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Stative Verbs

Some English verbs like know, belong, and seem are called stative verbs because they describe states that last for some time rather than actions. Stative verbs are not used in continuous tenses like the present continuous. Verbs that are actions are called dynamic verbs. Some verbs like be, think, have, see, and taste can be either stative or dynamic depending on the context and meaning.

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Gerardo Rico
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946 views

Stative Verbs

Some English verbs like know, belong, and seem are called stative verbs because they describe states that last for some time rather than actions. Stative verbs are not used in continuous tenses like the present continuous. Verbs that are actions are called dynamic verbs. Some verbs like be, think, have, see, and taste can be either stative or dynamic depending on the context and meaning.

Uploaded by

Gerardo Rico
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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STATIVE VERBS

Some English verbs, which we call state, non-continuous or stative verbs, aren't used in continuous
tenses (like the present continuous, or the future continuous). These verbs often describe states
that last for some time. Here is a list of some common ones:

like know belong


love realise fit
hate suppose contain
want mean consist
need understand seem
prefer believe depend
agree remember matter
mind recognise see
own appear look (=seem)
sound taste smell
hear astonish deny
disagree please impress
satisfy promise surprise
doubt think (=have an opinion) feel (=have an opinion)
wish imagine concern
dislike be have
deserve involve include
lack measure (=have length etc) possess
owe weigh (=have weight)

A verb which isn't stative is called a dynamic verb and is usually an action.

Some verbs can be both stative and dynamic:

Be
be is usually a stative verb, but when it is used in the continuous it means 'behaving' or
'acting'

• you are stupid = it's part of your personality


• you are being stupid = only now, not usually

Think
• think (stative) = have an opinion I
think that coffee is great
• think (dynamic) = consider, have in my head
what are you thinking about? I'm thinking about my next holiday
Have
• have (stative) = own I
have a car
• have (dynamic) = part of an expression
I'm having a party / a picnic / a bath / a good time / a break

See
• see (stative) = see with your eyes / understand I
see what you mean
I see her now, she's just coming along the road
• see (dynamic) = meet / have a relationship with I've
been seeing my boyfriend for three years I'm
seeing Robert tomorrow

Taste
• taste (stative) = has a certain taste
This soup tastes great
The coffee tastes really bitter
• taste (dynamic) = the action of tasting
The chef is tasting the soup

('taste' is the same as other similar verbs such as 'smell')

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