A2 English Verbs: Change, Managing & Modals
This list continues our A2 verbs with a focus on more complex actions. You will find words for Change, Development & Influence like develop and increase, verbs for Processing & Managing such as deal with and record, vocabulary for Daily Activities & Care like care and brush, and a list of important Modal & Auxiliary Verbs including may, might, and shall.
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Change, Development & Influence
| Word | Example Sentence | IPA (UK) |
|---|---|---|
| to affect | The bad weather will affect our plans.
Word Partners: affect plans
|
/əˈfekt/ |
| to behave | The children must learn to behave well.
Word Partners: behave well, behave badly
|
/bɪˈheɪv/ |
| to cause | Heavy rain can cause floods.
Word Partners: cause problems, cause damage
|
/kɔːz/ |
| to continue | Please continue with your work.
Word Partners: continue with
|
/kənˈtɪnjuː/ |
| to control | You need to control your dog. | /kənˈtrəʊl/ |
| to destroy | Fire can destroy a building. | /dɪˈstrɔɪ/ |
| to develop | They want to develop a new product.
Word Partners: develop skills, develop a product
|
/dɪˈveləp/ |
| to disappear | The sun will disappear behind the clouds. | /ˌdɪsəˈpɪə(r)/ |
| to discover | Scientists hope to discover new planets. | /dɪˈskʌvə(r)/ |
| to exist | Do you believe ghosts exist? | /ɪɡˈzɪst/ |
| to increase | The price will increase next year. | /ɪnˈkriːs/ |
| to invent | Who will invent the next big thing? | /ɪnˈvent/ |
| to involve | I want to be involved in the project.
Word Partners: be involved in
|
/ɪnˈvɒlv/ |
| to kill | The cold might kill the plants. | /kɪl/ |
| to react | How did she react to the news?
Word Partners: react to something
|
/riˈækt/ |
Processing & Managing
| Word | Example Sentence | IPA (UK) |
|---|---|---|
| to collect | My hobby is to collect stamps.
Word Partners: collect stamps
|
/kəˈlekt/ |
| to compare | Can you compare the two pictures? | /kəmˈpeə(r)/ |
| to connect | First, connect the printer.
Word Partners: connect to wifi
|
/kəˈnekt/ |
| to contain | This box contains old photographs. | /kənˈteɪn/ |
| to copy | Can you copy this document?
Word Partners: copy a document, copy and paste
|
/ˈkɒpi/ |
| to count | Can you count to ten? | /kaʊnt/ |
| to deal with | I will deal with the problem.
Word Partners: deal with
|
/diːl wɪð/ |
| to design | My friend can design websites.
Word Partners: design a house, design a website
|
/dɪˈzaɪn/ |
| to download | You can download the file.
Word Partners: download a file, download an app
|
/ˌdaʊnˈləʊd/ |
| to link | This road will link the two towns. | /lɪŋk/ |
| to predict | It's hard to predict the future.
Word Partners: predict the future
|
/prɪˈdɪkt/ |
| to prepare | I must prepare dinner for my family.
Word Partners: prepare food, prepare dinner
|
/prɪˈpeə(r)/ |
| to prevent | A healthy diet can prevent illness.
Word Partners: prevent illness
|
/prɪˈvent/ |
| to print | Can you print this document? | /prɪnt/ |
| to protect | Sun cream protects your skin.
Word Partners: protect your skin
|
/prəˈtekt/ |
| to record | I will record the TV show.
Word Partners: record a video, record a programme
|
/rɪˈkɔːd/ |
| to recycle | Don't forget to recycle plastic.
Word Partners: recycle plastic, recycle paper
|
/ˌriːˈsaɪkəl/ |
| to reduce | We should reduce waste.
Word Partners: reduce waste
|
/rɪˈdjuːs/ |
| to refer | Please refer to the dictionary.
Word Partners: refer to something
|
/rɪˈfɜː(r)/ |
| to remove | Please remove your shoes.
Word Partners: remove something
|
/rɪˈmuːv/ |
| to repair | Can you repair my bike? | /rɪˈpeə(r)/ |
| to replace | We need to replace the battery.
Word Partners: replace a battery
|
/rɪˈpleɪs/ |
| to review | Let's review the lesson. | /rɪˈvjuː/ |
| to save | I'm trying to save money.
Word Partners: save money, save time
|
/seɪv/ |
| to search | I need to search for information.
Word Partners: search for something
|
/sɜːtʃ/ |
| to share | Can I share your umbrella? | /ʃeə(r)/ |
Daily Activities & Care
| Word | Example Sentence | IPA (UK) |
|---|---|---|
| to avoid | You should avoid eating too much sugar.
Word Partners: avoid doing something
|
/əˈvɔɪd/ |
| to belong | Does this book belong to you?
Word Partners: belong to someone
|
/bɪˈlɒŋ/ |
| to boil | I will boil some water.
Word Partners: boil water, boil an egg
|
/bɔɪl/ |
| to borrow | Can I borrow your pen?
Word Partners: borrow money
|
/ˈbɒrəʊ/ |
| to plant | I'm going to plant some flowers.
Word Partners: plant flowers, plant trees
|
/plɑːnt/ |
| to promise | I promise to call you.
Word Partners: promise to do something, make a promise
|
/ˈprɒmɪs/ |
| to refuse | He refused to help me.
Word Partners: refuse to do something, refuse an offer
|
/rɪˈfjuːz/ |
| to rest | You should rest for a while.
Word Partners: rest for a while, have a rest
|
/rest/ |
| to sail | We like to sail.
Word Partners: go sailing
|
/seɪl/ |
| to sell | They want to sell their house.
Word Partners: sell something
|
/sel/ |
| to smoke | You cannot smoke here. | /sməʊk/ |
| to stay | How long will you stay with us? | /steɪ/ |
| to steal | A thief tried to steal her bag.
Word Partners: steal something from someone
|
/stiːl/ |
| to support | It's important to support your friends.
Word Partners: support a team, support your friends
|
/səˈpɔːt/ |
Modal & Auxiliary Verbs
| Word | Example Sentence | IPA (UK) |
|---|---|---|
| may | Thanks for your time, Ben. You may leave now. | /meɪ/ |
| might | I might go to the cinema with my sister next week. | /maɪt/ |
| shall | Shall we go or do you think we need to stay here? | /ʃæl/ |
| used to | I used to live in Paris and teach English.
Word Partners: used to
|
/ˈjuːst tə/ |
