English Grammar Verbs Class 1 – Guide with Examples

Verbs form the core of sentence construction and for young learners in Class 1, understanding verbs opens the door to expressing ideas, actions, and feelings. This guide is tailored to engage and educate children, parents, and teachers with a deep dive into what verbs are, types of verbs, how to teach and reinforce them, along with worksheets, fun games, FAQs, and a PlanetSpark pitch at the end.

By the time you reach the end of this guide, you should have:

• A clear, child-friendly definition of verbs

• A deep understanding of different verb types

• Ready-to-use activities and games for home or classroom

• Printable worksheets and practice sheets

• Tips to help your child apply verbs in speaking and writing

• A broader sense of how PlanetSpark can support grammar learning

What Exactly Is a Verb?

At its simplest, a verb is a word that shows action or tells us what someone or something is doing. Verbs are often called “doing words” because they show something that the person or object named in the sentence does. They are essential; without a verb, a sentence isn’t complete.

Examples of Verbs in Everyday Sentences:

• I run in the park.

• She eats an apple.

• The baby sleeps peacefully at night.

• We sing together in the morning.

• He thinks before he speaks.

These examples are familiar to Class 1 students, they represent daily actions they see, hear and perform. Use real-life moments to point out verbs, and your little learners will quickly recognize and repeat them.

Why verbs matter in Class 1

• Without a verb, there is no action in the sentence

• Verbs add clarity, showing who did what

• They are the building blocks for forming complete and understandable sentences, which leads to better speaking and writing

Types of Verbs for Class 1

Understanding verbs becomes easier when you break them into categories. Here are the main types suitable for Class 1 children:

Action Verbs

Definition: Show physical or mental actions
Examples: run, jump, play, eat, drink, sing, read, draw, sleep
These are often the first verbs kids learn since they mimic everyday activities.

Being Verbs

Definition: Show a state of being or existence
Examples: is, am, are
Usage:

• I am happy

• He is a student

• They are my friends

Helping (Auxiliary) Verbs

Definition: Work with a main verb to show tense, mood, or aspect
Common Examples: is eating, am running, are singing
Why they matter: They help kids grasp the idea of time, whether something is happening now, was happening, or will happen

Linking Verbs

Definition: Connect the subject with more information
Examples: feels, looks

• The flower looks beautiful

• The soup feels hot
  Though slightly advanced, they appear in elementary descriptive sentences

Summary Table:

How to Teach Verbs to Class 1 Children

Real-Life Speaking Prompts

Ask, “What are you doing?”
Encourage answers like: “I am eating,” “I am drawing,” “I am jumping.”

Action-Based Games

• Simon Says: “Simon says, jump!”

• Charades for Kids: Act out verbs like “sleep” or “swim”

• Action Race: Place verb cards at one end. Kids run to a card, pick one, read the verb, and do it

Verb Stories

Create a story from the child's day: “This morning I woke up, brushed my teeth, ate my breakfast...”
Underline or highlight each verb

Visual Cards and Charts

Create picture cards with action images and their matching verbs. Kids read and act them out

Songs and Rhymes

Include action songs like “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes” or “If You're Happy and You Know It”

Sentence Building Practice

Give subjects and verb choices:

• He ___ (runs/run)

• They ___ (eat/eats)
  Use correct answers to reinforce subject-verb agreement

Common Verbs Every Class 1 Kid Should Know

Encourage your child to make full sentences using these:

• I eat my lunch

• She reads a book

• We walk to the park

Sentences and Basic Grammar Rules

Subject–Verb Agreement

• Singular subjects → add “-s” to the verb

  • He runs

  • She likes apples

• Plural subjects → base form of the verb

  • They play

  • We read books

Verb Placement in Sentences

• Start with the subject

• Add the verb

• End with object or description
  Example: They play football
  Subject = They, Verb = play, Object = football

Simple Present Tense

For habits and routines:

