Introduction
Verbs are the backbone of any language, and mastering them is essential for students at the beginner (A1) and elementary (A2) levels of English. Verbs allow learners to express actions, states, and occurrences, forming the foundation for constructing meaningful sentences and communicating effectively. Without a solid understanding of verbs, students often struggle with sentence structure, tense usage, and overall fluency. Teaching verbs systematically at the A1 and A2 levels equips learners with the tools they need to engage in basic conversations, write simple texts, and understand everyday English, laying the groundwork for more advanced language development.
At these levels, verbs are not just about memorizing lists of words—they are about helping students understand meaning, conjugation, and context. Students need to recognize verbs, use them correctly in sentences, and apply appropriate tense forms in both written and spoken language. A well-structured lesson plan for teaching verbs provides step-by-step guidance to help learners grasp these concepts clearly and confidently. It combines explanation, demonstration, guided practice, and independent exercises to ensure students not only learn verbs but also apply them effectively in communication.
This lesson plan is designed specifically for A1 and A2 learners and focuses on building core verb knowledge, including regular and irregular verbs, simple present, present continuous, past tense forms, and basic modal verbs. By concentrating on these essential verb forms, students develop the ability to construct grammatically correct sentences, ask and answer questions, describe daily routines, narrate simple events, and express preferences or obligations. At the same time, the plan emphasizes the importance of pronunciation, spelling, and common usage patterns, enabling learners to use verbs confidently in real-life situations.
A key component of teaching verbs is helping students understand conjugation and sentence structure. Beginners often find it challenging to match verbs with appropriate subjects, especially when dealing with irregular verbs or tense changes. This lesson plan provides modeling, examples, and guided practice to reinforce subject-verb agreement and proper verb forms. Activities such as gap-filling exercises, sentence rearrangement, and interactive quizzes help learners practice these skills actively, turning abstract grammar rules into practical knowledge they can use in communication.
Another critical aspect of teaching verbs at the A1 and A2 levels is contextual learning. Students retain language more effectively when they encounter verbs in meaningful contexts rather than isolated lists. The lesson plan integrates verbs into dialogues, short reading passages, daily routines, and role-plays, allowing learners to see how verbs function in real-life scenarios. For example, using present continuous verbs in a conversation about ongoing activities or past tense verbs in storytelling helps students connect grammar to authentic language use.
To make learning engaging and memorable, this lesson plan includes interactive activities and games, such as verb bingo, matching exercises, and sentence-building challenges. These activities reinforce understanding, provide immediate feedback, and make practice enjoyable, keeping learners motivated and attentive. Group and pair work also encourage collaborative learning, allowing students to learn from each other while practicing verbs in conversation.
Finally, the lesson plan emphasizes review, reinforcement, and assessment. Regular practice, quizzes, and short writing or speaking exercises help consolidate learning and ensure retention. Teachers can monitor progress, identify areas for improvement, and provide targeted support to students who struggle with specific verb forms or tenses.
Ultimately, teaching verbs at the A1 and A2 levels is about more than just grammar—it is about empowering learners to communicate confidently in everyday situations. By following this lesson plan, teachers can provide a structured, interactive, and practical framework for mastering verbs. Students gain the ability to construct sentences accurately, express actions and states clearly, and build the confidence needed to progress in their English learning journey. A strong grasp of verbs at these levels lays a solid foundation for continued language development, making students ready to tackle more complex grammar, vocabulary, and writing tasks in the future.
Teaching verbs helps students build sentences and express actions. Below are two structured lesson plans: one for A1 (beginner) learners and another for A2 (elementary) learners.
Lesson Plan: Verbs (A1 Level – Beginner)
Lesson Title: Introduction to Verbs
Lesson Duration: 45 minutes
Objective:
By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:
- Understand what verbs are.
- Identify verbs in sentences.
- Use simple verbs in present tense.
