Verbs - ESL Activities, Games and Worksheets

In this fun verbs activity, students complete a crossword with common verbs by guessing missing words in sentences. The students are divided into pairs (A and B) and each student is given a corresponding worksheet. Both students have the same crossword, but Student A has the verbs across and Student B has the verbs down. The students' task is to listen to clues given by their partner in order to guess the missing verbs in the crossword. Students take it in turns to ask their partner for a clue to one of their missing verbs, e.g. 'What's 1 down?' Their partner then reads the sentence for that verb using the word 'blank' where the verb should go. The student then tries to guess the verb. If the student guesses the verb successfully, they write it in the crossword. If not, their partner continues to give more clues until the student is able to guess the word. When the students have finished, they check their answers and spelling by comparing worksheets.

This engaging teaching activity helps to increase students' knowledge of verbs and their opposites. The teacher starts the activity by reading out each verb on the worksheet and eliciting the verb's meaning from the class. Next, the students are divided into teams of four and each student is given a copy of the worksheet. The teacher reads out a verb at random from the worksheet. The first team to call out the correct opposite verb scores a point. The winning team can then score an extra point by making an appropriate sentence with the opposite verb. All the students in the class then write down the opposite verb on their worksheet. This continues until the worksheet is complete. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins. Working alone, the students then write ten sentences using a different verb from the worksheet in each sentence, e.g. 'I come to school by car'. When the students have finished, they are divided into pairs and exchange sentences with their partner. Next, the students take it in turns to read one of their partner's sentences and then make another sentence using the opposite verb, e.g. 'I go home at 3 o'clock'. Afterwards, the pairs create a short story using ten verbs from the worksheet. These stories are then read to the class and feedback is given.

In this common verbs activity, students play a game where they guess who wrote certain sentences. The students are divided into groups of four and each student is given four cards. Without showing anyone, the students complete sentences on the cards with true information, e.g. 'I go to the park every week'. When the students have finished, they place their cards face down in the middle of the table. The students then shuffle the cards together and place them in a pile, keeping them face down. One student goes first and takes the top card from the pile. If the student takes their own card, they place it back in the pile and take another one from the top. The student then reads the sentence to the group and tries to guess who wrote it. If the student guesses correctly, they win and keep the card. If not, the card is placed at the bottom of the pile. Play then passes to the next student and so on. The student with the most cards at the end of the game wins.

In this enjoyable verbs game, students compete to place verbs in their correct category. The students are divided into competing pairs (A and B). Each pair of students is given a verbs list and each set of competing pairs is given a copy of the categories worksheet. There are eight categories in total with six verbs from the verbs list belonging to each category. The pairs take it in turns to choose a verb from their list and write it in the A or B column under the category that they think the verb belongs to. The pair then crosses the verb off the list. After a pair has written a verb under a category, they are not allowed to move it. When the pairs have categorized all the verbs on their list, the correct answers are elicited from the class. Pairs score one point for each correctly placed verb. The pair with the highest score wins the game.