Vocabulary: Core & Everyday Vocabulary (A1) - Lesson 14: Essential Verbs

Lesson 14: Essential Verbs

Action Words for Daily Life

So far, we have learned many nouns (names of people, places, and things). But to make a sentence, you need an action word! These action words are called 'verbs'. This lesson will teach you some of the most essential verbs you need to describe your daily life.

Word Bank

Verb	Khmer	Meaning & Example Sentence
to be (am, is, are)1	គឺ / ជា	Shows existence or a state of being. Example: "I am happy. He is a teacher."
to have2	មាន	To own or possess something. Example: "I have a question."
to go3	ទៅ	To move from one place to another. Example: "I go to the market."
to eat4	ញ៉ាំ	To put food in your mouth. Example: "We eat rice every day."
to drink5	ផឹក	To take liquid into your mouth. Example: "I drink coffee in the morning."
to see6	ឃើញ	To use your eyes to look at something. Example: "I see a tuk-tuk."
to want7	ចង់	To desire or wish for something. Example: "I want to learn English."
to like8	ចូលចិត្ត	To enjoy something or find it pleasant. Example: "I like mango smoothies."

Usage Note: Simple Present Tense (He, She, It)

This is a very important grammar rule for verbs!

• With I, you, we, they, the verb does not change.
  Examples: "I go." "They like."
• With he, she, it, we usually add an "-s" to the end of the verb.
  Examples: "She goes." "He likes."
• Special Case: "have" changes to "has".
  Example: "He has a book."

In Conversation

Srey and Bora talk about their daily routines.

Srey: Good morning, Bora! What do you do in the morning?

Bora: I usually drink coffee and eat bread. Then I go to work.

Srey: I like to drink tea. I have tea every morning. She (my mother) has coffee.

Bora: I see. What do you want to do this weekend?

Srey: I want to go to the cinema. I am free on Saturday.

quiz Check Your Understanding

1. Which verb do you use for food?

• a) to drink
• b) to eat
• c) to go

Click to see the answer

Answer: b) to eat

2. Choose the correct sentence.

• a) She like coffee.
• b) She is like coffee.
• c) She likes coffee.

Click to see the answer

Answer: c) She likes coffee.

3. Fill in the blank: "He ______ a new shirt."

• a) have
• b) has
• c) to have

Click to see the answer

Answer: b) has

edit Your Mission

1. My Day: Write three sentences about your daily routine. Use verbs from the Word Bank. (e.g., "I eat rice for lunch. I go home at 5 o'clock. I like to watch TV.")
2. Practice: Make one sentence for each verb in the Word Bank. Say them out loud to practice.
3. Speak: Your mission is to tell a friend something you like and something you want. (e.g., "I like ice cream. I want to go to the beach.")

book Lesson Glossary

1. to be (am, is, are) (verb) - Khmer: គឺ / ជា - Shows existence or a state of being. ↩
2. to have (verb) - Khmer: មាន - To own or possess something. ↩
3. to go (verb) - Khmer: ទៅ - To move from one place to another. ↩
4. to eat (verb) - Khmer: ញ៉ាំ - To put food in your mouth. ↩
5. to drink (verb) - Khmer: ផឹក - To take liquid into your mouth. ↩
6. to see (verb) - Khmer: ឃើញ - To use your eyes to look at something. ↩
7. to want (verb) - Khmer: ចង់ - To desire or wish for something. ↩
8. to like (verb) - Khmer: ចូលចិត្ត - To enjoy something or find it pleasant. ↩