Action verbs reveal what we do—physically or in our heads—and how to spot them in everyday English.

Outline (quick skeleton)

• Hook: Verbs are the movers in a sentence. Ever notice how some verbs simply show action, while others link things together?

• Core idea: The question on the English Accuplacer-related content asks which verb type expresses physical or mental activity. Answer: action verb. Then explain why.

• Deep dive: What is an action verb? Examples, how to spot them, and how they differ from linking, infinitive, and participle verbs.

• Quick tour of the other verb types: short, clear contrasts with friendly examples.

• Why this matters in real reading and writing: not just for tests, but for understanding sentences in books, articles, and even chats.

• A light, optional check: a mini-quiz to sharpen the eye for action verbs without any heavy exam vibes.

• Wrap-up: practical tips and a friendly nudge to notice verbs in everyday life.

Action verbs steal the show

Let me explain the heart of the matter with a simple question: which verb type expresses physical or mental activity? The answer is an action verb. This is the kind of verb that does something. It can be something you can see happening—someone runs, writes, or jumps. Or it can be a mental thing—think, believe, decide, wish. Either way, the action is happening, and the verb is doing the talking.

Think of action verbs as the energy in a sentence. If a sentence is a car, the action verb is the engine, revving up and moving things along. You know you’re looking at one when the verb clearly shows an activity, not a state of being. Consider these quick examples: run, cook, imagine, study, plan. Some are physical (run, write), some are mental (think, decide), but all of them convey action in some form.

Spotting action verbs is easier than you might fear

Here’s the thing: you can often tell an action verb by what it asks the subject to do. If you can imagine a person performing the verb, chances are it’s an action verb. But there’s a useful nuance: mental actions count too. If someone thinks about a problem, that’s still an action verb in the broad sense—because the mind is actively engaging with something.

To get even more precise, you can test the sentence by asking, “Is the subject doing something?” If yes, you’re likely looking at an action verb. If the sentence is more about a state—“is, seem, appear, feel” in a way that links the subject to a description—you might be seeing a linking verb in action instead. And if you see a base form of the verb with “to” in front of it, that’s often an infinitive, which brings its own role, not a direct action by the subject. We’ll tour those a little later.

A quick tour of the other verb types (so the difference is crystal)

• Linking verbs: These verbs connect the subject to more information about the subject. They don’t describe an action so much as a state of being or a condition. Think am, is, are, was, seem. For example, “The sky is blue” uses a linking verb to join subject and description.

• Infinitive verbs: These are the base forms that usually come with to, like to run or to think. They don’t perform an action by themselves in a sentence, but they can express actions in a non-conjugated form or act as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. Example: “To read aloud helps with pronunciation.”

• Participle verbs: These act like adjectives or help form verb tenses. Present participles end in -ing (running, thinking), and past participles often end in -ed or have irregular forms (opened, thought). They can describe a noun or contribute to times and moods in a sentence. For instance, “The running horse surprised the crowd” uses the participle to describe the noun, while “Having finished the work, she left early” shows a participial phrase driving the tense or mood.

Why this distinction matters beyond a single test question

Understanding action verbs isn’t about memorizing a rule for one quiz. It helps you read with sharper attention and write with more clarity. When you know which verbs indicate action, you can:

• Interpret meaning faster: You can tell who’s doing what, and how strongly, in a sentence.

• Improve sentence rhythm: Action verbs often create brisk, energetic sentences that move your writing forward.

• Build better basics for more advanced grammar: Tense, aspect, and voice depend on verb types, and spotting them makes complex sentences easier to handle.

A few everyday examples you’ll recognize

• Action verb in plain view: “The cat jumped onto the counter.” Jumped is clearly doing something—the cat’s action.

• Mental action counted too: “She considered the proposal before answering.” Considered shows mental activity in a concrete way.

• A sentence that uses a linking verb: “The outcome seems promising.” Seem links the subject to the adjective, rather than expressing a direct action.

Tables are helpful, but I’ll keep the vibe light

If you like to see a quick contrast side by side, here’s a clean way to hold it in memory without turning it into a stiff drill:

• Action verb: run, write, decide, imagine

• Linking verb: is, seem, appear, feel (in a state-of-being sense)

• Infinitive verb: to run, to think

• Participle verb: running, written, thought, opened

A tiny, friendly check to sharpen your eye

Here’s a short set of sentences. Pick the verb type you think each one uses.

• The dog chased the ball across the yard.

• The soup smells delicious.

• He decided to read the article before lunch.

• The illuminated sign read “Open.”

If you’re thinking “chased” is the action, you’re right—that’s an action verb. “Smells” in this sense links the subject to a sensory state, which is a linking verb idea. “Decided” shows a mental action, an internal choice. “Read” in “to read the article” acts as an infinitive, not a direct action by the subject in that exact form. And “read” in the final line is the base form tied to a tense through the sentence structure. See how the sentence structure nudges you toward the right label?

Keeping the flow natural in your own writing

When you write, letting action verbs take the lead can give your sentences a vivid, readable pulse. You don’t need to hammer every sentence with high-energy verbs, but a well-placed action verb often carries the sentence forward more cleanly than a long string of adjectives or dull state verbs. And if you’re reading, you’ll appreciate the clarity—fewer moments of guessing what’s happening and more time understanding the message.

A few tips to notice verb types in real life

• Look for the doer: if someone is doing something, that’s your cue for an action verb. If the sentence asks what the subject is doing, you’re on the right track.

• Mind the “to”: infinitives often start with to, and they don’t show action by themselves, at least not in the main clause. They’re more about purpose or future action.

• Check the adjectives around the noun: participles often carry descriptive weight, turning verbs into adjectives. If a word ending in -ing or -ed is describing a noun, it’s likely a participle.

A gentle nudge toward a wider view

Beyond the rules, language is a living thing. You’ll see action verbs in novels where a character races to a decision, in news articles where a headline captures a rapid event, and in casual chat where someone explains their day with brisk, active words. The beauty is that these verbs connect thoughts to moments—making meaning feel immediate and real.

Closing thought: notice, read, write, repeat

If this idea sticks, you’ll start spotting action verbs all around you—in emails, social posts, and the way someone tells a story about their weekend. It’s not about cramming for a test; it’s about sharpening your sense of how language works. When you understand that action verbs express activity—physical or mental—you have a handy tool for parsing sentences and crafting clear, engaging writing.

Mini-quiz recap (optional, light, no exam vibes)

• Which verb type expresses physical or mental activity?

A) Linking verb

B) Action verb

C) Infinitive verb

D) Participle verb

Correct answer: B) Action verb. Remember: action verbs move the story forward, whether the action is seen or imagined.

If you want to explore more, pull up a paragraph from a favorite article or a short story and try labeling the verbs as action, linking, infinitive, or participle. You’ll be surprised at how quickly the patterns reveal themselves, and you’ll gain a sense of language that travels beyond any single test.