Materials Needed:
- Flashcards with action pictures (e.g., run, eat, jump).
- A whiteboard and markers.
- A worksheet with simple verb exercises.
Lesson Procedure:
1. Warm-up (5 minutes)
- Perform actions like jumping, clapping, waving and ask students, “What am I doing?”
- Guide them to answer: “You are jumping!” Introduce verbs as action words.
2. Presentation (10 minutes)
- Write on the board:
- “Ali runs to school.”
- “Sara eats an apple.”
- Explain: “Runs and eats are verbs because they show actions.”
- Introduce common verbs: run, eat, jump, sleep, talk, drink with pictures.
3. Practice (15 minutes)
- Activity 1: Verb Charades
- One student acts out a verb, and others guess the action.
- Activity 2: Fill in the Blanks
- “I ______ water.” (drink)
- “The cat ______ on the bed.” (sleeps)
4. Production (10 minutes)
- Pair Work:
- Students make sentences using action verbs.
- Example: “I play football every day.”
5. Wrap-up (5 minutes)
- Quick recap: Ask students to give three action words.
- Homework: “Write five sentences using different verbs.”
Lesson Plan: Verbs (A2 Level – Elementary)
Lesson Title: Types of Verbs
Lesson Duration: 45 minutes
Objective:
By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:
- Identify different types of verbs.
- Use present, past, and future tense verbs.
- Form sentences with auxiliary verbs.
Materials Needed:
- Flashcards with different types of verbs.
- A worksheet on verb tenses.
- A whiteboard and markers.
Lesson Procedure:
1. Warm-up (5 minutes)
- Write three sentences on the board:
- I eat an apple.
- Yesterday, I ate an apple.
- Tomorrow, I will eat an apple.
- Ask students to find the difference (verb tense).
2. Presentation (15 minutes)
Explain three types of verbs:
1. Action Verbs: show actions (e.g., run, write, dance).
2. Helping Verbs: support main verbs (e.g., am, is, was, were).
3. Modal Verbs: express possibility or ability (e.g., can, will, must).Introduce present, past, and future tenses.
3. Practice (15 minutes)
- Activity 1: Verb Sorting
- Give students a list of verbs and ask them to classify them as action, helping, or modal verbs.
- Activity 2: Verb Tense Fill-in-the-Blanks
- “Yesterday, she ______ to school.” (went)
- “Tomorrow, we ______ a test.” (will have)
4. Production (5 minutes)
- Students write three sentences using different verb types.
5. Wrap-up (5 minutes)
- Quick Q&A: Ask students to give examples of verbs in different tenses.
- Homework: “Write a short paragraph about your daily routine using different verb tenses.”
Printable Worksheets for Verbs
A1 Level Verbs Worksheet
Name: ___________
Date: ___________
Part 1: Identify the Verbs
Circle the verbs in each sentence.
- The baby cries.
- I drink water.
- She reads a book.
- We play outside.
- The dog runs fast.
Part 2: Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the blanks with a suitable verb.
- The sun ______ in the sky. (shines/runs)
- I ______ my homework. (do/eat)
- The birds ______ in the sky. (fly/sleep)
Part 3: Write Your Own Sentences
Write 3 sentences using different verbs.
A2 Level Verbs Worksheet
Name: ___________
Date: ___________
Part 1: Identify the Verb Type
Underline the verb and write its type (action, helping, modal).
- She can swim. (Type: ___________)
- He is writing a letter. (Type: ___________)
- They went to the park. (Type: ___________)
Part 2: Fill in the Blanks with the Correct Verb
- Yesterday, I ______ a movie. (watch/watched)
- We ______ go to the beach tomorrow. (will/must)
- She ______ dancing in the hall. (is/was)
Part 3: Sentence Writing
Write a sentence using:
- A helping verb: ______________________________________________________
- A modal verb: ______________________________________________________
These lesson plans and worksheets provide a structured way to teach verbs at different levels.