October 27 th, 2020

Stative verbs

Stative verbs describe states rather than actions. Stative verbs do not usually have
continuous tenses.

Do you want a cup of coffee? (NOT: Are you wanting a cup of coffee?)

I love Spanish music. (NOT: I am loving Spanish music.)

I have a cat. (NOT: I am having a cat.)

Stative verbs include:

1. verbs of senses: hear, see, smell, taste, feel, look, seem, sound
2. verbs of perception: understand, believe, think (believe), imagine, know, mean, realise,
suppose, recognise, seem, forget, remember.
3. verbs expressing likes/ dislikes: like, dislike, love, hate, prefer, enjoy
4. verbs expressing possession: have, belong to, own, owe
5. some other verbs: be, contain, appear, consist, want, need, fit
Some stative verbs HAVE CONTINUOUS TENSES BUT there is a difference in
meaning. Study the following examples:

PRESENT SIMPLE PRESENT CONTINUOUS

I see a bird in the sky.( perceive with my
eyes)
This flower smells great. (have a pleasant
smell)
The food tastes delicious. (it has a delicious
flavour)
They look tired. (they appear to be)
This shirt feels like silk. (it has the texture of)
He appears to be very tired. (seems)
I think he is a very clever boy. (believe)
She has a red car. (possesses)
She is selfish. (permanent state)
This dress fits you perfectly. (it is the right
size)
I am seeing John for lunch today. (am
meeting)
Mother is smelling the flower. (is sniffing)
She is tasting the soup to see if it is salty
enough. (testing the flavour)
They are looking at the building. (they are
taking a look at)
Andrew is feeling his forehead to see if he
has got a temperature. (is touching)
My daughter is appearing in the school play.
(is performing)
I am thinking about working late tonight.
(am considering)
She is having lunch today. (is eating)
They are having a bath/ shower/ swim/
party/ an accident/ experience/ dream/ a
baby.
She is being selfish. (temporary situation).
Bob is fitting a basketball hoop in the
garden.
(is installing).