Verbs for Kids with Examples, Sentences, and Activities

Verbs for kids are words that help children understand what someone does, what someone is, or what is happening in a sentence. Words like run, jump, eat, read, write, is, are, have, can, and will are verbs.

Kids use verbs when they speak, read, write sentences, describe pictures, answer questions, and tell stories. This guide explains verbs in a simple way with examples, pictures, meanings, verb types, sentence practice, verb tenses, regular and irregular verbs, games, worksheets, teaching tips, and FAQs.

What Are Verbs?

Verbs are words that show an action, a state, or a helping idea in a sentence. They are one of the most important parts of speech because every complete sentence usually needs a verb.

Examples:

• I run.
• She reads.
• The dog barks.
• He is happy.
• We are friends.
• They can swim.

In these sentences, the bold words are verbs.

Why Verbs Are Important for Kids

Verbs help kids understand what is happening in a sentence. In The bird flies, the verb flies tells what the bird does.

They also help children write complete sentences. Instead of writing only The boy, a child can write The boy runs, The boy reads, or The boy is happy.

Verbs are useful for grammar lessons, vocabulary practice, speaking practice, story writing, reading comprehension, and classroom worksheets.

Examples:

• The baby sleeps.
• The fish swims.
• The teacher reads.
• The children play.
• My friend is kind.

Verbs vs Action Words

Action words are a type of verb. However, verbs are a broader grammar group because some verbs show actions, while others show being or helping.

Term	Meaning	Examples
Action Words	Words that show what someone or something does	run, jump, eat, play
Verbs	Grammar words that can show action, being, or helping	run, is, are, can
Best for Beginners	Action words are easiest because kids can see or act them out	clap, swim, read
Broader Grammar Use	Verbs can also help make sentences and show time	was, were, will

Types of Verbs for Kids

There are different types of verbs, but kids should learn them in a simple order. Start with action verbs, then introduce being verbs, to be verbs, helping verbs, and linking verbs.

Action Verbs

Action verbs show what someone or something does. They are easy for kids because many action verbs can be acted out.

• run
• jump
• walk
• eat
• drink
• read
• write
• draw
• play
• sing
• dance
• swim
• clap
• kick
• throw
• catch

Being Verbs

Being verbs tell what someone or something is. They do not always show a visible action.

Examples:

• I am happy.
• She is kind.
• They are friends.
• He was tired.
• We were late.

Common being verbs:

• am
• is
• are
• was
• were

To Be Verbs

To be verbs are the main forms of the verb be. Kids often see these words in reading, writing, and grammar lessons.

• am
• is
• are
• was
• were
• be
• being
• been

Examples:

• I am ready.
• The dog is small.
• We are here.
• She was happy.
• They were outside.

Helping Verbs

Helping verbs help the main verb in a sentence. They can show time, ability, or possibility.

Examples:

• I can jump.
• She will read.
• He is running.
• They have finished.
• We do like apples.

Common helping verbs:

• can
• will
• do
• does
• did
• have
• has
• had
• am
• is
• are
• was
• were

Linking Verbs

Linking verbs connect the subject to a describing word or idea. Keep this simple for kids because linking verbs can feel less visual than action verbs.

Examples:

• The girl is happy.
• The soup smells good.
• The flower looks pretty.
• The boy feels tired.

Simple linking verbs:

• is
• am
• are
• was
• were
• looks
• feels
• smells
• seems

Main Verbs for Kids

The main verb tells the main action or main idea in a sentence. In a short sentence, the main verb is often easy to find.

Examples:

• I run.
• She reads.
• The dog barks.
• We play.
• The bird flies.
• He writes.

In longer sentences, helping verbs may come before the main verb.

Examples:

• I can jump.
• She is reading.
• They will play.
• He has finished.

Main verbs:

• run
• read
• bark
• play
• fly
• write
• jump
• swim
• eat
• sleep

Common Verbs Kids Use Every Day

Common verbs are words children hear and use often at home, in school, during play, and in daily routines.

