14 Quick & Easy Verb Games for ESL/EFL Classrooms

Without the simple verb we would never get anything done. Our happy little worker words… all men, women and children of action!

We’ve assembled some quick and easy games to reinforce verb learning for the language classroom that are all:

• Quick to set up and play
• Have a minimal amount of material
• Are (mostly) useful for any level of age or ability

Before we get to the games, the following video from Schoolhouse Rock! is a great introduction (or review) for simple verbs.
 
Classrooms that have access to the Internet can be made more exciting by encouraging students to sing along or learn the song adding value to your lessons. (Verb, That’s What’s Happening lyrics from LyricsMania.com)
 
 

Verb games are an excellent way to incorporate James Asher’s notion of Total Physical Response (TPR) into your second language class. For more information on TPR check out  the TPR World homepage.

and now on to the games…

Verb Games

1. Verb Charades

   This is a speed game. Play it in small groups or a large class.

    

   Prepare a large number of verb cards, one verb to each small card. If you need inspiration, you can find an excellent list of regular verbs at the title=”English Club”>English Club.

    

   Put the cards in a box or bag. In turn, each student will be given a brief time to take verb cards and silently perform as many as they can for their team to guess. The performer may pass (if they don’t know a verb or have no ideas for a mime) and draw a new verb to guess.
    
   Play should progress as fast as possible. Encourage speed.
    
   The performing student should be given a short time (about a minute or two) to perform as many verbs as they can while their team tries to guess.

    

   Repeat as long as you have schedules time, attempting to give each student an opportunity to perform.

    

   Post-round, be certain to explain (and perform) any verbs that were passed on, or that students were unable to guess.

    

   To increase difficulty for advanced students, encourage full sentence responses. For example: Rather than a short answer “sleep”, an acceptable answer would be “I sleep every night.”

 
 

2. Verb Relay

   This is a good energy starter for any class and any level, but especially young learners.

    

   Prepare a list of verb cards as above.

    

   Mark of a relay course across the classroom, from one side to another and place the box or bag of verb cards (see above) at the far end of the race course.

    

   Make teams.

    

   Each team in turn must run to the bag or box of verb cards, pull out a card and both make a sentence and perform a pantomime verb and then return to their team. The next in line goes again. Be prepared to help students that encounter a word they don’t know, or who have difficulty making a sentence.

 
 

3. Pantomime Verbs

   A good game for shy beginners.

    

   Explain rules.  Write “Is it this?” on your blackboard. Explain what the word ‘rhyme’ means.

    

   Collect the class into a large group.

    

   The teacher says, “I’m thinking of a verb that rhymes with ______.” (Try to use single syllable words and verbs).

    

   Any student in the group may respond with the phrase “Is it this?” and then the student should pantomime the verb they are guessing.

    

   For example: The teacher targets the verb ‘run’ and says, “I’m thinking of a verb that rhymes with ‘fun’.

    

   The first student to say, “Is it this?” and pantomimes running is the victor.

    

   Repeat. With lower level classes the teacher should always lead, but in more advanced classes, the victor starts the game again.

 
 

4. Mother May I?

   A fun game for young children, less so for teenagers and adults, though some adults will get into the spirit of the game and enjoy it.

    

   This is a variation on the old school yard game “Mother May I?” also known as “Captain May I?” and “Father May I?”

    

   To begin the game, the teacher stands at one end of a room or play area, while the children line up at the other end.
    
   The students take turns asking “Mother/Father/Captain, may I ____?” and makes a movement suggestion.
    
   For example, a student might ask, “Mother, may I walk?”
    
   The teacher either replies “Yes, you may walk three steps” or “No, you may not do that, but you may _____ instead” and suggests another action.
    
   It helps if you model on your blackboard the following examples.
    

   • Mother may I walk?
   • Mother may I crawl?
   • Mother may I hop?
   • Mother may I dance?
   • Mother may I run?
   • Mother may I skip?
   • Mother may I roll?
   • Mother may I march?
   • Mother may I jog?
   • Mother may I race?
   • Mother may I fly?
   • Mother may I fall?
   • Mother may I trot?
   • Mother may I jump?
   • Mother may I leap?
   • Mother may I sneak?
   • Mother may I swim?

    

   The first of the children to reach the location of the mother/father wins the game. That child may then becomes the mother/father if their ability is high enough to lead the game. If not, keep score.

 
 

5. Verb Shouts!/Verb Acting

   This is a game that is best played in a large group.
    
