Common Actions
Everyday verbs for daily activities and interactions
Overview
25 essential action words you’ll use dozens of times every day. After this lesson, you’ll have the core verbs to describe almost any daily activity.
Words
have /hæv/
verb — A1
Meaning: to own; to experience; to eat or drink
Examples:
- I have a car and a bike.
- We had a great time at the party.
Collocations: have to, have fun, have a look, have lunch, have time, have a problem
be /biː/
verb — A1
Meaning: to exist; to describe identity or state
Examples:
- She wants to be a doctor.
- I am happy today.
Collocations: be careful, be ready, be sure, be able to, be going to
do /duː/
verb — A1
Meaning: to perform an action or activity
Examples:
- What are you doing this weekend?
- I did my homework after dinner.
Collocations: do homework, do the dishes, do your best, do business, how do you do
make /meɪk/
verb — A1
Meaning: to create, produce, or prepare something
Examples:
- She made a cake for his birthday.
- Can I make a suggestion?
Collocations: make a mistake, make a decision, make money, make friends, make sure
get /ɡet/
verb — A1
Meaning: to receive, obtain, or become
Examples:
- I got a new phone for my birthday.
- It’s getting dark outside.
Collocations: get up, get home, get ready, get better, get married, get to know
give /ɡɪv/
verb — A1
Meaning: to hand something to someone; to provide
Examples:
- She gave me a book as a present.
- Can you give me some advice?
Collocations: give up, give back, give away, give a hand, give an example
Word Family: give (v.) → gift (n.) → given (adj.)
take /teɪk/
verb — A1
Meaning: to move something from one place to another; to accept
Examples:
- Take your umbrella — it might rain.
- It takes an hour to get there.
Collocations: take a photo, take time, take a break, take care, take place, take off
put /pʊt/
verb — A1
Meaning: to move something to a particular place
Examples:
- Put the milk back in the fridge.
- Where did you put my keys?
Collocations: put on, put away, put down, put off, put up with, put together
look /lʊk/
verb/noun — A1
Meaning: (v.) to use your eyes to see; (n.) the act of looking; appearance
Examples:
- Look at that beautiful sunset!
- She looked tired after the long flight.
Collocations: look at, look for, look like, look forward to, have a look, look after
see /siː/
verb — A1
Meaning: to notice or become aware of something with your eyes
Examples:
- I can see the mountains from my window.
- I haven’t seen her in weeks.
Collocations: see you, let me see, see if, as you can see, nice to see you
say /seɪ/
verb — A1
Meaning: to speak words
Examples:
- What did she say?
- He said goodbye and left.
Collocations: say hello/goodbye, say sorry, say something, that is to say, say no
tell /tel/
verb — A1
Meaning: to give information to someone by speaking
Examples:
- Tell me about your day.
- She told him the truth.
Collocations: tell the truth, tell a lie, tell a story, tell someone about, tell the difference
ask /ɑːsk/
verb — A1
Meaning: to say something as a question to get an answer
Examples:
- Can I ask you a question?
- He asked me to help.
Collocations: ask a question, ask for, ask about, ask someone to, ask permission
call /kɔːl/
verb/noun — A1
Meaning: (v.) to phone someone; to shout; to give a name; (n.) a phone conversation
Examples:
- I’ll call you tonight.
- What’s this called in English?
Collocations: phone call, call back, call off, call for, give me a call, call someone
wait /weɪt/
verb — A1
Meaning: to stay in a place until someone comes or something happens
Examples:
- Please wait here — I’ll be right back.
- We waited for the bus for twenty minutes.
Collocations: wait for, can’t wait, wait a minute, wait and see, worth the wait
play /pleɪ/
verb/noun — A1
Meaning: (v.) to do activities for fun; to take part in a sport or game
Examples:
- The children are playing in the garden.
- Do you play any musical instruments?
Collocations: play football, play a game, play music, play a role, role play
Word Family: play (v./n.) → player (n.) → playful (adj.) → playground (n.)
run /rʌn/
verb — A1
Meaning: to move quickly on foot
Examples:
- I run every morning before work.
- She ran to catch the bus.
Collocations: run a business, run away, run out of, in the long run, go for a run
Word Family: run (v.) → runner (n.) → running (n.)
sit /sɪt/
verb — A1
Meaning: to be in a position with your weight on your bottom
Examples:
- Please sit down.
- She was sitting by the window.
Collocations: sit down, sit up, sit still, sit back, sit next to
stand /stænd/
verb/noun — A1
Meaning: (v.) to be on your feet in an upright position
Examples:
- I had to stand on the bus because it was full.
- She stood up when the teacher came in.
Collocations: stand up, stand back, stand for, stand out, can’t stand (= hate)
carry /ˈkæri/
verb — A1
Meaning: to hold something and take it from one place to another
Examples:
- Can you help me carry these bags?
- She carried the baby in her arms.
Collocations: carry on, carry out, carry weight, carry a bag
hold /həʊld/
verb/noun — A1
Meaning: (v.) to have something in your hand or arms
Examples:
- Hold my hand — it’s slippery here.
- She was holding a cup of coffee.
Collocations: hold on, hold hands, hold a meeting, take hold of, on hold
turn /tɜːn/
verb/noun — A1
Meaning: (v.) to change direction; to rotate; (n.) a change of direction
Examples:
- Turn left at the traffic lights.
- It’s your turn to cook dinner.
Collocations: turn on/off, turn around, turn into, take turns, in turn
move /muːv/
verb/noun — A1
Meaning: (v.) to change position or place
Examples:
- Don’t move — I’m taking a photo.
- We’re moving to a new house next month.
Collocations: move in/out, move forward, move around, on the move, make a move
Word Family: move (v./n.) → movement (n.) → moving (adj.)
change /tʃeɪndʒ/
verb/noun — A1
Meaning: (v.) to become or make different; (n.) the process of becoming different
Examples:
- The weather can change quickly here.
- I need some change for the parking meter.
Collocations: climate change, change your mind, change of plan, make a change, loose change
Word Family: change (v./n.) → changeable (adj.) → unchanged (adj.)
show /ʃəʊ/
verb/noun — A1
Meaning: (v.) to let someone see something; (n.) a performance or programme
Examples:
- Can you show me how to do this?
- We watched a cooking show on TV.
Collocations: show up, show off, TV show, on show, show someone around
Quick Review
| Word | Type | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| have | v. | own, experience, consume |
| be | v. | exist, describe state |
| do | v. | perform an action |
| make | v. | create or produce |
| get | v. | receive, obtain, become |
| give | v. | hand to someone |
| take | v. | move something; accept |
| put | v. | move to a place |
| look | v. | use eyes to see |
| see | v. | notice with eyes |
| say | v. | speak words |
| tell | v. | give information |
| ask | v. | say as a question |
| call | v./n. | phone / shout / name |
| wait | v. | stay until something happens |
| play | v. | do for fun, sport, music |
| run | v. | move quickly on foot |
| sit | v. | be seated |
| stand | v. | be on feet upright |
| carry | v. | hold and move |
| hold | v. | have in hand/arms |
| turn | v./n. | change direction |
| move | v. | change position/place |
| change | v./n. | become different |
| show | v./n. | let someone see |