THE STATIVE VERBS

THE STATIVE VERBS

Some English verbs, which we call state, non-continuous or stative verb, aren’t used in the continuous tense (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:

LIST OF STATIVE VERBS

Like                                    know                                    belong

Love                                   realize                                  fit

Hate                                    suppose                                contain

Want                                  mean                                    consist

Need                                   understand                           seem

Prefer                                 believe                                 depend

Agree                                 remember                             matter

Mind                                  recognize                             see

Own                                   appear                                  look (=seem)

Sound                                taste                                      smell

Hear                                   astonish                               deny

Disagree                             please                                   impress

Satisfy                                promise                                surprise

Doubt                                 think (=have an opinion)   feel (=have anopinion)

Wish                                  imagine                                concern

Dislike                               be                                         have

Deserve                              involve                                include

Lake                                   measure (=have length)      possess

Owe                                    weigh (=have weight)

ØA verb which isn’t stative is called a dynamic verb, and is usually an action.

SOME VERBS CAN BE BOTH STATIVE AND DYNAMIC:

BE:

ØBe 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

The “taste” is the same as other similar verbs such as “smell”