Verbs are an essential part of speech. No sentence is complete without a verb. Being able to recognize verbs and verb phrases is an essential step toward understanding sentence structure, punctuation, and the rules of grammar. Before you can master these skills, you need to be able to identify verbs, verb phrases, and verbals.
Over the years I have developed many activities to help students master verbs in the English language. These activities are archived on this page, which includes lessons, worksheets, and tests about verbs. I hope that these activities will help students master the intricacies of conjugation, verbs, verb phrases, and verbals.
Verb Worksheets and Activities
Verb Worksheets
Verbs and Gerunds with Dinosaurs Worksheet – Students analyze twenty dinosaur themed example sentences and identify verbs, verb phrases, and gerunds. In the second part of this worksheet, students will write their own examples sentences using gerunds.
Verbs and Gerunds with Dinosaurs Worksheet | RTF
Verbs and Gerunds with Dinosaurs Worksheet | PDF
Verbs and Gerunds with Dinosaurs Worksheet | Preview
Verbs and Gerunds with Dinosaurs Worksheet | Answers
Verbs, Verbs of Being, and Gerunds Worksheet – Students practice distinguishing between verb phrases and gerunds. This worksheet has thirty practice problems and a section where they compose and analyze their own sentences.
Verbs, Verbs of Being, and Gerunds Worksheet | RTF
Verbs, Verbs of Being, and Gerunds Worksheet | PDF
Verbs, Verbs of Being, and Gerunds Worksheet | Preview
Verbs, Verbs of Being, and Gerunds Worksheet | Answers
Verbs, Verb Phrases, and Gerunds – Underline verbs and verb phrases and circle gerunds. The sentences are all about a scientist building a giant robot.
Verbs, Verb Phrases, and Gerunds | RTF
Verbs, Verb Phrases, and Gerunds | PDF
Verbs, Verb Phrases, and Gerunds | Preview
Verbs, Verb Phrases, and Gerunds | Answers
Verb Tense Analysis with Pirates – In this verb worksheet, students read sentences about pirates and then determine the tense and aspect of the verbs. They also explain their answers. This is an intermediate verb tense worksheet. It is not for beginners; however, it is about pirates, so that’s fun.
Verb Tense Analysis with Pirates | RTF
Verb Tense Analysis with Pirates | PDF
Verb Tense Analysis with Pirates | Preview
Verb Tense Analysis with Pirates | Answers
Verbs and Verb Phrases with Pirates – Read the exciting sentences about pirates. Underline the verbs and verb phrases, also circle the nouns and pronouns.
Verbs and Verb Phrases with Pirates | RTF
Verbs and Verb Phrases with Pirates | PDF
Verbs and Verb Phrases with Pirates | Preview
Verb Powerpoint Lessons and Videos
Action Verbs and Verbs of Being Lesson – This is a great lesson for students just starting to learn about verbs. It covers the very basics: action verbs and verbs of being. I’ve included links to the slideshow with and without sound effects. I’ve also covered this lesson in a YouTube video which is embedded below.
Action Verbs and Verbs of Being Lesson | PPT
Action Verbs and Verbs of Being Lesson | PPT – With Sounds
Verb Phrases Lesson – This is a good intermediate lesson for students studying verbs. It covers how helping verbs work with main verbs to create verb phrases. Links to the slideshow with and without sound effects are included below. Also, I teach this lesson in a YouTube video embedded after the links.
Verb Phrases Lesson | PPT
Verb Phrases Lesson | PPT – With Sounds
Verb Conjugation, Tense and Aspect Lesson – This is a good lesson for students with an intermediate understanding of verbs. It covers verb tenses: past, present, and future. And, it also covers aspect: simple, progressive, and perfect. This slideshow is available with and without sound effects. Also, I have a YouTube video in which I cover this lesson posted below.
Verb Conjugation, Tense, and Aspect Lesson | PPT
Verb Conjugation, Tense, and Aspect Lesson | PPT – With Sounds
Verbals Lesson – This lesson is for students with an advanced understanding of verbs. Verbals are verbs that are acting as other parts of speech, such as nouns or adjectives. There are three types of verbals: gerunds, infinitives, and participles. This lesson explains all three, provides examples of each, and also offers some practice problems. Watch the YouTube video posted below to see how I present this lesson.
Verbals Lesson | PPT
Verbals Lesson | PPT – With Sounds
Verbs and Gerunds Lesson – An animated slide show lesson teaching about verbs, verb phrases, and gerunds. Includes a seven question practice activity after the lesson.
