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.

2nd grade action verbs

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.

Each print is a different sheet with its own answer key. You don't need to sign up.

The kind of sentences you'll get

Underline every action verb in each sentence.

The clever mouse escaped through a secret tunnel.
Answer: escaped
The goats bleated, and the lambs napped nearby.
The wind blows my red hat.

Every print pulls a new set of sentences at this level, so a make-up test or a second sibling gets a different mix.

What's on a 2nd grade sheet

2nd grade sheets draw from 269 sentences, 10 to a page. 178 of the 269 aren't on 1st grade sheets. The other 91 are. 1st grade sheets print 12 to a page.

Some of the words to find:

watchedwasheddrewseesseereturncountingbrushingwaterpedaling

Identify. Underline every 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 2nd grade 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

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Aligned to Common Core L.K.1.b. Reviewed by the One more sheet team. Content version 241, updated October 2026.

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