Action words | All you need to know about these words!

Research has revealed that close to 1.35 billion people globally speak English, of which 360 million have English as their first language! That means a significant proportion of the English-speaking population has to learn the necessary rules of English. 

There are close to 3500 rules in the language, in addition to a wide range of words and terminologies. These, put together, allow millions of individuals to communicate clearly. 

Of the different kinds of words used in the English language, action words are among the most popular. A common part of written and spoken communication, these words help facilitate a clear understanding of messages between two or more people. 

So, discover all you need to know about action words below! 

Action wordsWhat are they?

Actions words, also known as action verbs, are words that quite simply express an action. The action is often done by the subject of the clause or sentence and includes eating, sleeping, and sitting, among other activities! It is even possible for there to be an action with no movement!

Action verbs express that a person, object, animal, or process is in a state of being. These verbs, however, should not be confused with two other kinds of verbs, i.e., linking verbs and stative verbs. 

• Linking verbs serve as a connecting link between a subject and a complement.

For example: Tomorrow is Wednesday. 

Here, ‘is’ is a linking verb because the word links a subject with a subject complement rather than expressing an action taken. 

• Stative verbs, on the other hand, express the state of being and provide information about the subject. 

For example: John hates spicy food. 

The verb ‘hates’ is a stative verb that provides information about the subject rather than expressing any action that the subject has taken. 

Learning the meaning of difficult words and adding action words to your vocabulary can help you carry excellent conversations in your everyday life!

Types of action words 

Action words in English or action verbs are broadly categorized into two main types:

• Physical action verbs  
• Mental action verbs

Physical action verbs 

Physical action verbs describe actions that require the movement of bodies and objects. Some of the most commonly used physical action verbs include: 

• Swim 
• Tumble 
• Bend 
• Ask 
• Frolic 
• Hang 
• Drive 
• Climb 
• Kick 

Mental action verbs 

Mental action verbs, on the other hand, are slightly trickier to identify. These may not seem like action verbs at first but can refer to mental activities that a person can undertake. An interesting fact to learn is that many mental action verbs classify as stative verbs because they express conditions or states of being! 

Some examples of mental action verbs include: 

• Analyze 
• Dream 
• Imagine 
• Consider 
• Remember 
• Forget 
• Memorize 
• Learn 
• Condemn 

Examples of action verbs in sentences

The best way to understand how to use action words or action verbs is to note their meaning when placed in a sentence. 

Here are examples of action verbs: 

1. The bird sings a beautiful song every morning. 
2. Close the door when you walk out! 
3. The horse galloped down the trail. 
4. It’s the perfect weather to swim in the pool. 
5. We will eat lunch together tomorrow. 
6. My baby sleeps in her nursery. 
7. The piglet grunts. 
8. Dr. Silver examines her patient. 
9. The roof of the house is leaking. 
10. Joy solved the mystery! 
11. Harold found a green crayon. 
12. I have been waiting at the bank for hours. 
13. I feed my six cats every day. 
14. The children play basketball during recess. 
15. She has been sleeping all day. 
16. Can I buy you dinner? 
17. We like eating healthy food. 
18. What would you like to drink? 
19. A toddler learns to crawl before she learns to walk. 
20. Please throw me that ball.
21. She gave a theatrical bow (bow is the action word depicting what the subject has undertaken). 
22. Please do not talk to any strangers. 
23. No, I did not laugh at you. 
24. Can you smell something funny? 
25. I am going to paint my picket fence white. 
26. My daughter is learning to ride a horse. 
27. Can you please open the door? 
28. Dolphins dive to depths of as much as two hundred meters.
29. I enjoy cooking. 
30. I would like to buy a gift for my fiance. 

Using action words to make a compelling resume

Did you know that the right use of action words in English can help you create a compelling resume? Employers are more likely to hire individuals who are energetic, active, and can communicate efficiently. 

So, here is an excellent action words list for you! Use some of these words in your resume to make it stand out from the crowd: 

• Invented 
• Founded 
• Executed 
• Demonstrated 
• Created 
• Computed 
• Compiled 
• Calculated 
• Briefed 
• Investigated 
• Edited 
• Evaluated 
• Tested 
• Restored 
• Reviewed 
• Surveyed 
• Synthesized 
• Promoted 
• Produced

Additionally, there is a wide range of action words that can be used to demonstrate abilities like creation, goal orientation, people management, and teamwork. 

Here are some examples you can use to add value to your resume.

1. Action verbs showcasing a willingness to work

• Fulfilled 
• Organized 
• Enforced 
• Realized 
• Performed 
• Implemented 
• Administered 
• Prepared 
• Accomplished 

2. Action verbs showcasing goal-orientation 

• Boosted 
• Outpaced 
• Converted 
• Created 
• Amplified 
• Delivered 
• Maximized 
• Improved 
• Generated 
• Expedited 

3. Action words list displaying the skill of team-work 

• Collaborated 
• Merged 
• Joined 
• Co-Authored 
• Wove 
• United 
• Partnered 
• Forged 
• Gathered
• Co-Produced 
• Blended 

4. Action verbs showcasing creation and innovation 

• Conceptualized 
• Outlined 
• Established 
• Engineered 
• Composed 
• Conceived 
• Crafted 
• Designed 
• Built 
• Authored 
• Devised 

Key Takeaways 

• Action verbs are words used to describe the action of a subject, object, or event. These words express the mental or physical state of being of a body. 
• Action words are often used in daily conversations to convey meaning concerning a situation or an event. These words can also be used in documents like a resume to create a compelling application. 
• Understanding the rules of using action verbs can help in communicating effectively and efficiently in everyday life. 

We hope you enjoyed learning about action words in this blog! If you have any questions/suggestions, drop a comment below or reach out to us!

FAQs 

Q1. Can action words be used in different tenses? 

Answer – Yes, action words are often used in different tenses. 

Q2. What are transitive action words? 

Answer – Transitive action words take the object. To find the object, we ask the verb questions such as ‘whom and ‘what’. In these verbs, the object performs an action. 

Q3. What is an example of a non-action verb? 

Answer – An example of a non-action verb is ‘prefer’ and ‘want’. These words represent an opinion or a sense.