English · Writing and colouring worksheet
Verbs Worksheet: Doing Words for KS1 (Free Printable)
A verb is a "doing word" — it tells us the action that someone or something is doing. This free printable introduces the idea gently: your child looks at each picture of the owl, decides what it is doing, and writes the matching verb. Naming actions out loud first, then writing them down, helps young learners connect spoken language with the grammatical word "verb".
Doing Words (Verbs)
Free English worksheet · Ages 5 to 7
Activity 1
Look at the owl in each picture. What is it doing? Write the doing word (verb) on the line. The word box can help you.
The owl is up in the air with its wings spread wide. What is the owl doing?
The owl is sitting still and looking at an open book. What is the owl doing?
The owl has both feet off the ground. What is the owl doing?
Activity 2
Now colour in the busy owl. As you colour each picture, say the doing word out loud one more time.
- Colour the flying owl's wings and feathers.
- Colour the open book the owl is reading.
- Colour the jumping owl any colours you like.
Doing Words (Verbs)owee.worldAnswer key
- The owl is up in the air with its wings spread wide. What is the owl doing? — flying
- The owl is sitting still and looking at an open book. What is the owl doing? — reading
- The owl has both feet off the ground. What is the owl doing? — jumping
What is a verb?
A verb is a word that names an action or a state of being. At Key Stage 1, the focus is firmly on action verbs — the everyday doing words children already use, such as run, jump, read, fly and sleep. The National Curriculum asks Year 1 pupils to begin using the word 'verb' itself, so the goal is not a technical definition but confident recognition: spotting the doing word in a picture or a simple sentence and being able to name it correctly.
How to use this worksheet at home
Start by talking about each picture before any writing happens. Ask your child, 'What is the owl doing here?' and let them answer in a full sentence — 'The owl is flying.' Then point out that flying is the doing word. Encourage them to write just the verb on the line. If spelling is still developing, accept a confident phonetic attempt and gently model the correct spelling afterwards. Finish with the colouring activity, which gives a relaxed reward and a chance to revisit the actions one more time.
Building grammar vocabulary in Year 1 and Year 2
Grammatical terminology is introduced cumulatively across KS1. In Year 1, children meet the word 'verb' and learn to recognise doing words in speech and simple text. By Year 2 they extend this to verb tenses, choosing between the present and past forms (for example jump and jumped, fly and flew), and using the correct form consistently in their writing. Naming verbs reliably in Year 1 lays the groundwork for that later tense work.
Extending the learning
Turn verb-spotting into a game away from the page. During a walk or while tidying up, take turns to call out the doing word for whatever you are doing — 'I am walking', 'You are carrying'. You can also play 'verb charades', acting out an action for your child to name. These short, playful repetitions help the term 'verb' settle into everyday vocabulary so it feels familiar when it appears again in school.
Frequently asked questions
What is a verb for KS1 children?
For Key Stage 1, a verb is best explained as a 'doing word' — a word that tells us the action someone or something is doing, such as run, jump, read or fly. In Year 1 children simply learn to recognise these doing words and begin using the term 'verb'.
At what age do children learn about verbs?
In England, children are formally introduced to the word 'verb' in Year 1, around ages 5 to 6, as part of the grammar terminology in English Appendix 2. Recognition is extended in Year 2 with verb tenses (present and past).
Is this verbs worksheet free to print?
Yes. This worksheet is completely free to download and print. It is designed to fit on a single A4 page so you can print it at home or in the classroom without any sign-up.
How do I explain verbs to a 5 or 6 year old?
Keep it concrete and active. Show or act out an action, then say 'That is the doing word — the verb.' Linking the term to movement they can see, like jumping or clapping, makes the idea stick far better than a formal definition.
What is the difference between a verb and a noun?
A noun names a person, place or thing (owl, book, garden), while a verb names an action or doing word (fly, read, jump). A simple way to help children tell them apart is to ask, 'Can you do it?' If yes, it is usually a verb.
Curriculum links
- English Appendix 2 (Vocabulary, Grammar and Punctuation), Year 1: introducing the grammatical terminology for pupils to learn and use, including the word 'verb'.
- English Year 1 Writing — Vocabulary, grammar and punctuation: using the grammatical terminology in English Appendix 2 in discussing their writing.
- English Year 2 — Vocabulary, grammar and punctuation: using the present and past tenses correctly and consistently, including the progressive form.
- English Year 1 Spoken Language: speaking audibly and fluently, articulating and justifying answers when describing what is happening in each picture.
Made by The Owee education team. Updated 02/06/2026. Free to print and share.
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