2nd grade action verbs worksheets
An action verb is the word in a sentence that tells what someone or something does: runs, whispered, builds, sang. Second graders find the action word in each sentence and notice that every sentence needs a verb.
Free printable PDF worksheet, aligned to Common Core L.K.1.b.
A new sheet every click.
The kind of sentences you'll get
Underline the action verb in each sentence.
-
The chorus was humming the melody quietly.
Answer: humming
- Jade poured water into the clear jar.
- My sister hops on her big bed.
Every print pulls a fresh set of sentences at this level, so a make-up test or a second sibling never gets the same sheet.
What's on each sheet
- Identify. Underline the action verb in each sentence. 10 questions per page.
- Multiple choice. Circle the letter of the word that is the action verb. 8 questions per page.
Every version prints on US Letter or A4, with its answer key on the last page.
How to teach this
Act it out first. Read the sentence, then ask "what happened?" and have your student do the motion. The word they act out is the verb. Once the routine clicks, add sentences where the action is quiet (thinks, waits, watches) so they learn that verbs aren't always big movements.
Watch for: Words like is, are, and was are verbs, but they don't show action. Our action-verb sheets focus on the doing words. The action word changes with time: jump, jumped, and jumping are all forms of the same verb.
Common questions about action verbs
- What is an action verb for a 2nd grader?
- The doing word. In "Maya kicked the ball," ask what Maya did: she kicked. Every sentence has a verb, and at this age the fastest way to find it is to find the action.
- Is "is" an action verb?
- No. "Is" is a verb, but it links ideas instead of showing action. These worksheets stick to action verbs like run, build, and whisper, because that's what 2nd graders are asked to identify first. Linking verbs get their own worksheets later.
Related worksheets
- Kindergarten action verbs A step easier, same skill
- 1st grade action verbs A step easier, same skill
- 2nd grade adverbs of how, when, and where Same grade, nearby skill
- 2nd grade articles (a, an, the) Same grade, nearby skill
- 2nd grade collective nouns Same grade, nearby skill
- Action verbs, all grades The full progression
- All 2nd grade English worksheets Every skill at this level
- All 2nd grade worksheets Everything at this level
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Aligned to Common Core L.K.1.b. Reviewed by the One more sheet team. Content version 137, updated August 2026.
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