Download Stative and Dynamic Verbs

What is a stative verb?
Definition
A stative verb is a verb that expresses a state of affairs or being rather than action.
Stative verbs differ from verbs of action not just in meaning but in formal structure and usage.
Discussion
Some verbs have both senses that express


a state of affairs or being, and
action.
Examples (English)




be
concern
have
know
Stative and Dynamic Verbs
Introduction
Verbs in English can be classified into two categories: stative verbs and dynamic verbs. Dynamic verbs (sometimes
referred to as "action verbs") usually describe actions we can take, or things that happen; stative verbs usually refer
to a state or condition which is not changing or likely to change. The difference is important, because stative verbs
cannot normally be used in the continuous (BE + ING) forms. This will explain the differences between the two types
of verb, and give lots of examples of each kind.
Dynamic verbs
There are many types of dynamic verbs, but most of them describe activities or events which can begin and finish.
Here are some examples:
Dynamic
Verb
Type
Examples
play
activity
She plays tennis every Friday.
She's playing tennis right now.
melt
process
The snow melts every spring.
The snow is melting right now.
momentary
action
When one boxer hits another, brain damage can result. (This suggests only
ONE punch.)
When one boxer is hitting another, brain damage can result. (This suggests
MANY repeated punches.)
hit
Dynamic verbs, as you can see from the table above, can be used in the simple and perfect forms (plays,
played, has played, had played) as well as the continuous or progressive forms (is playing, was playing, has
been playing, had been playing).
Stative verbs
Stative verbs usually refer to a state or condition which is quite static or unchanging. They can be divided into verbs
of perception or cognition (which refer to things in the mind), or verbs of relation (which describe the relationships
between things). Here are some examples:
Stative Verb
Type
Examples
hate
perception
I hate chocolate.
believe
perception
She believes in UFOs.
contain
relation
The box contains 24 cans of soda.
own
relation
Yong owns three motorbikes.
Note that we CANNOT use these verbs in the continuous (progressive) forms; you CAN'T say "*Yong is
owning three cars." Owning is a state, not an action, so it is always in the simple form.
Example verbs
Here some common stative and dynamic verbs. The lists may help you to understand what types of verbs are likely
to be stative and what types are commonly dynamic.
Stative Verbs
Dynamic Verbs
love
hate
like
see
hear
sound
think (meaning "have an opinion")
mind (meaning "care about")
recognize
seem
have (meaning "own")
prefer
doubt
consist of
mean
eat
drink
go
type
read
write
listen
speak
watch
say
grow
work
sleep
cook
talk
Progressive, Stative and Dynamic Verbs
The progressive forms of a verb indicate that something is happening or was happening or will be happening. When
used with the past, the progressive form shows the limited duration of an event: "While I was doing my homework, my
brother came into my room." The past progressive also suggests that an action in the past was not entirely finished.
(Compare "I did my homework." to "I was doing my homework.") This is even more evident in the passive progressive
construction: "He was being strangled in the alley" suggests an action that was not finished, perhaps because the act was
interrupted by a good citizen, whereas the simple past "He was strangled in the alley" suggests an action that was
finished, unfortunately.
A neat categorization of the uses of the progressive can be found on the page describing the "To Be" Verb.
The progressive forms occur only with dynamic verbs, that is, with verbs that show qualities capable of change as
opposed to stative verbs, which show qualities not capable of change.* For instance, we do not say, "He is being tall" or
"He is resembling his mother" or "I am wanting spaghetti for dinner" or "It is belonging to me." (We would say, instead:
"He is tall," "He resembles his mother," "I want spaghetti," and "It belongs to me.") The best way to understand the
difference between stative and dynamic verbs is to look at a table that lists them and breaks them into categories and
then to build some sentences with them, trying out the progressive forms to see if they work or not.
These categories and lists are derived from Randolph Quirk and Sidney Greenbaum's A University Grammar of English
(used with the publisher's permission). The examples are our own. The lists are not meant to be complete.
DYNAMIC VERBS
Activity Verbs
I am begging you. I was learning French. They will be playing
upstairs..
Virtually identical in meaning to simple tense forms:
I beg you. I learned French. They will play upstairs.
abandon
ask
beg
call
drink
eat
help
learn
listen
look at
play
rain
read
say
slice
throw
whisper
work
write
Process Verbs
The corn is growing rapidly. Traffic is slowing down.
Virtually identical in meaning to simple present tense forms:
The corn grows rapidly. Traffic slows down.
change
deteriorate
grow
mature
slow down
widen
Verbs of Bodily Sensation
"I feel bad" and "I am feeling bad" are virtually identical in
meaning.
ache
feel
hurt
itch
Transitional Events Verbs
Progressive forms indicate the beginning of an event,
as opposed to the simple present tense.
"She was falling out of bed [when I caught her]" as opposed to
"She falls out of bed every night."
arrive
die
fall
land
leave
lose
Momentary Verbs
Progressive forms indicate little duration and suggest
repetition.
She is hitting her brother.
He is jumping around the house.
hit
jump
kick
knock
nod
tap
STATIVE VERBS
Verbs of Inert Perception and Cognition*
I detest rudabaga, but not I am detesting rudabaga.
I prefer cinnamon toast, but not I am preferring cinnamon
toast.
abhor
adore
astonish
guess
hate
hear
mind
perceive
please
satisfy
see
smell
believe
desire
detest
dislike
doubt
feel
forgive
imagine
impress
intend
know
like
love
mean
prefer
presuppose
realize
recall
recognize
regard
remember
suppose
taste
think
understand
want
wish
Relational Verbs
I am sick, but not I am being sick.
I own ten acres of land, but not I am owning ten acres.
My brother owes me ten dollars" but not
My brother is owing me ten dollars.
be*
belong to
concern
consist of
contain
cost
depend on
deserve
equal
fit
have
include
involve
lack
matter
need
owe
own
possess
require
require
resemble
seem
sound