Verbs and Gerunds Lesson PPT
Verbs, Verb Phrases, and Gerunds Lesson 2 – This is a revision of the above PowerPoint lesson covering verbs, verb phrases, and gerunds. It is a little prettier and has slightly different content.
Verbs, Verb Phrases, and Gerunds Lesson 2 PPT
Verb Tests
Action Verbs and Verbs of Being Test | With Pirates – This test has four pages and 30 multiple-choice questions. Students read the example sentences and identify the verbs. This is a great test to evaluated whether students need practice with identifying verbs of being. Since this test is themed around pirates, students will find it fun and engaging. And, it is available at three different reading levels to maximize accessibility.
Reading Level 1 – Grades 3-5
Action Verbs and Verbs of Being Worksheets – Reading Level 01 | RTF
Action Verbs and Verbs of Being Worksheets – Reading Level 01 | PDF
Action Verbs and Verbs of Being Worksheets – Reading Level 01 | Preview
Reading Level 2 – Grades 6-8
Action Verbs and Verbs of Being Worksheets – Reading Level 02 | RTF
Action Verbs and Verbs of Being Worksheets – Reading Level 02 | PDF
Action Verbs and Verbs of Being Worksheets – Reading Level 02 | Preview
Reading Level 3 – Grades 9+
Action Verbs and Verbs of Being Worksheets – Reading Level 03 | RTF
Action Verbs and Verbs of Being Worksheets – Reading Level 03 | PDF
Action Verbs and Verbs of Being Worksheets – Reading Level 03 | Preview
Online Versions
Action Verbs and Verbs of Being with Pirates | Ereading Worksheets – Online Test
Complete this Activity in the Parts of Speech Web App
Answer Key for All Reading Levels
Action Verbs and Verbs of Being Worksheet | Answer Key
Verb Phrases Test | With Horses – Some sentences have just one verb. Others have multiple verbs. And some sentences use verb phrases, in which helping verbs work with main verbs to express when an action occurred or if it was completed. This verb phrases test has 30 multiple-choice questions where students must identify all of the words in a verb phrase. The example sentences in this test are themed around magic horses to make it interesting, and it is written at three reading levels so that it can be used in almost any classroom.
Reading Level 1 – Grades 3-5
Verb Phrases Worksheet – Reading Level 01 | RTF
Verb Phrases Worksheet – Reading Level 01 | PDF
Verb Phrases Worksheet – Reading Level 01 | Preview
Reading Level 2 – Grades 6-8
Verb Phrases Worksheet – Reading Level 02 | RTF
Verb Phrases Worksheet – Reading Level 02 | PDF
Verb Phrases Worksheet – Reading Level 02 | Preview
Reading Level 3 – Grades 9+
Verb Phrases Worksheet – Reading Level 03 | RTF
Verb Phrases Worksheet – Reading Level 03 | PDF
Verb Phrases Worksheet – Reading Level 03 | Preview
Online Versions
Verbs and Verb Phrases with Horses | Ereading Worksheets – Online Test
Complete this Activity in the Parts of Speech Web App
Answer Key for All Reading Levels
Verb Phrases Worksheet | Answer Key
Verb Conjugation, Tense, and Aspect Test | On the Farm – This verb test has 30 multiple-choice questions in which students must select the correct verb phrase to complete the sentence. Students must use cues and clues from the sentence to correctly conjugate each verb or verb phrase. Based on the aspect and tense of each sentence, students must find the verb phrase that best agrees. This test is themed around a group of farm animals that rebel against the farmer. Does that sound a little bit familiar to you? It is light-hearted and fun. It’s also written at three different reading levels, so everyone can enjoy it.
Reading Level 1 – Grades 3-5
Verb Conjugation, Tense, and Aspect Worksheet – Reading Level 01 | RTF
Verb Conjugation, Tense, and Aspect Worksheet – Reading Level 01 | PDF
Verb Conjugation, Tense, and Aspect Worksheet – Reading Level 01 | Preview
Reading Level 2 – Grades 6-8
Verb Conjugation, Tense, and Aspect Worksheet – Reading Level 02 | RTF
Verb Conjugation, Tense, and Aspect Worksheet – Reading Level 02 | PDF
Verb Conjugation, Tense, and Aspect Worksheet – Reading Level 02 | Preview
Reading Level 3 – Grades 9+
Verb Conjugation, Tense, and Aspect Worksheet – Reading Level 03 | RTF
Verb Conjugation, Tense, and Aspect Worksheet – Reading Level 03 | PDF
Verb Conjugation, Tense, and Aspect Worksheet – Reading Level 03 | Preview
Online Versions
Verb Conjugation, Tense, and Aspect on the Farm | Ereading Worksheets – Online Test
Complete this Activity in the Parts of Speech Web App
Answer Key for All Reading Levels
Verb Conjugation, Tense, and Aspect Worksheet | Answer Key
Verbs Test | With Bugs – This test will help you evaluate how well your students understand verbs. It includes 33 multiple-choice questions. These questions require students to identify verb phrases and conjugate verbs correctly based on tense and aspect. Also, this verb test is themed around bugs to make it more entertaining and engaging for students. I’ve written this test at three different reading levels to allow for maximum accessibility. Yet, the answer key is the same for each test so that teachers have an easier time grading this assessment.