• run
• jump
• walk
• sit
• stand
• eat
• drink
• play
• read
• write
• draw
• sing
• dance
• sleep
• clap
• swim
• kick
• throw
• catch
• listen
• talk
• smile
• laugh
• cook
• clean
• wash
• open
• close
• help
• look
• ask
• answer
• count
• spell
• build
• make
• carry
• choose
• learn
• finish

Verbs with Pictures

Verbs with pictures help children understand meaning quickly. These verbs are easy to show through drawings, flashcards, posters, worksheets, and classroom actions.

• Run
• Jump
• Walk
• Eat
• Drink
• Read
• Write
• Draw
• Play
• Sing
• Dance
• Swim
• Clap
• Kick
• Throw
• Catch
• Sleep
• Sit
• Stand
• Smile

Verbs and Meanings for Kids

Short meanings help children understand verbs and use them correctly in sentences.

• Run — to move fast on your feet
• Jump — to push your body up from the ground
• Walk — to move on your feet slowly
• Eat — to take food into your mouth
• Drink — to take liquid into your mouth
• Read — to look at words and understand them
• Write — to make letters, words, or sentences
• Draw — to make a picture with a pencil, pen, or crayon
• Play — to have fun with toys, games, or friends
• Sing — to make music with your voice
• Dance — to move your body with music
• Sleep — to rest with your eyes closed
• Sit — to rest your body on a chair or floor
• Stand — to be upright on your feet
• Clap — to hit your hands together
• Swim — to move through water
• Kick — to hit something with your foot
• Throw — to send something through the air with your hand
• Catch — to take and hold something that is moving
• Listen — to hear carefully

Easy Verbs for Beginners

Easy verbs are simple, visual, and useful for young learners. These words work well for preschool, kindergarten, first grade, ESL lessons, flashcards, and worksheets.

• run
• jump
• walk
• sit
• stand
• eat
• drink
• play
• read
• write
• draw
• sing
• dance
• sleep
• clap
• swim
• kick
• throw
• catch
• look
• talk
• smile
• laugh
• help
• open
• close
• wash
• clean
• ride
• cook

Verbs by Age and Grade Level

Verbs by age and grade level help parents and teachers choose words that match a child’s learning stage.

Preschool Verbs

Preschool verbs should be simple, visual, and easy to act out.

• run
• jump
• walk
• sit
• eat
• drink
• play
• sleep
• clap
• smile
• dance
• sing

Kindergarten Verbs

Kindergarten verbs can include classroom actions, movement words, and daily routine words.

• read
• write
• draw
• color
• listen
• speak
• count
• wash
• open
• close
• throw
• catch
• kick
• swim
• ride

First Grade Verbs

First grade verbs can support sentence writing, grammar practice, and simple story writing.

• answer
• ask
• explain
• choose
• carry
• build
• create
• remember
• compare
• describe
• share
• help
• learn
• practice
• finish

Verbs by Category

Grouped verbs help kids learn words by meaning and use. These categories are useful for grammar lessons, picture description, word walls, sentence writing, and worksheets.

Movement Verbs

Movement verbs show how people or animals move.

• run
• jump
• walk
• hop
• skip
• crawl
• climb
• swim
• dance
• march
• slide
• roll

Classroom Verbs

Classroom verbs help children follow directions and talk about learning.

• read
• write
• listen
• speak
• draw
• color
• count
• spell
• answer
• ask
• learn
• practice

Daily Routine Verbs

Daily routine verbs describe things kids do every day.

• wake
• brush
• wash
• eat
• drink
• dress
• clean
• sleep
• open
• close
• cook
• pack

Animal Verbs

Animal verbs describe what animals do.

• bark
• fly
• swim
• crawl
• hop
• roar
• climb
• dig
• bite
• chase
• purr
• gallop

Feeling and Thinking Verbs

Feeling and thinking verbs should stay simple for kids.

• think
• know
• feel
• like
• love
• want
• remember
• choose
• hope
• learn

Verb Examples for Kids

Verb examples can be grouped by type so children can see how verbs work in different ways.

