Stative Verbzzzz

Stative Verbzzzz

Stative verbs describe a state rather than an action. They aren't usually used in the present continuous form.

e.g.

• I don't know the answer. 

• (I'm not knowing the answer.) --> false

• She really likes you.

• (She's really liking you.) --> false

• He seems happy at the moment. 

• (He's seeming happy at the moment.) --> false

Stative verbs often relate to:

• thoughts and opinions:  agree, believe,  doubt, guess, imagine, know, mean, recognize, remember, suspect,  think, understand

• feelings and emotions:  dislike, hate, like, love, prefer, want, wish

• senses and perceptions:  appear, be, feel, hear, look, see, seem, smell, taste

• possession and measurement:  belong, have, measure, own, possess, weigh.

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Verbs that are sometimes stative

• A number of verbs can refer to states or actions, depending on the context.

  I think it's a good idea.

  Wait a moment! I'm thinking.

• The first sentence expresses an opinion. It is a mental state, so we use present simple. In the second example the speaker is actively processing thoughts about something. It is an action in progress, so we use present continuous.

• Some other examples are:

• have I have an old car. (state – possession)

  I'm having a quick break. (action – having a break is an activity)

• see Do you see any problems with that? (state – opinion)

  We're seeing Tadanari tomorrow afternoon. (action – we're meeting him)

• be He's so interesting! (state – his permanent quality)

  He's being very unhelpful. (action – he is temporarily behaving this way)

• taste This coffee tastes delicious. (state – our perception of the coffee)

  Look! The chef is tasting the soup. (action – tasting the soup is an activity)

• Other verbs like this include: agree, appear, doubt, feel, guess, hear, imagine, look, measure, remember, smell, weigh, wish.