Action verbs explained 

Action verbs are verbs that indicate the acts of subjects in a sentence. They are verbs that are used to show how the subject manipulates the object of a sentence positively or negatively. Subjects, being the initiators and performers of an action, are capable of influencing or manipulating the objects in a sentence and this is what action verbs show. For example;

1. I picked the ball. 

The subject "I" performs the action "picked" on "the ball" in the sentence above. The action being represented by an action verb "picked". Other examples include;

1. Martin dropped the expensive microphone.

2. Mr. Kingsley threw the old fans away.

3. They pushed the old man out of the way. 

4. She lied to the council of elders.

Action verbs are different from stative verbs in that while action verbs indicate actions as the name implies, stative verbs indicate state of being of the subject. For example;

1. He feels good.

2. George looks scares.

3. The teacher seems uncomfortable.

4. It sounds Interesting.

5. She appears intelligent. 

All the verbs in the examples above are stative verbs because they do not indicate actions being performed by the subjects in the sentences, however, they show the state of being of the subjects as well as the subject's qualities. Stative verbs can also take direct objects in some cases;

1. He owns a mansion.

2. She holds a bachelor's degree in philosophy.

3. Grace looked at him.

4. Jameson has the power of attorney.

5. The principal loves good old school music.

The difference is that while they take direct objects, they do not indicate that the subjects of sentences they occur in are coercing or manipulating those objects, rather they simply show that the objects form part of the state of being of the subjects. Just like "car" in "he owns a car" forms part of the state of being of the subject "he".

Action verbs simply show how subjects influence the state of objects in a sentence either positively or negatively.

Related posts:

• Main Verbs vs Auxiliary Verbs
• Stative Verbs vs Linking Verbs
• Transitive and Intransitive Verbs: The Difference 
• Regular and Irregular Verbs
• Inflection of Person in Grammar