• Action verbs: run, jump, eat, drink, read, write, play
• Being verbs: am, is, are, was, were
• To be verbs: am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been
• Helping verbs: can, will, do, does, have, has
• Linking verbs: is, are, looks, feels, smells
• Present verbs: run, play, read, write
• Past verbs: ran, played, read, wrote
• Future verbs: will run, will play, will read, will write

Verbs with Sentences

Sentence examples help kids understand how verbs work in real grammar and writing.

• Run — I run in the park.
• Jump — The frog can jump.
• Walk — We walk to school.
• Eat — I eat an apple.
• Drink — She drinks water.
• Read — He reads a book.
• Write — I write my name.
• Draw — The child draws a house.
• Play — We play with a ball.
• Sing — They sing a song.
• Dance — The girl dances happily.
• Sleep — The baby sleeps at night.
• Is — She is happy.
• Are — We are friends.
• Was — He was tired.
• Can — I can swim.
• Will — They will play.
• Have — We have a dog.
• Looks — The flower looks pretty.
• Feels — The blanket feels soft.

Simple Verb Tenses for Kids

Verb tenses tell when an action happens. Kids can start with three simple tenses: present, past, and future.

Present Tense Verbs

Present tense verbs tell what happens now or what happens regularly.

• I run.
• She plays.
• He reads.
• We write.
• They eat.
• The dog barks.

Common present tense verbs:

• run
• play
• read
• write
• eat
• drink
• walk
• talk
• help
• sleep

Past Tense Verbs

Past tense verbs tell what already happened.

• I played.
• She jumped.
• He walked.
• We helped.
• They ate.
• The dog ran.

Common past tense verbs:

• played
• jumped
• walked
• helped
• talked
• cleaned
• ran
• ate
• drank
• wrote

Future Tense Verbs

Future tense verbs tell what will happen later.

• I will play.
• She will jump.
• He will read.
• We will write.
• They will eat.
• The dog will run.

Common future tense examples:

• will run
• will play
• will read
• will write
• will eat
• will drink
• will walk
• will help
• will sleep
• will learn

Verb Forms for Kids

Verb forms show how a verb can change in different sentences. Keep this simple for young learners.

• run, runs, ran
• jump, jumps, jumped
• play, plays, played
• eat, eats, ate
• write, writes, wrote
• read, reads, read
• go, goes, went
• do, does, did
• have, has, had
• make, makes, made

Examples:

• I run.
• He runs.
• She ran.
• We play.
• He plays.
• They played.

Regular and Irregular Verbs for Kids

Regular verbs usually add -ed to show the past. Irregular verbs change in a different way.

Type	Meaning	Examples
Regular Verbs	Verbs that usually add -ed in the past	play/played, jump/jumped
Irregular Verbs	Verbs that change differently in the past	run/ran, eat/ate
Easy Regular Verbs	Simple verbs with -ed endings	walk/walked, help/helped
Easy Irregular Verbs	Common verbs with special past forms	go/went, write/wrote

Subject-Verb Agreement for Kids

Subject-verb agreement means the subject and verb must fit together in a sentence. For kids, start with simple examples.

• I run.
• He runs.
• We play.
• She plays.
• They read.
• The boy reads.
• The dogs bark.
• The dog barks.

More examples:

• I like apples.
• She likes apples.
• We write stories.
• He writes stories.
• They jump high.
• The frog jumps high.

Simple Sentence Patterns with Verbs

Simple sentence patterns help kids use verbs correctly.

• I + verb
• She + verb
• He + verb
• They + verb
• We + verb
• The animal + verb

Examples:

• I run.
• She jumps.
• He reads.
• They play.
• We write.
• The dog barks.
• The bird flies.
• The baby sleeps.

Longer examples:

• I run fast.
• She jumps high.
• He reads a story.
• They play outside.
• We write in class.
• The dog barks loudly.

Verb Practice Steps

Verb practice should include reading, speaking, acting, and writing.

• Say the verb.
• Act out the verb if possible.
• Look at a picture.
• Use the verb in a sentence.
• Change the verb form.
• Write the sentence.
• Read the sentence aloud.
• Find the verb in a short story.

