Verbs are the heartbeat of any conversation — you need them to share a story, ask a question, or just order your favorite coffee. This list rounds up around 1,000 common English verbs that you’ll actually hear and use every day. No dusty textbook filler, just action words that keep your sentences moving. Put these common verbs to work while reading Hansel and Gretel at A2 level.
Inside the interactive table, you’ll get US IPA for clear pronunciation, a plain-English meaning, and a real-world example sentence. There’s also a play button next to every word, so you can listen as you learn — your ears need practice too.
Ready to level up your everyday English without the yawns? Scroll to the bottom of the article for the free printable common english verbs vocabulary list PDF and the free downloadable printable common english verbs flashcards.
Verbs alone won’t make you fluent, though. You need chunks you can actually speak. Our free English lessons teach you practical phrases with audio and speaking practice — start at the intro page or jump straight into Lesson 1: First Greetings.
Quick Quiz
<p>Think you already know a bunch of these? Try the quick quiz below to test yourself, then use the table to plug any gaps.</p>
Keep building your English
Choose a practical next step when you are ready.
Browse the Full List
| Word | IPA | Meaning | Example | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| carried | /ˈkærid/ | took or moved something from one place | She carried the groceries into the kitchen. | |
| Carry | /ˈkæri/ | To hold and move something | Can you carry this bag? | |
| carrying | /ˈkæriɪŋ/ | holding and moving something with you | He was carrying a heavy box upstairs. | |
| Cast | /kæst/ | To choose actors to play particular parts in a play or film | He was cast as the main character. | |
| catalog | /ˈkætəlɔɡ/ | to make a list of items | Librarians catalog new books every week. | |
| catch | /kætʃ/ | to stop and hold something | Catch the ball. | |
| caught | /kɔt/ | took hold of or captured | He caught the ball with one hand. | |
| cause | /kɔz/ | to make something happen | Heavy rain caused flooding downtown. | |
| caused | /kɔzd/ | made something happen | The storm caused delays at the airport. | |
| causes | /ˈkɔzɪz/ | makes something happen | Too much noise causes stress for many people. | |
| Celebrate | /ˈsɛlɪˌbreɪt/ | To take part in special enjoyable activities in order to show that a particular occasion is important | We celebrated my birthday with a party. | |
| Change | /tʃeɪndʒ/ | To make something different | I need to change my clothes. | |
| changes | /ˈtʃeɪndʒɪz/ | becomes different | The weather changes quickly here. | |
| channel | /ˈtʃænəl/ | to direct into a particular course | She channeled her energy into the project. | |
| char | /tʃɑr/ | to burn the surface of something | Be careful not to char the vegetables on the grill. | |
| Charge | /tʃɑrdʒ/ | To ask an amount of money for something, especially a service or activity | How much do you charge for a haircut? | |
| Chase | /tʃeɪs/ | To hurry after someone or something in order to catch him, her, or it | The dog chased the cat. | |
| Chat | /ʧæt/ | To talk in a friendly and informal way | We sat in the cafe and chatted for hours. | |
| Cheat | /tʃit/ | To behave in a dishonest way in order to get what you want | He cheated on the test. | |
| cheats | /tʃiːts/ | acts dishonestly to gain advantage | He cheats in games, so nobody trusts him. | |
| Check | /tʃɛk/ | To look at something to see if it is correct | Check your answers. | |
| checked | /tʃɛkt/ | looked at something to make sure it was correct | She checked the answers before handing in the test. | |
| checking | /ˈtʃɛkɪŋ/ | looking carefully to make sure something is correct | He is checking the report before sending it. | |
| Cheer | /tʃɪr/ | To give a loud shout of approval or encouragement | The crowd cheered when the team scored. | |
| Choose | /tʃuz/ | To pick something | Choose a color. |
Free Common English Verbs PDF and Flashcards to Download
Grab the purple vocab-list button to download the common english verbs vocabulary list, and use the teal flashcards button for the common english verbs flashcards. Both are 100% free with no signup required.
