Common Verbs and how to use them

 Learn everyday English verbs with examples and tips to remember them easily

Verbs are the action words of English. They describe what people do, feel, or think. If you want to speak or write English well, you need to know how to use common verbs correctly. In this guide, we’ll explore 20 essential English verbs, give you real-life example sentences, and share memory tips to help you learn and remember them long term.

English Verbs in Action – Illustrated Learning Scene.

🔹 Why Focus on Common Verbs?

• Used every day: These verbs appear in almost every conversation.

• Build strong sentences: Verbs are the heart of a sentence.

• Help you speak naturally: The more common verbs you know, the more fluent you’ll sound.

🔤 Vocabulary List: 20 Common Verbs

Let’s learn these verbs with example sentences and memory tricks.

Verb	Meaning	Example Sentence	Memory Tip
Be	To exist / describe	I am happy. She is a teacher.	Think of “I am, you are, he is…”
Have	To own / to experience	They have a big house.	Link with “possessions”
Do	To perform an action	I do my homework at night.	Common with tasks and routines
Go	To move from one place to another	We go to school every day.	Think of movement or travel
Get	To receive / become	I got a gift. He got tired.	“Get” changes – think “gain or change”
Make	To create / build	She makes delicious cakes.	Think of cooking or building
Take	To grab / accept	Can you take a photo?	Imagine taking something with hands
Come	To arrive	He comes home at 6.	Picture someone arriving
See	To look / notice	I see birds in the sky.	Connected with the eyes
Know	To understand / be aware	I know the answer.	Think “knowledge”
Think	To have thoughts	I think it’s a good idea.	Imagine your brain working
Say	To speak	She said hello.	Related to speaking out loud
Tell	To inform someone	He told me a secret.	“Tell someone something”
Work	To do a job	They work in a hospital.	Think about jobs and effort
Call	To phone or name someone	I called my friend.	Picture making a phone call
Try	To attempt	She tried to open the door.	Think “Give it a go!”
Ask	To request or question	I asked a question in class.	Use when you need information
Need	To require something	I need more time.	Think of something necessary
Feel	To experience emotions	He feels happy today.	Connected with emotions
Leave	To go away from a place	We left the party early.	Think “exit”

🧠 How to Remember Verbs Long Term

Here are practical strategies to help the verbs stay in your memory:

✅ 1. Use Them in Sentences

Create your own examples using the verbs. For example:

• “I have two brothers.”

• “We go shopping every Saturday.”

✅ 2. Group by Meaning

Some verbs are similar. Group them to remember them easier:

• Movement: go, come, leave

• Communication: say, tell, ask, call

• Emotions: feel, think, know

✅ 3. Practice with Real-Life Contexts

Use the verbs when talking about your day:

• “Today, I woke up, had breakfast, and went to school.”

✅ 4. Play Games

Try word matching games, flashcards, or quizzes using these verbs.

✅ 5. Watch & Listen

Watch English TV shows, listen to podcasts, and focus on how these verbs are used.

🗣️ Practice Time: Mini Exercise

Complete the sentences using the correct verb from the list above:

1. I always ___ my best at work.

2. Can you ___ me your name?

3. She ___ to the market every morning.

4. They ___ a lot of friends in New York.

5. He ___ very tired after running.

Answers:

1. do

2. tell

3. goes

4. have

5. feels

🏁 Final Tips

Learning common verbs is the first step to building strong English skills. Focus on:

• Repeating and reviewing often.

• Using new verbs in conversation or writing.

• Not being afraid to make mistakes.

📌 Summary

• Verbs are key to communication.

• Learn common ones first.

• Practice with examples and in real life.

Keep this page as a reference and come back to it when you want to review. Master these common verbs, and you’ll feel more confident in everyday English.