What Are Action Words? – Definition & Examples
What Are Action Words? – Definition & Examples
What Are Action Words?
1, 2, 3, action! You have heard these words from the mouths of movie directors, but what connection could this possibly have to English grammar? When there is call for action, we are calling for action words. Action words are verbs, as you might guess, which are words that describe actions. These are in contrast to non-action words, also called non-action verbs, which are words that describe a state of being, a need, an opinion, or a sense. Every time you write about an action that has happened, is happening, or is going to happen, you use action words. For example:
I was running yesterday.
I am running now.
I will run tomorrow.
This lesson goes over different types of action words, examples of action words, and shows you how to use them in sentences. Let’s get to work!
Action Words in Action
There are different formats and types of actions words, and it’s also important to know how to use verb tenses with them properly. So, let’s go over some important details to keep in mind.
Action verbs are words that describe actions, while non-action verbs are words that refer to a state of being, a need, an opinion, or a sense. Look at some examples of these two types of verbs in relation to one another. Some examples of action verbs include:
Play
Jump
Eat
Work
Study
Drive
Walk
Write
Read
Talk
When using action verbs in writing, describe actions and movement. Here are some examples of these words in sentences:
I am playing basketball with my friends.
They were talking way too fast.
He drove so far for that concert!
Some examples of non-action verbs include:
Am
Is
Are
Believe
Hear
Understand
Own
Seem
Love
Remember
When using non-action verbs in writing, describe feelings and states of being rather than actions and movement. Here are some examples of their use in sentences:
I understand the point of the story.
She seems nice.
Do you remember me?
Action Word Uses
Depending upon the timeline being referred to, when you use action words, you will have to format your verbs according to the proper grammar tense. There are a lot of tenses in the English language, so it is important to keep them straight so your writing does not become confusing. For example:
I biking yesterday. (This is incorrect)
I biked yesterday. (This is correct)
I will studied tomorrow. (This is incorrect)
I will study tomorrow. (This is correct)
Always check your verb/tense agreement. This will ensure your sentences make sense.
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