Reading Level 1 – Grades 3-5
Verbs Test – Reading Level 01 | RTF
Verbs Test – Reading Level 01 | PDF
Verbs Test – Reading Level 01 | Preview
Reading Level 2 – Grades 6-8
Verbs Test – Reading Level 02 | RTF
Verbs Test – Reading Level 02 | PDF
Verbs Test – Reading Level 02 | Preview
Reading Level 3 – Grades 9+
Verbs Test – Reading Level 03 | RTF
Verbs Test – Reading Level 03 | PDF
Verbs Test – Reading Level 03 | Preview
Online Versions
Verbs Test with Bugs | Ereading Worksheets – Online Test
Complete this Activity in the Parts of Speech Web App
Answer Key for All Reading Levels
Verbs Test | Answer Key
Common Core State Standards Related to Verbs
Expand to View All Common Core State Standards Related to VerbsCCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.L.1 – Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
ELA Standards: Language
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.1.1c – Use singular and plural nouns with matching verbs in basic sentences (e.g., He hops; We hop).
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.1.1e – Use verbs to convey a sense of past, present, and future (e.g., Yesterday I walked home; Today I walk home; Tomorrow I will walk home).
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.2.1d – Form and use the past tense of frequently occurring irregular verbs (e.g., sat, hid, told).
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.1a – Explain the function of nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs in general and their functions in particular sentences.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.1d – Form and use regular and irregular verbs.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.1e – Form and use the simple (e.g., I walked; I walk; I will walk) verb tenses.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.1f – Ensure subject-verb and pronoun-antecedent agreement.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.1b – Form and use the progressive (e.g., I was walking; I am walking; I will be walking) verb tenses.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.5.1b – Form and use the perfect (e.g., I had walked; I have walked; I will have walked) verb tenses.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.5.1c – Use verb tense to convey various times, sequences, states, and conditions.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.5.1d – Recognize and correct inappropriate shifts in verb tense.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.8.1b – Form and use verbs in the active and passive voice.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.8.1c – Form and use verbs in the indicative, imperative, interrogative, conditional, and subjunctive mood.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.8.1d – Recognize and correct inappropriate shifts in verb voice and mood.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.9-10.1b – Use various types of phrases (noun, verb, adjectival, adverbial, participial, prepositional, absolute) and clauses (independent, dependent; noun, relative, adverbial) to convey specific meanings and add variety and interest to writing or presentations.
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Jordan
/ November 5, 2024Thank you for the excellent site. A quick note: your verbs, verbs of being, and gerund sheet answer key– if I am correct — contains some errors.
For example: “Smiling, mom measured out the vanilla.” Smiling is listed as a gerund in the answer. It isn’t. It is a present participle, describing mom. You can replace “smiling” with an adjective (happy, angry, ferocious), but not a noun.
Given all the help you’ve given me with your sheets, I would be happy to review and correct.
Mr. Morton
/ November 19, 2024I appreciate that. I would love to spend some time fixing some of the errors that have eluded me thus far but I am very close to finishing something I’ve been working on a while now. I appreciate the feedback and offer!
Shaindy Pollak
/ October 28, 2024Is there an answer key for verbs and verb phrases with pirates?
Monday
/ October 18, 2024Answer key is missing for Verb and Verb Phrases with Pirates.
Rona V Teves
/ October 9, 2019Thank you for all excellent exercise my student understand it very very much
Sylvia Armstrong
/ January 22, 2017Information was pertinent to my lesson on verbal phrases. Thank you very helpful.
Ann Foga
/ March 30, 2016Dear Mr Morton,
Thank you so much for your website. I have learned so much and am able to pass information easily on to my students. You are a great blessing and a super, super time saver!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Santrell Green
/ October 1, 2014Excellent exercises , fitting for reinforcing concepts at all grade levels. Thank you
Okey
/ February 14, 2014What a site, thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!! very much.