Verbs
Brijbox English · Learn the idea
A verb can tell us what someone or something does: jump, draw, carry.
Some verbs tell us about thinking or being: know, like, am, is. They do not always show a movement.
Look at the word’s job in its sentence. The same word can have different jobs.
Look at these examples
The rabbit hops.
Hops is a verb. It tells us what the rabbit does.
I know the answer.
Know is a verb about thinking. You do not have to see a movement.
The soup is hot.
Is is a verb too. It links the soup to how it is.
Remember
A verb can show an action or a state. Read the whole sentence.
Your turn
Say or write your answers. An adult can read the questions aloud.
1. The children build a tower.
Which word tells us what the children do? children / build / tower
2. I like puzzles.
Which word is the verb? like / puzzles / I
3. The bag is heavy.
Which word is the verb? bag / heavy / is
4. We paint the fence.
What job does paint do here? It names a thing. / It tells us what we do. / It names a place.
Make your own sentences
Write two sentences about an imaginary creature. In one sentence, say what it does. In the other, use is to say what it is like. Underline the verb in each sentence.
Grown-up guide
Avoid reducing verbs to “doing words” only. Include is and know, and always identify words in a sentence.
Practice answers
1. build. Build is the verb. Children and tower are nouns.
2. like. Like is a verb. Verbs can describe a state or feeling, as well as a movement.
3. is. Is is the verb. Heavy describes the bag; it is an adjective.
4. It tells us what we do. Paint is a verb here. In “The paint is blue”, paint is a noun. Its job depends on the sentence.
Check the child’s own writing
- Does my first verb tell what the creature does?
- Did I find is in my second sentence?
One possible example: The dragon carries a basket. It is gentle.
Try another day
Find one action verb and one verb that does not show movement in a book.
These are starter lessons. Use the child’s explanation and independent sentences to choose what to revisit. Finishing a page is not a mastery result.