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IELTS Academic Writing- Verbs for Describing Processes

A LESSON PLAN FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHERS

Students use and try to remember suitable verbs for describing flowcharts, including multiword verbs, antonyms, and verbs with the same meaning, ending with brainstorming stages.

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Lesson Plan Content:


Verbs for describing processes practice

In small groups, work together to use as many verbs below as you can to describe processes shown in IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 flowcharts. Verbs divided by a slash (/) have similar (but not always exactly the same) meanings, and verbs divided by a dash () have opposite meanings, so choose one particular verb each time (not a whole line). 

  1. accept/ choose/ select – reject
  2. add – take away
  3. adjoin/ touch
  4. adjust/ alter/ change – remain/ keep
  5. affect
  6. allow/ let – prevent
  7. appear – disappear
  8. apply/ put on
  9. arrange/ organise/ put into order
  10. assemble/ put together – disassemble/ take apart
  11. assess/ evaluate/ judge
  12. attach/ connect – take off
  13. bear/ carry
  14. bend/ flex – flatten
  15. blow – suck
  16. break – fix/ mend/ repair
  17. breathe in/ inhale – breathe out/ exhale
  18. bring to a close/ complete/ finish – begin/ start/ undertake
  19. bring together/ gather – spread (out)
  20. bring – take
  21. broadcast/ transmit – receive
  22. bury – dig up
  23. cause/ lead to
  24. check/ confirm
  25. classify/ sort
  26. coat/ cover/ wrap – remove/ strip
  27. collate/ collect/ combine/ put together – distribute/ disseminate
  28. consist of
  29. construct/ create/ make/ produce – destroy
  30. contribute to
  31. deflate – inflate
  32. develop
  33. dispose of/ throw away – keep/ store
  34. divide/ share/ split – keep together
  35. drip/ leak
  36. drop – pick up
  37. dry – moisten
  38. empty – fill
  39. enter/ go in – come out/ leave
  40. evaporate – condense
  41. expand/ grow – shrink
  42. fall – rise
  43. fasten – unfasten
  44. ferment
  45. float – sink
  46. flow
  47. follow – lead
  48. form/ make up
  49. freeze – melt
  50. grind
  51. happen/ occur
  52. harden – soften
  53. heat – cool
  54. hide – reveal/ show
  55. hold (in place) – let go/ release
  56. insert/ slot into – pull out
  57. lengthen – shorten
  58. lie (next to/ above)
  59. lift/ raise – lower
  60. loosen – tighten
  61. mix/ put together – separate
  62. narrow – broaden/ widen
  63. overtake/ pass
  64. pack – unpack
  65. place/ put
  66. pour/ spill
  67. prepare/ set up
  68. press/ squeeze/ squash
  69. pull – push/ press
  70. pump
  71. radiate
  72. reach – fall short
  73. release – trap
  74. roll/ turn
  75. screw/ rotate/ turn/ twist
  76. sieve
  77. slide/ slip
  78. squeeze – stretch
  79. stay the same – change/ vary
  80. stick
  81. rip/ tear
  82. thread
  83. use to
  84. weave
  85. wind – unwind
  86. wipe

Ask about any verbs above that you couldn’t understand, couldn’t use, aren’t sure that you used correctly, etc, working together to use them in example sentences each time.  


Multiword verbs for describing processes practice

Without looking above, put one preposition/ adverb (“at”, “into”, etc) in each gap below. 

  • add – take ________
  • arrange/ organise/ put ________ order
  • assemble/ put together – disassemble/ take ______
  • attach/ connect – take ________
  • breathe ____________/ inhale – breathe __________ / exhale
  • bring _______ a close/ complete/ finish – begin/ start/ undertake
  • bring together/ gather – spread (________)
  • bury – dig __________
  • cause/ lead ________
  • consist __________
  • contribute _______
  • dispose _________/ throw ________ – keep/ store
  • drop – pick _________
  • enter/ go _________ – come ______/ leave
  • hold (________ place) – let go/ release
  • insert/ slot _____ – pull ______
  • prepare/ set ______

Look below the fold for hints.

---------------------------------fold, cover or cut----------------------------

Mixed answers

Add these to suitable gaps above. Most can be used more than once.  

  • apart
  • away
  • in
  • into
  • of
  • off
  • out
  • to
  • up

Compare your answers to the first worksheet. Other answers are possible, so please check with your teacher if you wrote something different.


Verbs for describing processes opposites practice

Put one word into each gap, using the words with opposite and similar meanings which are on the same line to help.