   Find a simple English story that you will read to your students. You can find some useful easy stories at Really Learn English and some news stories at News in Levels.
    

   The teacher reads the story while the students listen carefully. When a student hears a verb in the story he/she shouts out “VERB!” and quickly performs (pantomimes) the verb heard. (Let student’s know that the verb “to be” (is, was etc.) is best performed by doing nothing. This can and will be seen as humour by the class)
    
   Keep score.

 
 

6. Verb Scavenger Hunt

   Prepare a number of cards with words on them.

    

   Suggested Mix:
    

   • 15 verbs
   • 15 nouns
   • 15 words of other parts of speech (adjectives, conjunctions, adverbs etc.)

    

   Secretly place these cards around the room. Be certain to hide them in unusual places (Under desks, in drawers, behind other objects).

    

   Each student is expected to search around the room and keep a running list of verbs only. (you may repeat the game another time with the same material, yet have students search for nouns etc.)

    

   This should be played quietly, while each student searches and records their finds. However, if you have a mixed level class, pair up a beginner with a more advance learner to travel and search together.

    

   Score the game with winners being the learners that collect the largest number of verbs. Penalize students that record words that are other parts of speech.
    

   • +1 point for each verb
   • -2 points for each noun
   • -3 points for adjectives, adverbs, conjunctions etc.

    

   Note: be cautious with gerunds (verbs used as nouns) and hybrid verbs (nouns used as verbs; ie: bat, rake, keyboard etc.). It can be fun to include them in your word list, but to be fair to your students, let them know that you have included a few in their scavenger hunt.

    

   Mixing up verb tense can make a more challenging game for some students.

 
 

7. What do I like to do?

   This is a variation on Blind Man’s Poker.

    

   It is best played in groups of 4-6.

    

   Using post-it notes or blank paper, write simple verbs on a card for each student in a group. The card is stuck to a players forehead (by tape or spittle or the glue of a post-it-note).

    

   Each student in turn is attempting to guess the verb that is written on their own card.

    

   Each student in turn may ask a yes/no question of the rest of the group. They must answer truthfully.

    

   At any time a student may guess their verb. The first student to guess correctly wins the game.

    

   Example of play:

    

   1. Student one (Verb: sleep)
   2. Student two (Verb: eat)
   3. Student three (Verb: cook)
   4. Student four (Verb: study)

    

   • Student One: “Do I do this outside?” Group: No.
   • Student Two: “Do I do this everyday?” Group: Yes.
   • Student Three: “Do I need tools to do this?” Group: Yes.
   • Student Four: “Do I do this everyday?” Group: (Laughing) Some people do, but do you? Maybe.
   • Student One: “Do I do this in the bathroom?” Group: No
   • Student Two: “Do I do this with with other people? Group: Yes, but not always.
   • Student Three: “Do I do this inside?” Group: Yes.
   • Student Four: “Do I need books to do this?” Group: Yes.
   • “Is it read?” Group: No
   • Student One: “Do I do this in the kitchen?” Group: No.
   • Student Two: “Do I do this with toys?” Group: No.
   • Student Three: “Is this a chore?” Group: Yes. “Is it clean?” Group: No.
   • Student Four: “Do I do this for English Class?”  Group: Yes! We hope so! “Is it study?” Group: Congratulations you won!

    

   Though one student will win, it is best to keep playing until the last person has guessed their verb.

    

   Repeat the game as time allows.

 
 

8. Verb Snip

   Form a circle with your class with one student in the centre.
    
   The student in the centre will point to one student in the circle and say and spell a three-letter word (example: “Cat, C-A-T”). Then the student in the centre will (slowly) count from one to twenty and say “Snip”.

    

   The student pointed at must name three verbs that start with the letter spelled (example: “Call, Ask, Teach”).

    

   If a student is not able to say three verbs before the person in the centre says, “Snip” then they are moved into the centre and the game begins again.
    
   If the student gives three verb examples, the student in the centre choses a new person and a new three-letter word.

    

   Beware of (and veto) impossible, or very difficult words (example: B-O-X) and encourage students to not repeat verbs that have been used.

 

9. Verbtionary

   This is a variation of the game Pictionary.

    

   Divide the class into teams usually four per team is a good number.

    

   In turn, a member from each team works at the blackboard and becomes the team “drawer” for the round.

    

   Tell each student a verb either in writing or for students that with difficulty reading, whisper it.

    

   On “Go!” each drawer will draw the verb for their team. Each team shouts out their guesses.

    

   The first team to shout out the right verb wins the round. Keep score.

    

   New drawers will come to the board for the next round and the game is repeated.

