Mental vs. Physical Action Verbs Explained

GrammarSongs by Melissa

This educational video clarifies the distinction between physical action verbs and mental action verbs through clear examples and engaging whiteboard animations. It begins by reviewing physical verbs that can be seen, such as "bounce" or "hop," before introducing the concept that not all actions are visible to the eye. The narrator explains that actions performed by the brain—like thinking, dreaming, or remembering—are just as valid as physical movements, providing a crucial bridge for students moving from concrete to abstract grammatical concepts. The content explores key themes in grammar and parts of speech, specifically focusing on the relationship between nouns and verbs. It emphasizes that a noun (even a superhero) cannot function without a verb to provide action. The video lists common mental action verbs including "understand," "believe," "discover," and "love," and demonstrates how to identify these invisible actions within sentences by visualizing the scenario and asking what is happening inside the subject's mind. For educators, this video serves as an excellent tool to deepen student understanding of verbs beyond simple movement words. It is particularly useful for helping students identify verbs in more complex sentences where the action isn't physically demonstrated. Teachers can use this resource to support lessons on sentence structure, help students expand their writing vocabulary with more precise internal verbs, and clarify misconceptions that verbs must always be movements you can see.