What are Action Verbs? and Types of Action Verbs

Action Verbs

An action verb or dynamic verb is a verb that describes an action.

For example: Run, jump, climb, kick

The action can be physical (run, climb, ask) or mental (memorize, learn, imagine).

Action verb explains what the subject of the sentence is doing.

While using an action verb, the structure of the sentence will be:

Subject – Action verb – rest of the sentence (noun, verb, adjective, adverb, etc.)

For example: John is throwing the ball.

Here, throwing is the action verb. It explains what the subject, John is doing.

How Do Actions Verbs Differ from Linking Verbs and Stative Verbs?

• Action verbs express what the subject does.

For example: Terry opened the door.

Here, “opened” is the action verb.

• Stative verbs are used to provide more information about the subject rather than say what the subject does.

For example: Tommy hates papaya.

Here “hates” is a stative verb.

• Linking verbs express a connection between the subject and its complement.

For example: His car is red.

Here, “is” is the linking verb.

Types of Action Verbs

Action verbs are of two types:

• Transitive verbs and
• Intransitive verbs

Transitive Verbs

Transitive verbs are those verbs in which action is done upon an object. A transitive verb is always accompanied by an object. The object is a noun (direct object) which receives the action of the verb.

For example: Theo is making a toy house.

Here, the subject is Theo. What is Theo making? He is making a toy house. So, the object is a toy house and the transitive verb is made.

Intransitive Verbs

Intransitive verbs are those verbs in which action is not done upon any object. In such sentences, the verb will not have any object.

For example: Joey is playing.

Here, Joey is the subject. Joey is playing. There is no object upon which the action of playing is being done. Playing is the intransitive verb.