Examples of Action Verbs (Dynamic Verbs)

Action Verbs vs Stative Verbs

Action verbs, also known as Dynamic verbs, are verbs that show action. An act or action means the process of actively doing something, and the act must be seen physically.

Distinguishing Dynamic verbs from Stative verbs may be confusing. Understanding the key natures of Stative verbs will clarify this:

1. Stative verbs are conceptual or emotional.
   These verbs indicate processes that happen mentally or emotionally. For example, the verb "hope." Hoping occurs in the mind and is not physically seen, only experienced mentally.
2. Stative verbs state what the subject feels, thinks, or senses.
   They describe emotions like hatred, love, and adoration, or thoughts like guessing, observing, and inferring.
   Examples:
   "I hate Dani."
   "She loves me."
   "I guess I’m fine."
   "Lindy observes very well."
3. Stative verbs indicate what the subject senses.
   They involve what the eyes see, ears hear, skin feels, tongue tastes, or nose smells. The perception of senses may be seen, but the feeling or opinion about that perception varies from person to person.
   Examples:
   "It tastes bad." / "It smells good."
   "She noticed my pimple."
   "I see you."
   "Mark hears us."

Note: It might still be confusing whether some verbs are truly stative. Remember, when a person shares what he senses, it is based on his perceptions. This confirms that stative verbs are conceptual or emotional in nature.

Stative verbs invite conceptual or emotional responses. For example, the verb displease is a pure concept. It invites a mental or emotional response rather than a direct physical action. To make these verbs effective on their objects, they usually need to be paired with dynamic verbs describing an action.
When effective, the object will feel or think exactly as the subject intended.

Important: Some verbs can be both dynamic and stative, depending on context:

• Embrace
  1) Hug physically (dynamic): "He embraced me tightly before sleeping."
  2) Accept a belief (stative): "Let us embrace this new normal."
• Fight
  1) Physically fight (dynamic): "Ronald fought Denis at school."
  2) Suppress a feeling (stative): "You should fight your loneliness once in a while."
• Kill
  1) End life through violence (dynamic): "The suspect killed the victim by stabbing her multiple times."
  2) End a feeling or thought (stative): "Reagan, kill your delusions."

Remember: Any verb that matches the three natures of stative verbs (conceptual, emotional, or perceptual) should be treated as stative. When such verbs indicate the conceptual or emotional state of the subject, they function as stative verbs.

Commonly Used Dynamic (Action) Verbs

Below is a list of commonly used Dynamic Verbs in English:

abduct	argue	accessorize	accompany	adjourn	animate	arrest	appear	applaud	approach
arise	arrange	articulate	ask	assemble	attack	attach	attend	avert	awake
badger	balance	ban	bathe	beat	bend	bite	block	blow	bolt
bombard	boom	bounce	bow	box	break	bribe	brief	bring	brush
build	bump	burn	burst	bury	buy	bypass	brake	call	catch
collide	cry	capture	carry	cook	chat	circulate	clasp	clean	clothe
choke	clutch	collect	combat	confiscate	construct	copy	cover	crush	crash
cut	create	chop	craft	deliver	demonstrate	display	drive	dance	draft
dart	declare	drink	demolish	deport	deposit	document	detach	detain	disappear
disarm	discuss	dismantle	dispense	distribute	disperse	dissolve	dive	divide	drag
drip	drive	droop	drop	dump	eject	embark	eat	emigrate	emit
escort	enclose	engrave	envelop	eradicate	evacuate	evaporate	excavate	exert	exit
explain	explode	expose	extract	faint	fasten	feed	fetch	fill	film
flap	flash	flatten	fly	float	flood	flop	flow	flush	follow
force	furnish	gamble	gawk	gaze	giggle	glance	glare	glaze	glide
glean	gnarl	grind	glitter	gobble	grate	graze	greet	hammer	harvest
hike	hibernate	hijack	hire	howl	hoot	hit	hop	hobble	hold
hug	hum	hush	hurtle	imprint	imprison	inform	inhale	ingest	inject
injure	inquest	inquire	insert	install	interfere	invade	invite	invent	jinx
jog	joke	jolt	jot	jump	kill	kneel	kibble	kick	kidnap
knell	knit	knob	knock	launch	list	lean	leap	lecture	lie
lift	litter	locate	look	lunge	lurk	maneuver	manhandle	manufacture	massage
measure	meet	mention	marry	message	mingle	murmur	mix	mop	move
muddle	mumble	mute	nag	nail	name	nap	narrate	navigate	negotiate
nestle	niggle	note	nominate	notify	nurse	nuzzle	obtain	obstruct	occupy
occur	omit	open	operate	orbit	organize	outline	pack	parade	participate
part	pass	paste	pause	pay	pave	peel	peddle	perform	pick
pile	pinch	pin	place	plant	pluck	poke	pour	practice	preach
produce	pronounce	propose	protest	pull	push	purge	prick	play	plug
paint	pump	punch	purchase	quake	quarrel	quaver	quote	raise	rally
ramble	rave	rant	reach	react	read	rap	reap	rearrange	receive
recite	record	recount	reconstruct	recruit	recycle	refine	rehearse	release	relinquish
resign	remove	renovate	repair	rent	repay	repeat	repel	replace	report
rest	reverse	revolt	revolve	reward	ride	roar	rob	rub	roll
rot	run	saddle	sell	salute	salvage	sanitize	sap	squeeze	slash
shake	sway	scan	scold	scratch	scribble	sketch	scrub	section	sow
send	separate	shatter	scatter	shed	shield	shiver	slay	slaughter	scream
shout	shut	sizzle	skid	speak	spread	sprint	spank	steal	store
state	step	stow	stretch	strangle	slice	submerge	strike	subside	suck
summon	supply	surround	swell	take	teach	talk	tangle	tape	tap
taste	tear	tell	telephone	text	thump	tie	tip	tilt	toil
topple	toss	touch	tow	tour	trace	track	trade	trample	transition
transmit	transport	trap	travel	trim	trill	tuck	tug	tweak	twitch
turn	twist	underline	unearth	unfold	unload	untangle	update	usher	vacate
vacuum	visit	vanish	verbalize	view	vindicate	voice	vomit	vote	vouch
vow	waddle	waft	wag	waive	wake	walk	wander	wash	watch
waver	wear	weave	wed	weep	whack	wheedle	whine	whip	whirl
whisper	wave	wield	wince	wink	wipe	withdraw	wobble	work	wound
wrap	wreck	wrestle	wrench	wring	wriggle	write	writhe	wither	xerox
yack	yak	yammer	yank	yawn	yaw	yell	yelp	zap	zigzag
zing	zip	zoom