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_ Action Verbs _____________
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An action verb tells what action a person or thing is performing. Action verbs can express different kinds of actions. Some actions are physical (visible) and can be seen easily. Others are mental actions that can be seen only with difficulty, if at all.
The white cloud floated lazily across the sky. (physical action)
Mary thought about the painting. (mental action)
Draw a line under the action verb in each sentence. Write P for physical (visible) or M for mental in the blank to indicate if the verb expresses physical action or mental action .
Example: Horses help humans in many ways. __P__
1. Long ago, medieval knights fought battles atop powerful horses. _____
2. Lighter horses carried lords and ladies on fox hunts. _____
3. Travelers sometimes rode horses on long journeys. _____
4. Later, the wealthy traveled in horse-drawn carriages. _____
5. Farmers also relied on horses in the past. _____
6. Gentle Shetland ponies delight young children. _____
7. Shetlands stand only four hands (21 inches) high! _____
8. Sturdy and energetic, ponies perform many tasks. _____
9. Native Americans used horses in bison hunts. _____
10.The Native Americans preferred the colorful Pinto and Appaloosa breeds. _____
11.Shire horses pulled wagons and carts through the narrow streets of London. _____
12.Police officers ride horses through busy city streets. _____
13.Horses learn signals through constant repetition. _____
14.Eventually they respond to even the slightest signal from the rider. _____
15.A good rider commands his or her mount effortlessly. _____
16.The horse follows the rider’s hand, leg, and body signals. _____
17.I wonder about my future almost every day. _____
Prentice Hall, Inc. Action Verbs (Visible and Mental Actions) pg. 13,14
Writer’s Choice Grammar Workbook 8, Unit 3

18.The old locomotive pulled into the station. _____
19.Marie purchased a new wallet at the flea market. _____
20.After several hours at the beach, we drove home on the bus. _____
21.My grandmother remembers her childhood in Poland. _____
22.Some people worry almost all the time. _____
23.Cut the beef for the stew into small cubes. _____
24.This airline flies to Madrid twice weekly. _____
25.I considered my choices carefully. _____
26.Jetliners fly quickly across the Atlantic. _____
27.For many weeks, Columbus and his crew worried about reaching land. _____
28.Juan dreamed of his family in Cuba. _____
29.The quarter back threw a long pass. _____
30.The receiver barely caught the ball. _____
Fill in the blanks below with appropriate action verbs. Supply the kind of action verb indicated in the parentheses.
31.A large delivery van _______________ in front of our building. (physical)
32.I often _______________ about my childhood on the farm. (mental)
33.Our committee strongly _______________ about making some changes. (mental)
34.Christine _______________ a leading role in West Side Story . (physical)
35.Our family _______________ to take a vacation in August. (mental)
36.
Finally, after mother’s warning, I _______________ my room. (physical)
37.After the big snow storm, Mark _______________ the driveway. (physical)
38.I _______________ exactly how to put it together. (mental)
39.People once _______________ in goblins. (mental)
40.The batter _______________ into third base. (physical)
Prentice Hall, Inc. Action Verbs (Visible and Mental Actions) pg. 13,14
Writer’s Choice Grammar Workbook 8, Unit 3