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English Action Verbs

English verbs that describe an action, rather than an occurrence or a state of being, are the most common kind of verbs. Unlike the other kinds of verbs, they have the common feature of always ending in the letter "s" in the present tense third person singular form:

 

He takes a step back.

Caption 5, David Gallo - Underwater astonishments

 Play Caption

 

He eats the fruit.

Caption 17, Genesis Inc. - Talkalope

 Play Caption

 

He (subject) takes (action verb) a step (object).
He (subject) eats (action verb) the fruit (object).

BANNER PLACEHOLDER

There are three forms of sentences where an action verb may be found: an affirmative sentence (as with the examples above); a negative sentence; and an interrogative sentence, or question.

To change the above affirmative sentences to negative sentences, add the verb "to do" and "not," the declarative form of "no."

He does not take a step.
He does not eat the fruit.

To change the affirmative form to the interrogatory form (or question), add the verb "to do" at the beginning of the sentence with a question mark at the end:

Does he take a step?
Does he eat the fruit?

So to reiterate:

Affirmative: He takes a step.
Negative: He does not take a step.
Interrogatory: Does he take a step?

Affirmative: He eats the fruit.
Negative: He does not eat the fruit.
Interrogatory: Does he eat the fruit?

 

BANNER PLACEHOLDER

Further Learning 
Browse some videos at Yabla English and find some other examples of affirmative sentences with action verbs. Practice turning them into negative sentences with "to do" and "not", and changing them into interrogative sentences with "to do" and a question mark.

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