Sport actions are the verbs and phrases we use to describe what people do in different sports. Learning these words helps you talk about games, workouts, and more with confidence.
Ball Sports
Ball sports include games like soccer, basketball, and tennis. Here are the common actions you need to know.
| English Verb | English Example | English Example (Negative) | English Example (Question) | English Example (Past) | English Example (Continuous) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| pass | She can pass the ball quickly. | He doesn't pass well under pressure. | Do you pass the ball to your teammates? | They passed the ball across the court. | I am passing the ball right now. |
| shoot | He shoots from outside the box. | She doesn't shoot often. | Did you shoot the ball? | He shot the winning goal. | She is shooting free throws. |
| dribble | The player dribbles past defenders. | I don't dribble very well. | Can you dribble the ball? | He dribbled down the field. | They are dribbling together. |
| catch | Catch the ball carefully. | She doesn't catch high balls. | Did you catch the ball? | He caught the ball mid-air. | I am catching the ball now. |
| throw | Throw the ball to me. | Don't throw it too hard. | Who throws the ball? | She threw a perfect pass. | We are throwing the ball around. |
| kick | Kick the ball into the goal. | He doesn't kick with his left foot. | Did you kick the ball? | She kicked the ball far away. | He is kicking the ball now. |
| score | He scored the winning point. | We didn't score any goals. | Did they score last night? | She scored three goals. | I am scoring in practice. |
| volley | He volleyed the ball over the net. | She doesn't volley often. | Can you volley the ball? | They volleyed back and forth. | We are volleying in doubles. |
| rebound | He grabbed the rebound quickly. | I didn't rebound well today. | Who will rebound first? | She rebounded the ball twice. | They are rebounding now. |
| tackle | He tackled the opponent hard. | She doesn't tackle aggressively. | Did he tackle you? | They tackled near the goal. | I am tackling during practice. |
Individual Sports
These actions are common in sports like running, swimming, and cycling.
| English Verb | English Example | English Example (Negative) | English Example (Question) | English Example (Past) | English Example (Continuous) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| run | I run five kilometers daily. | He doesn't run in the mornings. | Do you run every day? | She ran a marathon last year. | I am running right now. |
| swim | We swim in the lake. | He doesn't swim well. | Can you swim 100 meters? | She swam butterfly stroke. | They are swimming laps. |
| jump | Jump over the hurdle. | I don't jump very high. | How high can you jump? | He jumped two meters. | She is jumping rope. |
| cycle | I cycle to work. | He doesn't cycle on weekends. | Do you cycle uphill? | She cycled 20 miles. | We are cycling together. |
| lift | Lift the weights slowly. | I don't lift heavy weights. | Can you lift this? | He lifted 100 kilograms. | She is lifting in the gym. |
| stretch | Stretch before exercising. | They don't stretch enough. | Do you stretch daily? | I stretched my legs. | We are stretching now. |
| sprint | Sprint to the finish line. | He doesn't sprint often. | Can you sprint 100 meters? | She sprinted past everyone. | They are sprinting together. |
| dive | Dive into the pool. | I don't dive deep. | Did you dive last summer? | He dived off the board. | She is diving now. |
| punch | He punches the bag hard. | She doesn't punch fast. | Can you punch correctly? | I punched the target. | They are punching gloves. |
| kick | Kick the bag gently. | I don't kick in boxing. | Do you kick during training? | She kicked with force. | He is kicking the bag. |
Fitness & Training
These actions are used in gyms and training sessions.
| English Verb | English Example | English Example (Negative) | English Example (Question) | English Example (Past) | English Example (Continuous) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| lift | Lift the dumbbells carefully. | I don't lift weights daily. | How much do you lift? | She lifted 50 pounds. | I am lifting weights now. |
| stretch | Stretch your arms and legs. | He doesn't stretch before workouts. | Do you stretch for 10 minutes? | We stretched after training. | They are stretching now. |
| squat | Squat with proper form. | I don't squat deeply. | How many squats can you do? | She squatted 100 pounds. | He is squatting now. |
| jump | Jump as high as you can. | They don't jump rope. | Can you jump 30 times? | I jumped 50 times. | She is jumping rope. |
| run | Run on the treadmill. | He doesn't run indoors. | Do you run on treadmills? | I ran for 30 minutes. | We are running now. |
| plank | Hold a plank for 60 seconds. | I don't plank every day. | Can you hold a plank? | She planked for two minutes. | He is planking now. |
| push | Push the weights up. | They don't push hard enough. | How many push-ups do you do? | I pushed 20 reps. | She is pushing weights. |
| pull | Pull the bar down slowly. | He doesn't pull correctly. | Can you pull 10 times? | She pulled the cable. | I am pulling now. |
| breathe | Breathe deeply during exercise. | I don't breathe properly. | Do you breathe through your nose? | He breathed slowly. | We are breathing deeply. |
| rest | Rest between sets. | They don't rest enough. | How long do you rest? | I rested for five minutes. | She is resting now. |
Winter Sports
These actions are common in sports like skiing, snowboarding, and ice skating.