  • accept/ choose/ select – ____________
  • add – __________
  • allow/ ______ – prevent
  • appear – ___________
  • assemble/ put together – _______________/ take apart
  • ____________/ connect – take off
  • bend/ flex – _____________
  • ___________ – suck
  • break – fix/ mend/ _________
  • breathe in/ inhale – breathe out/ _____________
  • ____________ – take
  • broadcast/ _____________ – receive
  • bury – ______________
  • coat/ ____________ / wrap – remove/ strip
  • collate/ collect/ combine/ ______________ – distribute/ disseminate
  • construct/ create/ make/ produce – __________
  • ___________________ – inflate
  • dispose of/ _______________ – keep/ store
  • _______________/ share/ split – keep together
  • _____________ – moisten
  • _____________ – fill
  • ___________/ go in – come out/ leave
  • _____________ – condense
  • expand/ grow – ______________
  • fasten – ______________
  • float – _____________
  • _______________ – lead
  • ____________ – soften
  • ___________ – cool
  • hide – _________/ show
  • hold (in place) – let go/ ___________
  • ________– pull out
  • ___________ – shorten
  • lift/ raise – ____________
  • loosen – _____________
  • mix/ put together – _________
  • narrow – broaden/ __________
  • pack – __________
  • ___________– push/ press
  • ___________ – fall short
  • ___________ – trap
  • stay the same – change/ __________
  • wind – __________________

Use the mixed answers on the next page to help.


Mixed opposites to add in the right places above.

  • attach
  • blow
  • bring
  • cover
  • deflate
  • destroy
  • dis…
  • divide
  • dry
  • empty
  • enter
  • evaporate
  • flatten
  • follow
  • harden
  • heat
  • insert
  • lengthen
  • let
  • lower
  • pull
  • put together
  • reach
  • reject
  • release
  • release
  • repair
  • reveal
  • separate
  • shrink
  • sink
  • throw away
  • tighten
  • transmit
  • un…
  • vary
  • widen

Check with the first worksheet. Other answers are possible, so check if you wrote something different.

Find at least five words above which can take the prefix “re-”.

Make the passive of all the verbs above that you can. (Some are never or almost never used in the passive voice).

What is the difference between “It increases” and “It is increased”?

 

Brainstorming verbs for describing processes/ flowcharts

Write as many suitable actions as you can in each gap below. Many words can go in more than one place.

Useful verbs and opposites for describing processes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Useful verbs with (exact or approximate) synonyms for describing processes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Useful verbs for describing processes with irregular past forms

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Useful verbs for describing processes which are (almost) always used in the active voice/ can’t be used in the passive voice

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other useful verbs for describing processes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Use the mixed verbs below to help, then compare as a class or with the suggested answers.


Mixed verbs to describe processes

Use these verbs to help with the task above. Some could go in more than one place.

accept                              access                add                                   adjust                               affect

allow                                 alter                                  (dis)appear                      apply (for)                        arrange

(dis)assemble   assess                attach                               bear                                  begin

bend                                 bid (for)               blow                                  book                                 break

breathe (in/ out)              bring (together) bring to a close broadcast                         broaden

build                                 bury                                  buy                                    calculate                          cancel

carry                                 change               check                                choose               classify

clean                                close                                 coat                                   collate                              collect  

combine                           complete                          condense                         confirm               connect

consist of                         construct                          contribute to                    cool                                   cover

create                               deflate                demolish                          destroy               develop

dig up                               dispose of                        disseminate                     distribute                          divide

drop                                  dry                                     empty                               enter                                 escape

evaluate                           evaporate                        excavate                          exhale                              expand

fall                                     (un)fasten                        ferment               (re)fill                                finish

fix                                      flatten                               flex                                    float                                   flow

follow                                forecast                            freeze                               gather                               grind

grow                                happen               harden                heat                                  hide

hold (in place)   inflate                               inhale                               insert                               

(un)install                         judge                                keep (together) launch                              lead

leak                                   lengthen                           let go                                lie                                      lift

loosen                              lower                                make                                manufacture                    marinate

melt                                   mend                                mix                                    moisten              narrow

obtain                               occur                                open                                 operate               organise

(un)pack                           pick up               (re)place                          predict                prepare

preserve                           press                                prevent               produce

pull (out)                           pump                                purchase                          purify                               

push                                 put (on/ into order)         put together                     radiate

raise                                receive               record                               reject

release               remain                remove               repair

reserve               reveal                               rip                                      rise

roll                                     rotate                                screw                                select

separate                           (re)set (up)                      share                                shorten

show                                 shrink                               shut                                   sieve

sink                                   slide                                  slot into                           soften

sort (out)                          split                                  spread (out)                     squash

squeeze                           start                                   stay                                   stick

store                                 stretch                strip                                   suck

take (apart/ away)          take off               tear                                   thread

throw away                      tighten                touch                                transmit

trap                                   treat                                  turn                                   twist

undertake                        use to                               utilise                                weave

widen                               (un)wind                           wipe                                  wrap

 

Check as a class or with the suggested answers.

