State Verbs vs Action verbs

Dynamic verbs (action) vs. Stative verbs (states)

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Multiple Choice

...are words associated to states, thoughts, opinions, etc

• watch, cook, drink, sleep, walk

• happy, stressed, believe, hard-working, thirsty

• swim, confused, dream, gossipy, intelligent

Multiple Choice

...are words associated to actions/ activities

• listen to, paint, read, drive, bake

• smell, have, seem, love, to be

• know, skate, smoke, believe, grow

​ACTION VERBS

​As their name suggest; are verbs that describe activities or actions and MOST IMPORTANT: are used in simple and continuous tenses.

​EXAMPLES:

​Simple tenses

​I go swimming everyday

​I did not go swimming yesterday morning

​I have gone swiiming for 7 years now

​Continuous tenses (there is always a verb in -ing)

​I was swimming when the phone rang

​I have been swimming for the past 2 hours

I will be swimming tomorrow morning as well cause I love it so much

Multiple Choice

I ... ... an apple.

• am eating

• are eating

• is eating

• eating

Fill in the Blank

We ___ ___TV and my brother ___ ___ a book

Fill in the Blank

What is Homer doing?

Fill in the Blank

What is Bart doing?

​STATE VERBS

As their name suggest; are verbs that describe:

• ​thoughts, opinions and beliefs

• feelings & emotions

• sense and perceptions

• possession

• measurement

• MOST IMPORTANT: are used in simple tenses.

EXAMPLES:

​​My grandpa knows a lot about WW1 and WW II because he fought in both

I didn´t know the answer to the last question in the exam

​​​She thinks the judges´ votes were unfair in the talent show

They seem worried. What is going on?

​I am tired. I need to take a nap

​He has 3 brothers, also lawyers

​We believe in life after death

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​There are some verbs that can be & are used in both tenses, BUT they have a change in meaning.

​I think UFOs are real= It is an idea (state verb)

​I am thinking about a solution to get out of this situation! = Is what the person is doing at the moment (action verb)

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​I have an old car = Possession (state verb)

​I am having problems uploading my homework to the platform.

​It Is what is happening to the person at the moment (action verb)

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​I don´t see very well = sense (state verb)

​The doctor is seeing you right now, so please follow me

THINK

• What is he thinking about? (dynamic)

  
  

• What does he think (believe)? (his opinion)

LOOK

• What is she looking at? (dynamic) action

• How does she look? (stative) appearance (description)

Multiple Choice

Is this dynamic or stative? : I own a bicycle.

• dynamic

• stative

Multiple Choice

Is this dynamic or stative? She has three brothers.

• dynamic

• stative

Multiple Choice

Is this dynamic or stative? Can you help me? I am looking for a place to stay.

• dynamic

• stative

Multiple Choice

Is this dynamic or stative? She thinks that I am crazy.

• dynamic

• stative

Multiple Choice

Is this dynamic or stative? They are thinking about moving to California.

• dynamic

• stative

Multiple Choice

Is this dynamic or stative? She knows how to speak four languages

• dynamic

• stative

Multiple Choice

What ________ at? - I am looking at this funny black dog.

• do you look

• are you looking

Multiple Choice

How ________ ? -I think you are gorgeous

• do I look

• am I looking

Fill in the Blank

Write the verb in the correct form (only the verb)

My son (see) a psychologist these days

Fill in the Blank

Write the verb in the correct form (only the verb)

These fruits (to be) super juicy!

Fill in the Blank

Write the verb in the correct form (only the verb)

Now I (see) what you mean 

Fill in the Blank

Write the verb in the correct form (only the verb)

I (like) the shoes you are wearing today