    

   Be aware: This game is known to be noisy, so try to be aware of the classes around you.

 
 

10. Verb toss

    To play this game, you will need a balloon or ball.
     
    Write on your blackboard “I _VERB_ the ball” and model some examples “I throw the ball”, “I kick the ball”  “I hit the ball”
     
    Arrange your class into a circle.
     
    Each student must say the phrase inserting their own verb and throw the ball to another student.
     
    Encourage students to mime their action (when possible).
     
    Do not correct obvious grammar mistakes such as “I sleep the ball” or “I dance the ball” this game is about fast thinking and playing with verbs. Allow some repetition, it will help reinforce learning.
     
    Try to insert yourself into the game adding new verb vocabulary when possible.

 
 

11. Robot

    This is a fun game for very young and beginning learners. It is also a low-stress game for shy students.
     
    Arrange your class into a group.
     
    Write the word “Robot” on the blackboard and draw your best robot picture. Explain to each of the students that they are going to be robots under your control. Students will be expected to mime activities that you call out.

     

    Such as “Robots dance!” “Robots eat!” “Robots jump!” “Robots swim!” On each command students should mime the activity.

     

    Robot is a good game for beginners as learners have the ease of copying other more advanced students even if they don’t know the vocabulary expressed by the teacher.

     

    After a few practices, encourage learners to repeat the command as they mime the verb.

     

    If you are presented with a class that doesn’t understand a verb you say, be prepared to mime it for your students first.

 

 

12. Verb Conjugation Relay Race

    Divide your class into equal teams facing your blackboard a short distance away. Each team will need a piece of chalk.

     

    Model on the blackboard: “I am. You are. He is. She is. We are. They are. It is.”

     

    The game is played as the teacher shouts out the simple form of a verb. In turn, each team member must run to the blackboard and conjugate the verb in turn.

     

    Example (verb: sleep):

    • First student writes: “I sleep”
    • Next student in line writes: “You sleep”
    • Next student in line writes: “He sleeps”
    • and so on, until the verb has been conjugated in each form.

     

    Let your students know that if a mistake is made, they may give up their turn to correct it. But they may only correct one mistake per turn.

     

    This game should be played silently, do not allow conversation/assistance inside teams.

     

    When a team has completed all forms, the round is over. The first team to complete the series receives seven (7) points {one for each example} each other team will receive one (1) point for each correct example.

     

    Repeat with a new verb and continue to keep score.

 
 

13. Verb Tic-Tac-Toe

    This can be an excellent game for irregular verb practice.

     

    Separate your class into two teams. Draw a tic-tac-toe playing area on your blackboard and randomly place pronouns (I, you, he, she, we, they, it) in each of the boxes of the tic-tac-toe board.

     

    Prepare verbs written on pieces of paper and place them in a box or hat for students to draw from. In turn, each student selects a verb, chooses a space and then gives the correct form of the verb for the box the student chooses. If correct, the team is awarded the box.
     
    A student may re-use a box that has been filled in by conjugating a new verb to go with the pronoun. They will steal the space this way.
     
    First team to get three boxes in a row, wins the round.  Keep score.

 
 

14. Hot Verb-tato

    This is a variation of the school yard game “Hot Potato”.

     

    Arrange students in a circle. You will need a ball, balloon, bean bag or potato to be tossed around. Keep time. Fifteen seconds is a good starting time, but it helps to vary the time from ten to thirty seconds.

     

    On start, each student must say a verb and pass the ‘potato’ to another student.

     

    When time runs out the student holding the ‘potato’ loses and is subjected to some light-hearted punishment (sing the ABC song, do a dance, run around the circle, answer three questions in English, etc.).

     

    Each student:

    • May only pass the potato after saying a verb. Verbs may not be repeated in a round, if they are, the student is deemed the loser
    • Must take the potato when it is passed to them
    • Must not throw hard
    • Pick up the potato if they drop it, say a verb and only then pass it on

     

    A more difficult variation of this game for advanced students is for each round to declare the letter that each verb must start with (example: “A” ask, answer, assault, ambulate, assume, aspire, etc., “B” bathe, bat, blend, bleach, bask, etc.)

 
Verb games can be a great warm up to a class or an energy reviver when students seem tired and run down. If used regularly they can be a fun break for students that will help add more laughter to what may be a dull memorizaiton exercise.
 
Do you have any favourite games for your class?
 
Tell us what you think of these games or tell us your favourites in the comments.

Last updated: June 17, 2013 at 12:56 pm