Verbs in Spanish are words that represent actions. They are the heart and soul of sentences and one of the most challenging concepts for students to learn. Conjugating verbs requires a lot of practice in context, meaning in a way that makes sense to the student, not just through memorization or drills.

How to Teach Verbs in Spanish in Context

Read Stories with Verbs in Spanish

The best way to teach verb conjugation is by seeing verbs in action. When children read multiple written stories, they notice how verbs are naturally used, without relying on memorization. The more they read, the more they learn.

I use any story that is fun, engaging, and age-appropriate for my students. You can click here to check some great Spanish books for your classroom.

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Create Stories Using Verbs in Spanish

Another great strategy is to have students write their own stories:

  • Provide a word wall, writing prompts, and a list of words with pictures as visual support.
  • Focus on a story that uses specific verb conjugations.
  • Ask students to include those verbs in their writing.

This allows students to practice verbs naturally while being creative.

Games to Practice Verbs in Spanish

One more way to practice the verbs in Spanish is using games. Games give students the opportunity to practice in a fun, engaging way. Some games I like to use are:

Verbs in Spanish UNO Game

In this game, I have my students play just like the card game UNO. Instead of matching numbers, they match conjugations. As a challenge activity, I like to have students tell a story that goes along with the verb conjugation. 

Dice Game

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In this game, students take turns to throw two dices and match the verbs with the correct conjugations. After that, they need to tell a sentence using the proper verb conjugation.  

Verbs in Spanish Puzzles

Students need to order the puzzle pieces with the past, present and future tense of each verb.

Verbs in Spanish Battleship

In this game, I ask students to play in groups of two students. It’s played like the traditional Battleship Game. Instead of using numbers and letters as coordinates, they use the verbs.

Verbs in Spanish Mats

In this is an independent activity, I ask students to sort the different verbs with the correct conjugation. 

Spin the Wheel

Students use the wheel to choose an appropriate verb in Spanish to complete each sentence.

Hands-On Practice

  • Encourage students to manipulate verbs in different ways: reading, writing, and matching activities.
  • Use stations or small groups to keep energy high and engagement strong.

Writing Prompts

Writing is a great way to reinforce understanding of verbs:

  • Have students write a short story using the verbs they’ve learned.
  • Example prompts:
    • “Describe your day using at least five verbs in Spanish.”
    • “Write about your favorite baseball player and use past tense verbs.”

Interested in more?

For even more hands-on strategies and activities, download my FREE Guide: “Simple Ways to Teach Spanish Like a Pro (even if you don’t speak Spanish)”