Actions ESL Games, Worksheets & Activities

ESL Action Verbs Game - Vocabulary and Speaking: Bingo, Matching, Forming Sentences, Freer Practice - Group Work In this enjoyable action verbs game, students play bingo by listening to definitions and matching them to common action verbs. To begin, the bingo caller reads a definition at random from the caller's sheet without saying the verb in brackets, e.g. 'Something you do when you are angry and speak very loudly.' The caller then puts a tick beside the definition to show it has been read out. The players listen and look at the action verbs on their bingo cards to see if they have an action verb that matches the definition, e.g. shout. If they do, they cross it off. The game continues until a player has crossed off four action verbs in a row. When this happens, the player shouts 'Bingo!' and then makes a sentence with each crossed-off verb to verify their win. If the player makes a mistake in any of the four sentences, they are allowed one chance to fix it. If they correct it, the win counts. If not, the bingo is void, and the game continues. If the sentences are correct and the action verbs match the definitions that were ticked on the caller's sheet, the player wins the round. Players then continue to see who can cross off all 16 verbs first without making sentences. Groups play several rounds, with students taking turns being the bingo caller and players using a different bingo card each time. show less

ESL Action Verb Games - Vocabulary and Speaking: Matching, Gap-fill, Forming Sentences, Freer Practice - Group Work Here are two free action verb games to help students practice everyday actions. First, students play a gap-fill and matching game. In groups, students take turns picking up a sentence card, reading it aloud and placing it face-up on the table. All the students then race to find the correct action verb card to complete the sentence. When a student finds the right action verb card, they pick it up and read the complete sentence aloud. If the other students agree the action verb matches the sentence, the student wins and keeps the cards. If not, the student puts down the verb card, is out of the round and other students can answer. The student with the most pairs of cards at the end of the game wins. After that, students play a game where they form sentences using the action verbs. Students take turns turning over an action verb card so it's visible to everyone. The other students then race to put up their hands and say a sentence using the action verb. The first student to make a suitable sentence wins and keeps the card. The student with the most cards at the end of the game is the winner. show less

ESL Action Verbs Worksheet - Vocabulary and Writing Exercises: Writing Sentences - Speaking Activities: Asking and Answering Questions, Freer Practice - Group Work Here is a comprehensive actions worksheet to help students practice common verbs related to everyday actions. First, students match action verbs with words and phrases. Students then underline the correct action verb to complete each sentence. Next, students circle the odd verb out in each set and write why the action verb doesn't belong. After that, students complete sentences with action verbs from a box. Students then move on to use action verbs from the worksheet to write three true and three false sentences about themselves. Students then take turns reading the sentences to a partner, who guesses whether they are true or false. Finally, in pairs, students ask and answer conversation questions that use the action verbs. show less

ESL Actions Game - Vocabulary: Miming, Guessing - Group Work In this fun actions game, students read sentences and then mime or guess the missing verbs of physical movement. In competing teams of two, students take turns picking up a card and reading the sentence using the word 'blank' for the missing action verb. The reader then mimes the missing action verb shown in brackets on the card to their partner, who tries to guess it. If the student successfully guesses the verb within 30 seconds, the team wins and keeps the card. If not, the other team has one chance to guess the verb and steal the card. The team with the most cards at the end of the game wins. show less

ESL Action Verbs Game - Vocabulary, Grammar and Speaking: Miming, Guessing, Present Continuous - Pair Work In this entertaining action verbs game, students mime everyday actions and guess what their partner is doing using the present continuous. First, in pairs, one student picks up an action card, keeps it hidden and silently mimes the action. Their partner watches the mime and guesses using the present continuous, e.g. 'You are washing your hands.' The student miming checks the answer and records one point for a correct guess. After a correct guess, students place the card to one side and swap roles. Students continue until they have used all 18 cards, giving each student nine turns at miming and guessing. Next, students play Speed Round. One student silently mimes the actions while their partner has three minutes to guess as many as possible using the present continuous. The student miming checks each answer and records one point for each correct guess. After three minutes, students note the score and swap roles for another three minutes. Finally, students add their points from both games. The student with the highest total score wins the game. show less

ESL Action Verbs Activity - Vocabulary and Speaking: Gap-fill, Asking and Answering Questions, Controlled and Freer Practice - Group and Pair Work In this insightful action verbs activity, students use everyday action verbs to find out about a partner's habits and plans. Working in groups, students first complete conversation questions with the action verbs in a word box. Students then pair up with someone from the other group and take turns asking and answering their questions, giving reasons and asking simple follow-up questions. Finally, students share what they learned about their partner with the class, e.g. "My partner usually saves money for holidays." show less

ESL Action Verbs Worksheet - Vocabulary: Matching, Gap-fill, Writing Requests - Speaking: Making and Responding to Requests - Pair Work In this action verbs worksheet, students learn ten everyday actions and use them to ask for help in familiar situations. First, students match ten verbs to pictures and write each verb beneath the correct picture. Students then complete ten sentences with the verbs. Next, in pairs, students choose two requests and practice asking and responding. After that, students complete six short conversations with the verbs in a box. In pairs, students then take turns making requests for six everyday situations. Their partner agrees or says no politely. Finally, students write four requests for help at home, at school or at work using the verbs, then take turns making their requests and responding with a partner. show less

ESL Action Verbs Game - Vocabulary and Speaking: Forming Sentences, Asking and Answering Questions, True or False - Group Work In this fun action verbs game, students make true or false statements about themselves and ask questions to decide whether to believe their classmates. In groups, students take turns picking up an action verb card and secretly choosing a true or false statement card. The student makes a personal statement using the verb, e.g. 'Yesterday, I washed my car.' The other students each ask a follow-up question to help them decide whether the statement is true or false. Each of the other students then gives their guess before the player shows the statement card and reveals the answer. Students who guessed correctly each score one point. Students continue until they have used all 28 verb cards. The student with the most points wins the game. show less

ESL Movement Verbs Worksheet - Vocabulary: Matching, Gap-fill, Guided Writing - Speaking: Discussion, Planning, Explaining Decisions - Pair Work In this practical movement verbs worksheet, students explore ways to move objects and work together to plan a new classroom layout. First, in pairs, students discuss what they carry, their experiences of moving things and what they would like to move in their classroom. Students then match ten movement verbs to their meanings. Next, students complete sentences with suitable movement verbs, changing the verb forms where necessary. After that, students read six everyday situations and write two short sentences describing what they would do. In pairs, students then look at a classroom picture, agree how to make space in the centre for a class game and discuss what to move, where to put it, how to move it and whether they need help. Finally, pairs explain to another pair what they are going to move, where they are going to put it and why. show less