 

Suggested answers

Useful verbs and opposites for describing processes

  • accept/ choose/ select – reject
  • add – take away
  • adjust/ alter/ change – remain/ keep
  • allow/ let – prevent
  • assemble/ put together – disassemble/ take apart
  • attach/ connect – take off
  • bend/ flex – flatten
  • blow – suck
  • break – fix/ mend/ repair
  • breathe in/ inhale – breathe out/ exhale
  • bring to a close/ complete/ finish – begin/ start/ undertake
  • bring together/ gather – spread (out)
  • bring – take
  • broadcast/ transmit – receive
  • bury – excavate/ dig up
  • coat/ cover/ wrap – remove/ strip/ unwrap
  • collate/ collect/ combine/ put together – distribute/ disseminate
  • construct/ create/ make/ produce – deconstruct/ demolish/ destroy
  • deflate – inflate
  • dispose of/ throw away – keep/ store
  • divide/ share/ split – keep together
  • drop – pick up
  • dry – moisten
  • empty – (re)fill
  • evaporate – condense
  • expand/ grow – shrink
  • fall – rise
  • fasten – unfasten
  • float – sink
  • follow – lead
  • freeze – melt
  • harden – soften
  • heat – cool
  • hide – reveal/ show
  • hold (in place) – let go/ release
  • insert/ slot into – pull out
  • lengthen – shorten
  • lift/ raise – lower
  • loosen – tighten
  • mix/ put together – separate
  • narrow – broaden/ widen
  • pack – unpack
  • pull – push/ press
  • release – trap
  • squeeze – stretch
  • wind – unwind


Useful verbs with (exact or approximate) synonyms for describing processes

  • accept/ choose/ select
  • adjoin/ touch
  • adjust/ alter/ change
  • apply/ put on
  • arrange/ organise/ put into order
  • assemble/ put together
  • assess/ evaluate/ judge
  • attach/ connect
  • bear/ carry
  • begin/ start/ undertake
  • bend/ flex
  • breathe in/ inhale
  • breathe out/ exhale
  • bring to a close/ complete/ finish
  • bring together/ gather
  • broadcast/ transmit
  • broaden/ widen
  • check/ confirm
  • classify/ sort
  • coat/ cover
  • collate/ collect/ combine/ put together
  • construct/ create/ make/ produce
  • dig up/ excavate
  • disassemble/ take apart
  • dispose of/ throw away
  • distribute/ disseminate
  • divide/ share/ split
  • expand/ grow
  • fix/ mend/ repair
  • forecast/ predict
  • happen/ occur
  • insert/ slot into
  • keep/ store
  • lift/ raise
  • mix/ put together
  • place/ put
  • prepare/ set up
  • press/ squeeze/ squash
  • push/ press
  • remain/ keep
  • remove/ strip
  • reveal/ show
  • rip/ tear
  • roll/ turn
  • rotate/ screw/ turn/ twist
  • use/ utilise


Useful verbs for describing processes with irregular past forms

  • bend/ bent/ bent
  • blow/ blew/ blown
  • break/ broke/ broken
  • bring/ brought/ brought (to a close/ together)
  • choose/ chose/ chosen
  • come out/ came out/ come out
  • dig/ dug/ dug (up)
  • fall/ fell/ fallen (short)
  • freeze/ froze/ frozen
  • grind/ ground/ ground
  • grow/ grew/ grown
  • hide/ hid/ hidden
  • hold/ held/ held (in place)
  • keep/ kept/ kept (together)
  • let/ let/ let (go)
  • make/ made/ made
  • put/ put/ put (into order/ on/ together)
  • rise/ rose/ risen
  • set/ set/ set (up)
  • shrink/ shrank/ shrunk
  • sink/ sank/ sunk
  • slide/ slid/ slid
  • split/ split/ split
  • spread/ spread/ spread (out)
  • stick/ stuck/ stuck
  • take/ took/ taken (apart/ away/ off)
  • tear/ tore/ torn
  • throw away/ threw away/ thrown away
  • undertake/ undertook/ undertaken
  • weave/ wove/ woven
  • wind/ wound/ wound

 

Useful verbs for describing processes which are (almost) always used in the active voice/ can’t be used in the passive voice

  • adjoins
  • (dis)appears
  • bears
  • consists of
  • contributes to
  • flows
  • happens/ occurs
  • leaks
  • lies
  • remains/ stays
  • rises


Other useful verbs for describing processes

  • access
  • affect
  • develop
  • enter
  • escape
  • ferment
  • install
  • launch
  • operate
  • preserve
  • pump
  • radiate
  • record
  • replace
  • reset
  • sieve
  • thread
  • use to
  • wipe

 

Change groups. Use as many different verbs as you can while you describe three different processes. Use the words in sections above the first time, only the mixed list of verbs the second time, and no help the third time.

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