More Action Verbs — A1 Essential Words

draw /drɔː/ verb A1 Daily Life

Meaning: To make a picture with a pencil, pen, or crayon; also to pull something toward you (draw the curtains), and to end a game with equal scores.

Example: The children draw pictures of their families.

Another example: She drew a cat.

Collocations: draw a picture · draw with crayons · draw the curtains

Synonyms: sketch, picture, pull

Word family: drew (past) · drawn (participle) · drawing (n)

⚠ Common mistake: Sports 'draws' are ties — a third life for the verb. Its most patient form: 'draw a breath'.

🗣 In spoken American English: Every fridge door is its first gallery.

Register: Neutral — action essential.

paint /peɪnt/ verb / noun A1 Daily Life

Meaning: To put color onto a surface with a brush; to create a picture this way; the colored liquid itself.

Example: We painted the room blue.

Another example: He paints pictures of the sea.

Collocations: paint the wall · paint a picture · a can of paint

Synonyms: color, coat, brush

Word family: paints (n pl) · painter (n) · painting (n)

⚠ Common mistake: Painting a WALL and painting a MASTERPIECE share the verb; 'a fresh coat of paint' fixes both rooms and reputations.

🗣 In spoken American English: Wet paint signs guard its drying everywhere.

Register: Neutral — action essential.

kick /kɪk/ verb A1 Daily Life

Meaning: To hit something with your foot; to move your legs strongly (in swimming).

Example: Kick the ball into the goal.

Another example: The baby kicked happily.

Collocations: kick the ball · kick off (start) · a kick

Synonyms: boot (informal), strike

Word family: kicks (n pl/v) · kick (n)

⚠ Common mistake: 'Kick off' starts games and projects. Habits get 'kicked' when quit — and coffee gives a 'kick' of energy.

🗣 In spoken American English: Penalty kicks decide World Cups and blood pressure records.

Register: Neutral — action essential.

throw /θrəʊ/ verb A1 Daily Life

Meaning: To send something through the air with your hand; also to hold a party ('throw a party'), and to throw away (discard).

Example: Throw the ball to me.

Another example: Don't throw stones.

Collocations: throw the ball · throw a party · throw away

Synonyms: toss, fling, hurl

Antonyms: catch

Word family: threw (past) · thrown (participle) · throw (n)

⚠ Common mistake: Throw a ball, throw a party, throw away trash — one arm, three social lives. A blanket can be a 'throw' on a couch.

🗣 In spoken American English: Its partner CATCH waits in the next entry like a promise.

Register: Neutral — action essential.

catch /kætʃ/ verb A1 Daily Life

Meaning: To take hold of something moving through the air; to capture or be in time for (a bus, a thief, a cold).

Example: Catch the ball!

Another example: We caught the early train.

Collocations: catch the ball · catch a bus · catch a cold

Synonyms: grab, seize, trap

Antonyms: miss, drop, throw

Word family: caught (past) · catch (n) · catchy (adj — songs)

⚠ Common mistake: The bus sense ('catch the 8:10') and the cold sense ('catch a cold') follow the same grabbing idea. A 'catch' in a deal is the hidden problem.

🗣 In spoken American English: Outfielders and immune systems train for it daily.

Register: Neutral — action essential.

carry /ˈkæri/ verb A1 Daily Life

Meaning: To hold something in your hands or arms and take it somewhere; to support weight; stores 'carry' goods (stock them).

Example: She carried the baby upstairs.

Another example: The bridge carries heavy trucks.

Collocations: carry the bags · carry a baby · carry on (continue)

Synonyms: hold, bring, transport

Antonyms: drop, leave

Word family: carries (v) · carried (adj) · carrier (n)

⚠ Common mistake: 'Carry on' continues (and calms down, in Britain's famous posters). Phones 'carry' signals; teams get 'carried' by their stars.

🗣 In spoken American English: Grocery bags test its limits at one trip from the car — a national sport.

Register: Neutral — action essential.

close /kləʊz/ verb A1 Daily Life

Meaning: To shut something (a door, a book, your eyes); also (adjective, /kləʊs/) near in distance or relationship.

Example: Close the door, please.

Another example: They are close friends.

Collocations: close the door · close your book · close to (near)

Synonyms: shut, seal

Antonyms: open

Word family: closes (v) · closed (adj) · closing (n)

⚠ Common mistake: Two pronunciations: the verb ends with a Z sound (klohz); the adjective 'close friends' hisses (klohss). Stores 'close at nine'.

🗣 In spoken American English: 'Close, but no cigar' consoles every near miss.

Register: Neutral — action essential.

hit /hɪt/ verb A1 Daily Life

Meaning: To strike something with force (your hand, a bat, a ball); to reach a target or level; a successful song or film is 'a hit'.

Example: He hit the ball over the fence.

Another example: The car hit a tree.

Collocations: hit the ball · a big hit (song) · hit the road (leave)

Synonyms: strike, smack, beat

Antonyms: miss

Word family: hit (past — same form) · hit (n) · hitter (n)

⚠ Common mistake: Past tense is HIT unchanged. 'Hit the road' = leave; 'hit the books' = start studying; a 'hit' song tops charts.

🗣 In spoken American English: Baseball lives on its three-letter drama.

Register: Neutral — action essential.

show /ʃəʊ/ verb / noun A1 Daily Life

Meaning: To let someone see something; to display or explain; a performance or program (a TV show, a show on stage).

Example: Show me your ticket.

Another example: The show starts at eight.

Collocations: show me · show the way · a TV show

Synonyms: display, present, demonstrate

Antonyms: hide

Word family: showed (past) · shown (participle) · show (n) · showing (n)

⚠ Common mistake: One word covers proof ('show me'), screens ('my show'), and manners ('show respect'). 'Show up' means arrive — often late, in jokes.

🗣 In spoken American English: Broadway and Netflix split its kingdoms.

Register: Neutral — action essential.

point /pɔɪnt/ verb / noun A1 Daily Life

Meaning: To show direction with your finger; a sharp end; the main idea of something; a unit in games and scores.

Example: He pointed at the mountain.

Another example: What's your point?

Collocations: point at · the point is · score a point

Synonyms: indicate, aim, idea

Word family: points (n pl) · pointed (adj) · pointer (n)

⚠ Common mistake: 'Get to the point' begs for the main idea, fast. Points score games, grade exams, and prove arguments ('Good point!').

🗣 In spoken American English: Dogs do it professionally — pointing breeds freeze toward birds.

Register: Neutral — action essential.