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>
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| Word | IPA | Meaning | Example | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| continues | /kənˈtɪnjuːz/ | goes on without stopping | The rain continues through the night. | |
| contract | /kənˈtrækt/ | to become smaller or shorter | Metal contracts in cold weather. | |
| Contribute | /kənˈtrɪbjuːt/ | To give something, especially money, in order to provide or achieve something together with other people | Many people contributed to the charity. | |
| Control | /kənˈtroʊl/ | To order, limit, or rule something, or someone's actions or behaviour | He cannot control his temper. | |
| Convert | /kənˈvɜrt/ | To change in form or character | We converted the spare room into an office. | |
| converted | /kənˈvɝtɪd/ | changed into a different form or use | They converted the old factory into apartments. | |
| Convince | /kənˈvɪns/ | To persuade someone or make someone certain | I hope this will convince you to change your mind. | |
| Cook | /kʊk/ | To prepare food | I like to cook for my friends. | |
| Copy | /ˈkɑːpi/ | To make something exactly like another | Don't copy my homework. | |
| Cost | /kɔst/ | To have a price | How much does it cost? | |
| costs | /kɔsts/ | has a price. | This book costs ten dollars. | |
| could | /kʊd/ | past of "can"; able to | I could swim when I was five. | |
| cover | /ˈkʌvər/ | to put something over something else. | Please cover the food with a plate. | |
| Crack | /kræk/ | To break something so that it does not separate, but very thin lines appear on its surface | The window cracked when the ball hit it. | |
| Crash | /kræʃ/ | If a vehicle crashes or someone crashes it, it is involved in an accident | The car crashed into a tree. | |
| create | /kriˈeɪt/ | to make something new | The children create art with paper and glue. | |
| created | /kriˈeɪtɪd/ | made something new | The students created a class website. | |
| Criticize | /ˈkrɪtɪˌsaɪz/ | To express disapproval of someone or something | The report strongly criticizes the police. | |
| Cross | /krɔːs/ | To go from one side to the other | Cross the street at the lights. | |
| Cry | /kraɪ/ | To produce tears from eyes | The baby started to cry. | |
| Cure | /kjʊr/ | To make someone with an illness healthy again | The medicine cured his illness. | |
| Cut | /kʌt/ | To use a knife to divide something | Cut the bread. | |
| cutting | /ˈkʌtɪŋ/ | using something sharp to divide something | He is cutting vegetables for the soup. | |
| Dance | /dæns/ | To move to music | They like to dance. | |
| Dare | /dɛr/ | To be brave enough to do something difficult or dangerous | I didn't dare to ask him. |
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.
