4.1 Recognizing Verbs
A verb is a word that conveys an action.
Verb Tenses
In English, verbs are used in tenses to signify if the action is in the past, present, or future.
past tense: ran
present tense: run
future tense: will run
action verbs
Other verbs describe facts or express feelings and desires. For example,
Infinitive
This is the form of a verb you will find in the dictionary.
Later in this chapter we will discuss why the infinitive is important.
Verb Tenses
In English, verbs are used in tenses to signify if the action is in the past, present, or future.
past tense: ran
present tense: run
future tense: will run
action verbs
- work
- eat
- walk
- drive
- speak
- play
Other verbs describe facts or express feelings and desires. For example,
- live
- feel
- like
- have
Infinitive
This is the form of a verb you will find in the dictionary.
Later in this chapter we will discuss why the infinitive is important.
Review: recognizing subjects and verbs
subject: Generally is the first noun or pronoun in the sentence. The subject is who or what the sentence is about. verb: The action that the subject does. |
Example:
"I play soccer on Tuesdays."
subject: "I". This is who the sentence is about.
verb: "play". This is the action that the subject does.
Activities
Introduce verb flashcards
these can be found in the drawer: intermediate class drawer. The ring with picture flash cards should include the verbs:
Charades
these can be found in the drawer: intermediate class drawer. The ring with picture flash cards should include the verbs:
- help
- play
- watch
- walk
- sing
- talk
- fix
- work
- chat
- think
- clean
- eat
- sleep
- drink
Charades
- Have each student write three new verbs on separate small pieces of paper.
- Put all the pieces of paper in a hat.
- Each student takes turns coming up to the front of the class and blindly picking out a piece of paper.
- This student then must act out the verb silently while their classmates try to guess the verb on the piece of paper.
Fun Video about Verbs
The following games are from http://www.tesolgames.com/14-easy-verb-games/
Speed Charades
Verb Relay
This is a good energy starter for any class and any level, but especially young learners
Speed Charades
- This is a speed game. Play it in small groups or a large class.
- Prepare a large number of verb cards, one verb to each small card. If you need inspiration, you can find an excellent list of regular verbs at the title=“English Club”>English Club.
- Put the cards in a box or bag. In turn, each student will be given a brief time to take verb cards and silently perform as many as they can for their team to guess. The performer may pass (if they don’t know a verb or have no ideas for a mime) and draw a new verb to guess.
- Play should progress as fast as possible. Encourage speed
- The performing student should be given a short time (about a minute or two) to perform as many verbs as they can while their team tries to guess.
- Repeat as long as you have schedules time, attempting to give each student an opportunity to perform.
- Post-round, be certain to explain (and perform) any verbs that were passed on, or that students were unable to guess.
Verb Relay
This is a good energy starter for any class and any level, but especially young learners
- Use the verb cards.
- Mark of a relay course across the classroom, from one side to another and place the box or bag of verb cards (see above) at the far end of the race course.
- Make teams.
- Each team in turn must run to the bag or box of verb cards, pull out a card and both make a sentence and perform a pantomime verb and then return to their team. The next in line goes again. Be prepared to help students that encounter a word they don’t know, or who have difficulty making a sentence.
Pantomime Verbs
A good game for shy beginners.
A good game for shy beginners.
- Explain rules. Write “Is it this?” on your blackboard. Explain what the word ‘rhyme’ means.
- Collect the class into a large group.
- The teacher says, “I’m thinking of a verb that rhymes with ______.” (Try to use single syllable words and verbs).
- Any student in the group may respond with the phrase “Is it this?” and then the student should pantomime the verb they are guessing.
- For example: The teacher targets the verb ‘run’ and says, “I’m thinking of a verb that rhymes with ‘fun’.
- The first student to say, “Is it this?” and pantomimes running is the victor.
- Repeat. With lower level classes the teacher should always lead, but in more advanced classes, the victor starts the game again.
Robot
This is a fun game for very young and beginning learners. It is also a low-stress game for shy students.
This is a fun game for very young and beginning learners. It is also a low-stress game for shy students.
- Arrange your class into a group.
- Write the word “Robot” on the blackboard and draw your best robot picture. Explain to each of the students that they are going to be robots under your control. Students will be expected to mime activities that you call out.
- Such as “Robots dance!” “Robots eat!” “Robots jump!” “Robots swim!” On each command students should mime the activity.
- Robot is a good game for beginners as learners have the ease of copying other more advanced students even if they don’t know the vocabulary expressed by the teacher.
- After a few practices, encourage learners to repeat the command as they mime the verb.
- If you are presented with a class that doesn’t understand a verb you say, be prepared to mime it for your students first.
Verb Scavenger Hunt
Prepare a number of cards with words on them.
Suggested Mix:
Secretly place these cards around the room. Be certain to hide them in unusual places (Under desks, in drawers, behind other objects).
Each student is expected to search around the room and keep a running list of verbs only. (you may repeat the game another time with the same material, yet have students search for nouns etc.)
This should be played quietly, while each student searches and records their finds. However, if you have a mixed level class, pair up a beginner with a more advance learner to travel and search together.
Score the game with winners being the learners that collect the largest number of verbs. Penalize students that record words that are other parts of speech.
Mixing up verb tense can make a more challenging game for some students.
Prepare a number of cards with words on them.
Suggested Mix:
- 15 verbs
- 15 nouns
- 15 words of other parts of speech (adjectives, conjunctions, adverbs etc.)
Secretly place these cards around the room. Be certain to hide them in unusual places (Under desks, in drawers, behind other objects).
Each student is expected to search around the room and keep a running list of verbs only. (you may repeat the game another time with the same material, yet have students search for nouns etc.)
This should be played quietly, while each student searches and records their finds. However, if you have a mixed level class, pair up a beginner with a more advance learner to travel and search together.
Score the game with winners being the learners that collect the largest number of verbs. Penalize students that record words that are other parts of speech.
- +1 point for each verb
- –2 points for each noun
- –3 points for adjectives, adverbs, conjunctions etc.
Mixing up verb tense can make a more challenging game for some students.
There are even more verb games on http://www.tesolgames.com/14-easy-verb-games/