Have you ever stopped to think about how many verbs in the English language end with the letter P? These verbs are more common than you might realize and play important roles in our everyday communication. From the simple act to “help” someone in need to the more complex action to “develop” a new skill, verbs ending with P are versatile and expressive.
English vocabulary is rich with these distinct verbs that add precision and clarity to our speech and writing. Whether you’re a student learning English, a teacher explaining grammar concepts, or simply someone interested in expanding your vocabulary, understanding verbs that end with P can significantly enhance your language skills.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the world of P-ending verbs, examining their meanings, usages, and the subtle nuances that make them unique. We’ll provide extensive lists, practical examples, and helpful exercises to solidify your understanding. By the end of this article, you’ll have mastered these useful verbs and can confidently incorporate them into your daily communication.
What Are Verbs That End With P
Verbs that end with the letter P are action words that conclude with this specific consonant sound. These verbs follow standard English verb conjugation patterns and can be used in various tenses and forms. Many P-ending verbs are single-syllable words like “help,” “stop,” and “skip,” making them relatively straightforward to pronounce and remember.
These verbs can be categorized into several types:
Base Verbs
⚫Simple action verbs like “help,” “jump,” and “shop”
⚫ These verbs form the foundation of sentences and express direct actions
Regular Verbs
⚫ P-ending verbs that follow standard conjugation patterns
⚫ Add “-ed” for past tense (help → helped) and “-ing” for continuous forms (help → helping)
Irregular Verbs
⚫ Some P-ending verbs have irregular conjugations
⚫ For example, “sleep” becomes “slept” in past tense, not “sleeped”
Phrasal Verbs
⚫ Combinations of P-ending verbs with prepositions or adverbs
⚫ Examples include “wake up,” “look up,” and “give up”
P-ending verbs can express physical actions (jump, skip), cognitive processes (grasp, develop), social interactions (help, gossip), and various other concepts. This versatility makes them essential components of English vocabulary.
Common Words That End With P
The English language contains numerous verbs ending with P that we use regularly in conversation and writing. Here’s a comprehensive look at some of the most common P-ending verbs you’ll encounter:
Physical Action Verbs
⚫ Jump – To propel oneself upward using legs
⚫ Skip – To move in a light dancing step with hops
⚫ Clap – To strike the palms of hands together repeatedly
⚫ Stamp – To bring down foot forcefully
⚫ Slap – To strike with open hand
Movement Verbs
⚫ Step – To move by lifting and setting down foot
⚫ Hop – To leap on one foot
⚫ Trip – To stumble or fall
⚫ Slip – To slide unintentionally
⚫ Creep – To move slowly with body close to ground
Communication Verbs
⚫ Gossip – To talk about others’ private affairs
⚫ Yap – To talk loudly and persistently
⚫ Rap – To talk or chat informally
Mental Process Verbs
⚫ Grasp – To understand or comprehend
⚫ Develop – To grow or expand mentally
⚫ Map – To plan or outline
Daily Activity Verbs
⚫ Sleep – To rest in a state of reduced consciousness
⚫ Shop – To visit stores to purchase goods
⚫ Help – To assist or aid someone
⚫ Worship – To show reverence and adoration
⚫ Wrap – To enclose in paper or other material
These common P-ending verbs form the backbone of many English sentences and expressions. Understanding their meanings and proper usage can significantly improve your communication skills in both spoken and written English.
65 Verbs That End With P and Example Sentences
Understanding verbs that end with P becomes easier when you see them used in context. Below is a comprehensive table featuring 65 P-ending verbs along with example sentences that demonstrate their correct usage:
| Verb | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| Help | The volunteers help rebuild homes after the flood. |
| Jump | Children love to jump in puddles after it rains. |
| Skip | She decided to skip the meeting to finish her project. |
| Stop | The police officer signaled for the car to stop. |
| Sleep | Most adults need to sleep seven to eight hours each night. |
| Shop | I prefer to shop early in the morning when stores are less crowded. |
| Clap | The audience will clap enthusiastically after an outstanding performance. |
| Step | Watch where you step when hiking on rocky terrain. |
| Slip | Be careful not to slip on the icy sidewalk. |
| Trip | It’s easy to trip over toys left on the floor. |
| Wrap | Please wrap the gift beautifully with the blue paper. |
| Sip | She likes to sip her coffee slowly to savor the flavor. |
| Lap | The champion will lap the slower runners before the race ends. |
| Map | Engineers need to map the terrain before building begins. |
| Nap | Many Spanish-speaking countries traditionally nap in the afternoon. |
| Tap | Musicians tap their feet to keep rhythm while playing. |
| Whip | The chef will whip the cream until it forms stiff peaks. |
| Drip | The leaky faucet continues to drip throughout the night. |
| Ship | The company will ship your order within two business days. |
| Flip | Gymnasts flip through the air with remarkable precision. |
| Grip | You should grip the hammer firmly near the end of the handle. |
| Strip | The workers strip the old paint before applying a new coat. |