Example:

• Verb: jump
• Action: Jump one time.
• Sentence: I jump.
• Past tense: I jumped.
• Future tense: I will jump.

Verbs Chart

A verbs chart helps children review important verb groups in one place.

Group	Example Verbs	Best Use
Action Verbs	run, jump, eat, read	Doing words
Being Verbs	am, is, are, was	Describing states
To Be Verbs	be, being, been	Grammar practice
Helping Verbs	can, will, do, have	Helping main verbs
Linking Verbs	is, looks, feels, smells	Description sentences
Present Verbs	run, play, read, write	Now or regular actions
Past Verbs	ran, played, ate, wrote	Already happened
Future Verbs	will run, will play	Later actions
Irregular Verbs	go/went, eat/ate	Special past forms

Printable Verbs List for Kids

This printable verbs list can be used for flashcards, word walls, posters, worksheets, grammar lessons, and sentence writing.

• run
• jump
• walk
• hop
• skip
• crawl
• climb
• swim
• sit
• stand
• eat
• drink
• sleep
• wake
• wash
• brush
• clean
• cook
• read
• write
• draw
• color
• count
• spell
• listen
• speak
• ask
• answer
• play
• sing
• dance
• clap
• kick
• throw
• catch
• ride
• build
• make
• paint
• create
• help
• share
• carry
• open
• close
• smile
• laugh
• think
• learn
• choose
• am
• is
• are
• was
• were
• can
• will
• do
• does
• have
• has

Verb Games and Activities

Games help children learn verbs through movement, speech, reading, and play.

• Act it out — Say a verb and let kids perform the action.
• Verb match — Match each verb with the correct picture.
• Simon says — Use verbs like jump, clap, sit, stand, and turn.
• Find the verb — Read a sentence and point to the verb.
• Verb charades — Act out a verb while others guess it.
• Sentence race — Pick a verb and make a sentence quickly.
• Verb sorting — Sort verbs into action, being, and helping groups.
• Flashcard draw — Choose a verb card and draw the action.
• Verb tense game — Change a verb from present to past.
• Picture talk — Describe what people are doing in a picture.
• Verb hunt — Find verbs in a short story.
• Partner practice — One child says a verb, and the other uses it in a sentence.

Verb Worksheets and Exercises for Kids

Verb worksheets and exercises help kids practice grammar in a clear and simple way.

• Match verbs with pictures.
• Circle the verb in each sentence.
• Fill in the blank with the correct verb.
• Write a sentence using the verb.
• Sort action verbs and being verbs.
• Change present tense to past tense.
• Match regular verbs with past forms.
• Match irregular verbs with past forms.
• Choose the correct verb for the subject.
• Underline verbs in a short story.
• Complete the sentence: I can ___.
• Complete the sentence: She ___ a book.
• Write three verbs about school.
• Write three verbs about animals.

Example exercises:

• I can run / blue.
• The bird can fly / book.
• She reads / apple a story.
• The baby sleeps / chair.
• He writes / pencil his name.

Common Mistakes When Teaching Verbs

Avoid these common mistakes when teaching verbs:

• Teaching verbs only as action words and never showing being verbs
• Using advanced grammar terms too early
• Giving too many verb types in one lesson
• Not using verbs in sentences
• Skipping picture and movement practice
• Mixing nouns and verbs without explanation
• Teaching verb tenses too quickly
• Ignoring simple subject-verb agreement
• Giving irregular verbs before kids know common regular verbs
• Not reviewing verbs after one lesson
• Making worksheets too hard for young learners
• Asking children to memorize lists without speaking or writing

How to Teach Verbs to Kids

Start with verbs children can see and act out, such as run, jump, walk, eat, drink, read, write, draw, play, sing, dance, sit, stand, and clap. Say the verb, show a picture, act it out, and use it in a short sentence. After that, introduce simple being verbs like is, am, and are.

Teach verbs through pictures, movement, speaking, reading, and sentence writing. Group verbs by action, being, helping, daily routines, classroom use, and simple tenses. Use flashcards, posters, games, worksheets, short stories, and sentence patterns so children see and use verbs in different ways.

FAQs

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