Action and State Verbs

Action and State verbs.

​Action Verbs

Action verbs describe an action and they can be used in the continuous tense.

Example: I train every morning (Present simple)

I am training now. (Present continuos)

State verbs

Describe

• A state of being or existence.

• Stative verbs cannot normally used in Continuous tense. (They are some exceptions)

Love, like, hate, want, ´prefer

FEELINGS

EXAMPLE:

Believe, know, remember, suppose, think (meaning believe), feel (meaning believe)

​THOUGHTS

STATIVE VERBS DESCRIBE:

Have, belong, own

am, is, are

​POSSESION and the verb be

Smell, hear, taste, see

SENSES

State verbs that can be used in the continuous tense:

Think (meaning-mental ability or consider)

example: What are you thinking right now?

Be (meaning behave or act)

Your are being irrational.

Look and feel (meaning to say how somebody looks or feel now)

Your are looking tired. or Are you feeling ok?

Multiple Choice

My Mother played with the baby.

• ACTION VERB

• STATE VERB.

Multiple Choice

I grew in South Africa

• state verb

• action verb

Multiple Choice

Helen likes reading history novels.

• state verb

• action verb

Multiple Choice

I train every morning

• action verb

• state verb

Multiple Choice

I love this song

• action verb

• state verb

Multiple Choice

This coffee smells delicious.

• action verb

• state verb