| Dip | Children love to dip cookies in milk before eating them. |
| Rip | Be careful not to rip the delicate fabric when sewing. |
| Zip | Remember to zip your jacket before going out in the cold. |
| Equip | The school will equip every classroom with new computers. |
| Develop | Scientists develop new vaccines to combat diseases. |
| Gossip | It’s not polite to gossip about colleagues behind their backs. |
| Worship | Many people worship according to their religious traditions. |
| Chirp | Birds chirp loudly at dawn announcing the new day. |
| Gulp | Don’t gulp your food if you want to avoid indigestion. |
| Scalp | Ticket resellers sometimes scalp concert tickets at inflated prices. |
| Yelp | Dogs yelp when their tails are accidentally stepped on. |
| Stamp | Children stamp their feet in excitement before opening presents. |
| Pump | Athletes pump iron at the gym to build muscle strength. |
| Dump | Please don’t dump trash in unauthorized areas. |
| Limp | After twisting his ankle, he had to limp home slowly. |
| Romp | Puppies love to romp around in open spaces. |
| Vamp | Actors sometimes vamp to fill awkward pauses during live performances. |
| Camp | Many families camp in national parks during summer vacation. |
| Chomp | Alligators chomp their powerful jaws when catching prey. |
| Stump | That difficult math problem will stump even the brightest students. |
| Slump | Stock prices tend to slump during economic uncertainties. |
| Crimp | Chefs crimp the edges of pie crusts to create decorative patterns. |
| Skimp | Don’t skimp on quality ingredients if you want the recipe to turn out well. |
| Primp | Performers primp before going on stage to look their best. |
| Gimp | The injured player had to gimp off the field with assistance. |
| Imp | Children sometimes imp around when they’re feeling mischievous. |
| Scrimp | Students often scrimp and save to afford textbooks each semester. |
| Wimp | Don’t wimp out of the challenge at the last minute. |
| Simp | Fans sometimes simp over their favorite celebrities online. |
| Chimp | Researchers observe how chimp groups interact in their natural habitat. |
| Pomp | Graduates celebrate with pomp and circumstance at commencement ceremonies. |
| Slap | Never slap another person in anger or frustration. |
| Snap | Photographers snap pictures of the rare wildlife sighting. |
| Swap | Let’s swap phone numbers so we can stay in touch. |
| Blip | The submarine will blip on radar when it surfaces briefly. |
| Clip | Please clip these documents together before filing them. |
| Quip | The comedian will quip about current events in his routine. |
| Pip | Plants pip in spring, breaking through the soil. |
| Flop | Some movies flop at the box office despite big budgets. |
| Plop | The child will plop down on the couch after a long day at school. |
| Prop | Use books to prop up the wobbly table until we can fix it. |
| Crop | Farmers crop their fields during the harvest season. |
How to Use Verbs that End with P Correctly
Using verbs that end with P correctly requires understanding their conjugation patterns, appropriate contexts, and common linguistic structures. Here’s a comprehensive guide to mastering these versatile verbs:
Regular Conjugation Patterns
Most P-ending verbs follow regular conjugation patterns, making them relatively straightforward to use in different tenses:
Present Simple
⚫ Base form for most subjects: I/you/we/they help
⚫ Third-person singular adds -s: He/she/it helps
Past Simple
⚫ Regular verbs add -ed: helped, shipped, developed
⚫ Note the consonant doubling in some cases: ship → shipped
Present Continuous
⚫ Form with be + verb-ing: am/is/are helping
⚫ Note that the final P is sometimes doubled before adding -ing: skip → skipping
Past Participle
⚫ Regular verbs use the same form as past simple: have/has/had helped
Irregular P-Ending Verbs
Some P-ending verbs have irregular conjugation patterns that require memorization:
Sleep
⚫ Past simple: slept (not sleeped)
⚫ Past participle: slept
⚫ Example: “I slept for eight hours last night.”
Weep
⚫ Past simple: wept (not weeped)
⚫ Past participle: wept
⚫ Example: “She wept when she heard the sad news.”
Keep
⚫ Past simple: kept (not keeped)
⚫ Past participle: kept
⚫ Example: “They have kept their promise for years.”
Avoiding Common Mistakes
When using P-ending verbs, be mindful of these common pitfalls:
Consonant Doubling
⚫ For short verbs with a consonant-vowel-consonant pattern, double the P before adding -ing or -ed:
- stop → stopping, stopped
- ship → shipping, shipped ⚫ But don’t double when the vowel is part of a digraph:
- sleep → sleeping (not sleeping)
- keep → keeping (not keepping)
Verb Forms vs. Nouns
⚫ Many P-ending verbs have identical noun forms. Pay attention to context:
- “I need to help you” (verb)
- “Can I be of help?” (noun)
Phrasal Verb Formations
⚫ Many P-ending verbs form phrasal verbs with prepositions or adverbs:
- Help out, jump up, step down, slip away ⚫ These combinations often change the meaning significantly:
- “Give up” means to surrender, while “give” alone means to provide
How Words That End With P Are Used in Sentences
Understanding how to incorporate verbs ending with P into various sentence structures is essential for effective communication. Let’s explore the different ways these versatile verbs function in sentences:
As Main Verbs
P-ending verbs often serve as the primary action in a sentence:
⚫ Simple Statements: “The children jump on the trampoline every afternoon.”
