Action and Being Verbs

​⚡ Action and Being Verbs!

Learn the difference between what we do and what we are!

What Is a Verb?

A verb is a word that tells what someone or something does or is.

There are two main types:

• Action Verbs → show what you do

• Being Verbs → show what you are or how you feel

Examples:

• Action: run, eat, play

• Being: am, is, are, was, were

What Are Action Verbs?

An action verb shows something you can do.

Examples:

• The dog barks.

• We dance at the party.

• She paints a picture.

💡 Tip: If you can act it out, it’s an action verb!

What Are Being Verbs?

A being verb shows what someone is or how they feel.
It doesn’t show action — it shows a state of being.

Common being verbs:
👉 am, is, are, was, were

Examples:

• I am happy.

• She is my friend.

• They were tired.

💡 Tip: You can’t act out a being verb!

Compare Action vs. Being Verbs

Type	What It Shows	Example	Can You Act It Out?
Action Verb	What someone does	The boy runs fast.	✅ Yes!
Being Verb	What someone is or feels	The boy is tired.	❌ No!

💡 Hint: Action = do it.
Being = show it or feel it.

Multiple Choice

Decide whether the sentence contains an action verb or a being verb.

The cat sleeps on the mat.

• Action Verb

• Being Verb

Multiple Choice

Decide whether the sentence contains an action verb or a being verb.

She is my teacher.

• Action Verb

• Being Verb

Multiple Choice

Decide whether the sentence contains an action verb or a being verb.

We play soccer after school.

• Action Verb

• Being Verb

Multiple Choice

Decide whether the sentence contains an action verb or a being verb.

I am hungry.

• Action Verb

• Being Verb

Multiple Choice

Decide whether the sentence contains an action verb or a being verb.

They were late.

• Action Verb

• Being Verb

Match

Match each verb to the correct type.

• Jump

• Is

• Swim

• Were

• Sing

Action

Being

Action

Being

Action

• Action

• Being

• Action

• Being

• Action

Multiple Choice

Which sentence has an action verb?

• She was tired.

• He climbed the tree.

• They were friends.

• I am happy.

Multiple Choice

Which word is a being verb?

• Jump

• Is

• Dance

• Sing

Multiple Choice

In this sentence, what type of verb is used?

“The children were excited.”

• Action

• Being

• Helping

• Linking

Multiple Choice

Which sentence has an action verb?

• The bird flies across the sky.

• The bird was blue.

• The bird is pretty.

• The bird was huge.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence uses a being verb correctly?

• He ran to school.

• She is my sister.

• We dance together.

• They play basketball.