• I eat

• You drink

• He/She plays

• We walk

Present Continuous (Intro)

Use: is/am/are + verb + ing
Examples:

• She is dancing

• I am reading
  Use sparingly, but it introduces time-based actions

  

Fun Activities and Games to Reinforce Learning

Verb Action Game

One child calls out a verb; others perform the action
Start slow, build momentum: jump, skip, twirl, crawl

Verb Sorting Race

Cards with a mix of verbs and nouns. Kids sort into "verbs" and "non-verbs"

Fill-in-the-Blanks

1. I ___ (eat / eats) my lunch

2. She ___ (play / plays) with a ball

3. They ___ (throw / throws) a paper airplane
   Answers: eat, plays, throw

Verb Storytime

Read aloud. Kids clap or raise hands when they hear a verb
Follow-up: list the verbs they caught

Verb Hunt

Create a word search puzzle with hidden verbs

Daily Verb Journal

Ask your child to complete:
“Today I ___, I ___, I ___”
Let them draw illustrations for each

Picture Matching

Match a picture (e.g., a dog jumping) to the right verb ("jump")

Role Play

Give action prompts like “Pretend to drive” or “Pretend to cook”
Great for imagination and real-world use

✅ Free printable worksheet to reinforce verb learning – Download now 

Worksheets and Practice Sheets

Create printable or digital worksheets like:

Matching Worksheet

Match action images with the correct verb label

Circle the Verbs

Example: “The cat sleeps on the mat.” Kids circle "sleeps"

Fill-in-the-Blanks

Provide sentences with options in brackets

Label the Action

Draw or show pictures and ask kids to write the verb below

Verb Rhymes

Use simple rhyme pairs like:

• I jump; I bump

• I sing; I swing

Printable Daily Log

Today I ____, I ____, I ____
Great for routine writing and habit building

Integrating Verbs into Speaking and Writing

Daily Speaking Prompts

Encourage conversations that start with actions
“What did you do today?” “I ran. I painted.”

Verb Expansion

Turn one-word answers into full sentences
“Sleep.” → “I sleep.” or “I am sleeping.”

Question Prompts

Ask follow-ups like:

• “What did you eat?”

• “Where did you go?”

Drawing Journal

Child draws an action and writes a matching verb

Games to Stretch Learning

Verb Bingo

Make bingo sheets with verbs. Call them out; child marks when they hear them

Verb Board Game

Simple board game where kids land on pictures and say or act the verb

Verb Pictionary

One child draws a verb; the others guess the action

Memory Match

Match verb words with corresponding pictures

Verb Sorting by Phonics

Sort verbs based on beginning sounds or ending sounds

Mini Skits

Use simple scripts that include verbs
E.g., “You are cooking,” “You are jumping.”

FAQs About Teaching Verbs to Class 1 Kids

Why start learning verbs early?
Because verbs help children form complete sentences and express their thoughts clearly.

Can Class 1 students handle multiple verb types?
Yes. Begin with action verbs and slowly introduce being and helping verbs in context.

How do I ensure my child uses verbs correctly?
Practice speaking in full sentences and reinforce subject-verb agreement.

What’s the rule for adding ‘s’ to verbs?
Add “-s” for singular third-person subjects (he, she, it). Don’t use “-s” for I, you, we, they.

Should we teach past tense too?
Introduce gently with familiar examples:

• Today I eat → Yesterday I ate
  Avoid complex tenses for now

How PlanetSpark Makes Grammar Fun

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Why parents trust PlanetSpark for grammar:

• 1:1 personal coaching

• Gamified grammar sessions

• Spark Diary for daily writing practice

• PTMs and detailed progress reports

• Interactive communities for writing, speaking, and debating

Book your child’s free trial now and watch them grasp English grammar confidently and joyfully.

Recap – Verbs at a Glance

Key Reminders:

• Verbs show actions and states

• Use real-life examples and games

• Practice daily in speech and writing

• Start simple and build confidence