⚫ Commands: “Help your sister with her homework.”
⚫ Questions: “Did you shop for groceries today?”
In Compound Verb Phrases
These verbs can combine with auxiliary verbs to form more complex expressions:
⚫ Present Perfect: “She has helped at the shelter for five years.”
⚫ Future Continuous: “They will be developing the new software next month.”
⚫ Past Perfect: “By noon, we had shipped all the packages.”
In Phrasal Verb Constructions
P-ending verbs frequently pair with prepositions or adverbs to create expressions with specific meanings:
⚫ Help out – “Would you help out with the fundraiser this weekend?”
⚫ Jump in – “Don’t hesitate to jump in if you have ideas during the meeting.”
⚫ Step up – “Someone needs to step up and take leadership of this project.”
⚫ Sleep over – “My daughter wants to sleep over at her friend’s house.”
⚫ Shop around – “I always shop around before making expensive purchases.”
With Gerund Forms
The -ing forms of P-ending verbs can function as nouns:
⚫ As Subjects: “Helping others brings personal satisfaction.”
⚫ As Objects: “She enjoys shopping on weekends.”
⚫ After Prepositions: “They saved money by skipping unnecessary expenses.”
In Participle Phrases
P-ending verbs can form participle phrases that modify nouns:
⚫ Present Participle: “The developing situation requires our immediate attention.”
⚫ Past Participle: “The wrapped presents sat under the tree.”
Understanding these various applications helps you integrate P-ending verbs naturally into your speech and writing, enhancing your overall language fluency and precision.
20 Exercises On Verbs That End With P
Test your understanding of verbs that end with P by completing these exercises. Fill in each blank with the appropriate P-ending verb in its correct form:
- The children ________ with excitement when they saw the presents. (action of jumping)
- Please ________ me carry these heavy bags to the car. (action of assisting)
- The doctor advised the patient to ________ taking those medications immediately. (action of ceasing)
- My grandmother likes to ________ for a short time every afternoon. (action of brief sleeping)
- We need to ________ this package and send it by tomorrow. (action of enclosing in paper)
- The chef will ________ the cream until it forms stiff peaks. (action of beating rapidly)
- Birds ________ loudly outside my window every morning. (action of making short, sharp sounds)
- After the long hike, the tired dog ________ up the water from his bowl. (action of drinking quickly)
- Athletes should ________ up before intensive exercise. (action of preparing muscles)
- The detective tried to ________ the suspect’s movements over the past week. (action of tracking or planning)
- Don’t ________ on quality when buying safety equipment. (action of being frugal)
- The child will ________ the balloon if he squeezes it too hard. (action of bursting)
- The audience began to ________ enthusiastically after the performance. (action of striking hands together)
- Be careful not to ________ on the wet floor. (action of sliding unintentionally)
- The teacher asked the students to ________ their homework to the next page. (action of attaching)
- Many families ________ in national parks during summer vacation. (action of living temporarily outdoors)
- Experienced hikers always ________ carefully on rocky terrain. (action of placing feet)
- The comedian made the audience ________ with his witty remarks. (action of laughing suddenly)
- The company will ________ your order within two business days. (action of sending goods)
- Some investors ________ into cryptocurrency despite the risks. (action of moving money quickly)
Answer Key:
- jumped
- help
- stop
- nap
- wrap
- whip
- chirp
- lapped
- warm up
- map
- skimp
- pop
- clap
- slip
- clip
- camp
- step
- quip
- ship
- jump
Conclusion On Verbs That End With P
Verbs ending with P represent a diverse and essential category of action words in the English language. From everyday physical actions like “jump” and “clap” to cognitive processes like “develop” and “grasp,” these verbs express a wide range of human experiences and activities. Their versatility makes them indispensable components of effective communication.
Throughout this comprehensive guide, we’ve explored numerous P-ending verbs, examining their meanings, correct usages, and the various ways they function in sentences. We’ve seen how these verbs follow both regular and irregular conjugation patterns, combine with other words to form phrasal verbs, and adapt to different grammatical structures.
Mastering verbs that end with P enriches your vocabulary and enhances your ability to express actions precisely. Whether you’re learning English as a second language or looking to refine your native language skills, paying attention to these specific verbs can significantly improve your communication abilities.
Remember that language learning is an ongoing process that requires practice and exposure. Continue to observe how P-ending verbs appear in everyday conversations, literature, media, and professional communications. Challenge yourself to incorporate these verbs naturally into your own speech and writing.
By understanding and correctly using verbs that end with P, you’ll communicate more effectively, express your thoughts more precisely, and develop greater confidence in your language skills. The exercises and examples provided in this guide serve as stepping stones toward achieving fluency and mastery in English.
As you continue your language journey, keep exploring the rich diversity of English verbs and their unique characteristics. The more familiar you become with specialized categories like P-ending verbs, the more nuanced and powerful your communication will become.
