DYNAMIC (ACTION) VERBS AN STATIVE (NON-ACTION) VERBS

LINKS TO EXPLANATIONS AND PRACTICE EXERCISES

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• EXPLANATION IN SPANISH
• EXPLANATION & LIST of STATIVE VERBS
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ALL MODULES – PARTICULARLY LOWER LEVELS! WHAT ARE “STATIVE VERBS”? + LIST OF MAIN STATIVE VERBS

Stative Verbs  

Er…. I think I’m thinking!

Some verbs are only (or mostly) used in simple tenses, and are not used in continuous  tenses. (An example of a simple tense is the present simple, or the past simple. An  example of a continuous tense is the present continuous or past continuous.)

These  verbs are called stative, or state verbs. A verb which isn’t stative is called a dynamic  verb, and is usually an action. Often stative verbs are about liking or disliking  something, or about a mental state, not about an action. 

HERE IS A LIST OF THE MOST COMMON STATIVE VERBS. SOME OF THESE VERBS CAN SOMETIMES BE STATIVE AND SOMETIMES ACTIVE. (See the final table below.)

Verb	Correct	NOT Correct
agree	She didn’t agree with us.	She wasn’t agreeing with us.
appear	It appears to be raining.	It is appearing to be raining.
believe	I don’t believe the news.	I am not believing the news.
belong	This book belonged to my  grandfather.	This book was belonging to my  grandfather.
concern	This concerns you.	This is concerning you.
consist	Bread consists of flour, water  and yeast.	Bread is consisting of flour, water  and yeast.
contain	This box contains a cake.	This box is containing a cake.
cost	The car costs far too much.	The car is costing far too much.
depend	It depends on the weather.	It’s depending on the weather.
deserve	He deserves to pass the exam.	He is deserving to pass the exam.
disagree	I disagree with you.	I am disagreeing with you.
dislike	I have disliked mushrooms for  years.	I have been disliking mushrooms  for years.
doubt	I doubt what you are saying.	I am doubting what you are  saying.
feel (=have  an opinion)	I don’t feel that this is a good  idea.	I am not feeling that this is a good  idea.
fit	This shirt fits me well.	This shirt is fitting me well.
hate	Julie’s always hated dogs.	Julie’s always been hating dogs.
hear	Do you hear music?	Are you hearing music?

imagine	I imagine you must be tired.	I am imagining you must be tired.
impress	He impressed me with his story.	He was impressing me with his  story.
include	This cookbook includes a recipe  for bread.	This cookbook is including a  recipe for bread.
involve	The job involves a lot of  travelling.	The job is involving a lot of  travelling.
know	I’ve known Julie for ten years.	I’ve been knowing Julie for ten  years.
like	I like reading detective stories.	I am liking reading detective  stories.
love	I love chocolate.	I’m loving chocolate.*
matter	It doesn’t matter.	It isn’t mattering.
mean	‘Enormous’ means ‘very big’.	‘Enormous’ is meaning ‘very big’.
measure (=be  long)	This window measures 150cm.	This window is measuring  150cm.
mind	She doesn’t mind the noise.	She isn’t minding the noise.
need	At three o’clock yesterday I  needed a taxi.	At three o’clock yesterday I was  needing a taxi.
owe	I owe you £20.	I am owing you £20.
own	She owns two cars.	She is owning two cars.
prefer	I prefer chocolate ice cream.	I am preferring chocolate ice  cream.
promise	I promise to help you tomorrow.	I am promising to help you  tomorrow.
realise	I didn’t realise the problem.	I wasn’t realising the problem.
recognise	I didn’t recognise my old friend.	I wasn’t recognising my old  friend.
remember	He didn’t remember my name.	He wasn’t remembering my name.
seem	The weather seems to be  improving.	The weather is seeming to be  improving.
sound	Your idea sounds great.	Your idea is sounding great.
suppose	I suppose John will be late.	I’m supposing John will be late.

surprise	The noise surprised me.	The noise was surprising me.
understand	I don’t understand this question.	I’m not understanding this  question.
want	I want to go to the cinema  tonight.	I am wanting to go to the cinema  tonight.
weigh (=have  weight)	This cake weighs 450g.	This cake is weighing 450g.
wish	I wish I had studied more.	I am wishing I had studied more.

VERBS WHICH ARE SOMETIMES STATIVE AND SOMETIMES ACTIVE

Here is list of some of these verbs with their meanings and examples of use.

be	1. Be is usually a stative verb Eg. (a) You are stupid = it’s part of your personality   2. But when it is used in the continuous it  means ‘behaving’ or ‘acting’   Eg. You are being stupid = you are acting in a stupid way, now (not usually).
have	1. have (stative) = used to express: (a) things we own Eg I have (got) a car   (b) family etc we have (got) Eg I have (got) two brothers   (c) for descriptions   Eg. He’s got brown eyes and a long nose. 2. have (dynamic) = does not mean “possess/own”. Usually with set phrases (have breakfast/have a wash, etc) Eg.  I’m having a party / a picnic / a bath / a good time / a break ….
see	1. see (stative) = (a)  see with your eyes – this refers to the ability to see Eg.  I see her now, she’s just coming along the road   (b) understand  Eg. I see what you mean 2. see (dynamic) = (a) meet Eg. I’m seeing Robert tomorrow  (b) have a relationship with Eg. I’ve been seeing my boyfriend for three years
taste (also:  smell, feel,  look)	1. taste (stative) = has a certain taste  Eg. This soup tastes great  taste (sabe bien) 2. dynamic) = the action of tasting  Eg. The chef is tasting the soup  (la está probando)
think	1. think (stative) = have an opinion  Eg I think that film is great   2. think (dynamic) = consider, have in my head  Eg. What are you thinking about? I’m thinking about my next holiday .
measure	1. measure (stative) (is…long) Eg. This tables measures 120cm x 80cm. 2. measure (take measurements) Eg. David is measuring his bedroom to make sure there is enoug room for a double bed.

MODULE 5 – UNIT 1 LINKS TO EXERCISES on STATIVE/STATE vs DYNAMIC/ACTION VERBS

LINKS TO EXERCISES FOR MODULE 5 – UNIT 1 

STATE/STATIVE AND DYNAMIC/ACTION VERBS 

EXPLANATIONS: 

https://www.really-learn-english.com/dynamic-verbs-and-stative-verbs.html

EXERCISES 

Dynamic verbs and stative verbs exercise 01 
 
Dynamic verbs and stative verbs exercise 02 
 
Dynamic verbs and stative verbs exercise 03 
 
Dynamic verbs and stative verbs exercise 04 
 
Dynamic verbs and stative verbs exercise 05 

 
(Special exercise with verbs that have both dynamic and stative meanings)

B1 – DYNAMIC v. STATIVE VERBS

Some English verbs, which we call state, non-continuous, non-progressive, non-action, 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:    (Download a complete list of stative verbs in PDF HERE)

Try this stative verb exercise HERE

Stative Verb List

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, continuous, progressive or action 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’)