eg helping, helped, helper)
• How the prefix un– changes the meaning of verbs and adjectives [negation, for example, unkind, or undoing: untie the boat]

1 | ‘What is a verb?’ quiz

This simple 10-question multiple-choice quiz asks children to spot which of the four answers is a verb, or which isn’t a verb, or which word in a sentence is the verb and so on.

Try it online here.

2 | Y1 spelling workout: suffix -ing

These verb worksheets for Year 1, covering adding -ing to verbs, are an excellent way for children to revise and practise this spelling pattern.

The worksheets include different activities in which children look at spelling patterns, identify misspelt words and apply their spellings in context. They can be used within lessons, as an assessment or as a homework task.

Get them here.

3 | Adding ‘er’ to verbs

These worksheets are made in the same mould, but this time they cover adding ‘er’ to verbs.

Find them here.

Year 2 verbs

What Year 2 students need to learn Use of the progressive form of verbs in the present and past tense to mark actions in progress [for example, she is drumming, he was shouting]

4 | Year 2 verbs

This bright, appealing grammar worksheet is an excellent way to practise and revise using verbs in Year 2. It is divided into five sections: understand, challenge, test, explain and apply.

Activities include SATs-style questions and opportunities for creative writing responses, with eye-catching images as prompts.

Get this resource here.

5 | Past simple or past progressive worksheet

This worksheet helps children consolidate understanding of the meaning, form and function of the past simple and past progressive tenses. Answers are included.

6 | Irregular verb tenses

This grammar worksheet helps students to practise and revise using the suffixes -ly, -ful, -less, -ness and -ment in Year 2, through SATs-style questions with opportunities for creative writing responses.

Get this one here.

7 | adding ‘ed’ to verbs

Help children revise and practise the spelling pattern of adding ‘ed’ to verbs, with activities looking at spelling patterns, identifying misspelt words and applying their spellings in context.

You’ll find this resource here.

Year 3 verbs

What Year 3 students need to learn Use of the present perfect form of verbs instead of the simple past [for example, He has gone out to play contrasted with He went out to play]

8 | Verb tenses worksheets

The first worksheet deals with how to change the spellings of verbs when adding “ing” to the end. Instructions are given at the top of the sheet, and children have to fill in the blank spaces using the correct verbs (with the correct spellings).

The second worksheet explains how to change verbs into the past tense, with spelling rules given at the top, and children need to insert the correct verbs into the sentences.

There are no blank spaces on this worksheet, so children have to decide where to insert the verb, or verbs, into each sentence.

9 | Powerful verbs worksheets

These Year 3 worksheets all help lower-KS2 students develop their use of powerful verbs and expand their vocabulary.

Click the links to check out each one:

• Powerful verb synonym posters
• Ordering powerful verbs activities
• Grammar burst powerful verbs five lesson pack
• Powerful verbs writing features
• Powerful verb synonyms tarsia puzzle
• Powerful verb synonyms spinners

Year 4 verbs

10 | verb tense snap card game.

This simple card game is based on the classic Snap. Print and cut out the cards and children then call out snap whenever they have the same verb but in a different tense, eg ‘think’ and ‘thought’.

Download and print here.

11 | Verb inflections (was/were)

This grammar worksheet looks at the verb inflections was/were in Year 4 with SATs-style questions over five sections.

Get it here.

Year 5 verbs

What Year 5 students need to learn

• Converting nouns or adjectives into verbs using suffixes [for example, –ate; –ise; –ify]
• Verb prefixes [for example, dis–, de–, mis–, over– and re–]
• Indicating degrees of possibility using adverbs [for example, perhaps, surely] or modal verbs [for example, might, should, will, must]

12 | Modal verbs

This powerful KS2 grammar resources pack provides everything you need to teach a series of five lessons on modal verbs, culminating in an extended writing task where children can use their grammatical understanding in context.

13 | Modal verb SPaG challenge

This 15-minute SPaG challenge focusing on modal verbs asks students to put words – ‘might’, ‘can’, ‘can’t’, ‘will’, ‘must’, ‘won’t’ – in order from most to least likely, put modal verbs into the blank spaces in sentences and other similar SATs-style questions.

14 | Modal verbs story starters

This teaching sequence has been designed to help children revisit and recall a key grammatical concept from the National Curriculum programme of study for Year 5.

The session provides a motivating and memorable image to stimulate discussion, before introducing the grammar element, which is ‘modal verbs’.

Children have time to practise using this feature, before undertaking a short writing task to apply what they have learnt in the context of creative writing.

15 | Verb Suffixes

Another 15-minute SPaG challenge, this grammar worksheet helps Year 5 students practise using verb suffixes with questions like adding ‘-ate’, ‘-ify’ or ‘-ise’ to a list of nouns and adjectives, and adding one of these suffixes to the root words ‘advert’ and ‘note’ to write a sentence for each.

Year 6 verbs

16 | modal verbs.

Want to explain modal verbs to your students? This nicely laid-out PowerPoint will help you do just that.

There are 13 slides of examples, explanations and questions.

Click here to download this PowerPoint.

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Action Verbs Worksheets

Subject: English

Age range: 5-7

Resource type: Worksheet/Activity

Last updated

27 March 2021

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This resource contains two worksheets on action verbs. You may also be interested in:

Action Verbs - 15 Page Workbook

This 15-page workbook contains one information sheet and fourteen worksheets on action verbs. Tasks include:

matching verbs to pictures choosing correct verb to insert into a sentence identifying verbs within sentences writing own sentences using verbs

Action Verbs PowerPoint Lesson

This is an editable, 55-slide PowerPoint lesson. The PowerPoint includes:

An explanation of action verbs with examples Identifying action verbs in sentences Action pictures as a stimulus for pupils to think of appropriate verbs Sorting words into adjectives, nouns and verbs

The PowerPoint also contains a link to a short video on action verbs.

Save money and buy both resources at a discounted rate:

Action Verbs PowerPoint Lesson and Workbook

Action Verbs Posters

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Really good resource for identifying and using verbs.

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