| English Verb | English Example | English Example (Negative) | English Example (Question) | English Example (Past) | English Example (Continuous) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ski | I ski every winter. | He doesn't ski downhill. | Do you ski or snowboard? | She skied in the Alps. | They are skiing now. |
| snowboard | She snowboards with style. | I don't snowboard yet. | Can you snowboard well? | He snowboarded last weekend. | We are snowboarding today. |
| skate | Skate on the frozen lake. | He doesn't skate fast. | Do you skate figure skating? | She skated gracefully. | I am skating now. |
| glide | Glide smoothly on the ice. | I don't glide well. | Can you glide on skates? | He glided across the rink. | They are gliding together. |
| jump | Jump over the snow ramp. | She doesn't jump high. | Did you jump in the competition? | He jumped 5 meters. | We are jumping today. |
| slide | Slide down the hill. | I don't slide on my snowboard. | Can you slide sideways? | She slid into second base. | He is sliding now. |
| balance | Balance on one ski. | I can't balance yet. | How do you balance better? | She balanced perfectly. | They are balancing now. |
| turn | Turn quickly on the slope. | He doesn't turn smoothly. | Can you turn downhill? | I turned sharply. | She is turning now. |
| fall | Fall safely on the snow. | I don't fall often. | Did you fall yesterday? | He fell while skiing. | She is falling down. |
| climb | Climb the snowy mountain. | They don't climb in winter. | Can you climb steep slopes? | I climbed the peak. | We are climbing now. |
Water Sports
These actions are used in sports like surfing, kayaking, and sailing.
| English Verb | English Example | English Example (Negative) | English Example (Question) | English Example (Past) | English Example (Continuous) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| surf | I surf every summer. | He doesn't surf big waves. | Can you surf in cold water? | She surfed all morning. | They are surfing together. |
| paddle | Paddle across the lake. | I don't paddle fast. | Do you paddle or row? | He paddled upstream. | She is paddling now. |
| row | Row the boat gently. | They don't row hard. | Can you row 500 meters? | I rowed for an hour. | We are rowing together. |
| dive | Dive below the surface. | He doesn't dive deep. | Did you dive today? | She dived near the coral. | I am diving now. |
| swim | Swim with the current. | I don't swim far. | Can you swim in open water? | They swam to shore. | She is swimming now. |
| sail | Sail across the bay. | He doesn't sail alone. | Do you sail in the evening? | I sailed last weekend. | We are sailing today. |
| balance | Balance on the board. | I can't balance well. | How do you balance on a board? | She balanced for minutes. | He is balancing now. |
| jump | Jump off the boat. | They don't jump together. | Did you jump into the water? | I jumped last time. | She is jumping now. |
| catch | Catch the fishing line. | He doesn't catch fish often. | Can you catch a big fish? | She caught a trout. | I am catching fish. |
| glide | Glide over the water. | I don't glide smoothly. | Can you glide on the board? | He glided for meters. | We are gliding now. |
Which action involves moving a small boat using a paddle with arms?
paddle
'Paddle' means moving a boat by pushing a flat blade through the water with your arms. 'Row' uses oars, 'swim' is moving your body through water, and 'glide' means smooth movement.
Which action means jumping headfirst into water from a height?
dive
'Dive' means entering water headfirst, often from a platform or springboard. 'Jump' means pushing off any surface, 'swim' is moving in water, and 'fall' is losing balance and dropping down.
What is the action of propelling a boat using long oars?
row
'Row' means moving a boat using long oars. 'Paddle' uses shorter paddles, 'swim' means moving your body through water, and 'sail' means moving a boat using wind and sails.
Conclusion
Sports actions vocabulary includes common verbs that describe movements in various sports. These words help you talk about playing, training, and competing in English. Practice using them in sentences to improve your sports conversations.
Flashcards (1 of 50)
- English Verb: pass
- English Example: She can pass the ball quickly.
- English Example (Negative): He doesn't pass well under pressure.
- English Example (Question): Do you pass the ball to your teammates?
- English Example (Past): They passed the ball across the court.
- English Example (Continuous): I am passing the ball right now.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
