8 Non-Action Verbs

First Impressions

Focus on Grammar 2
Part VIII, Unit 27
By Ruth Luman, Gabriele Steiner, and BJ Wells
Copyright © 2006. Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
 Dad,
Dad, What
What Do
Do You
You Think?
Think?
Uh,nice
Uh, nicetotomeet
meet Dad,
Dad, this
thisisismy
mynew
new
Hmmm….
you,Josh.
IIHe
don’t
Hmmm…. Josh.
like boyfriend,
you,
don’t like
looks boyfriend,Josh.
Josh.
He
He looks
has
him.
Hehim.
has
messy.
messy.
long hair.
long hair.
 Non-Action
Non-Action Verbs
Verbs 11
Some verbs do not describe actions. These
verbs are called non-action or stative verbs.

non-action
verb

I hear a bird singing.

I am listening to a bird singing.

action verb
 Non-Action
Non-Action Verbs
Verbs 22

non-action
verb

I see dogs running.

I am looking at the dogs.

Action verb
 Emotions
Emotions
Some non-action verbs express emotions.

love
hate I hate
like computers!
dislike

I love
computers!
 Senses
Senses or
or Appearance
Appearance
Some non-action verbs describe senses or
appearance.

hear
taste
smell
sound This tastes
feel spicy!
see
This smells
awful!
 Use the non-action verbs in the box
Practice 1 to describe a vacation to the place
in the picture.

II hear
hearthe
theocean
ocean
and
andseagulls.
seagulls.

hear see smell feel sound

love hate like dislike
 Needs
Needs or
or Preferences
Preferences
Some non-action verbs express needs or
preferences.

II prefer
prefer
want
Amy’s
Amy’soldold
need
boyfriend.
boyfriend.
prefer
 Mental
Mental States
States
Some non-
action verbs I disagree.
disagree
I think it’s
describe beautiful.
thoughts.

agree
disagree
understand
remember
believe
think
know
 Possession
Possession

Some non- This all

action verbs belongs to
show us.
We own
possession. this
house.

Have
Own
Belong
 Measurements
Measurements
Some non-action verbs describe
measurements, such as: cost, weigh, owe.

Yes, you owe us The dinner costs

a lot of money. all the money in
my wallet!
 Be
Be Careful!
Careful!
We usually do not use non-action verbs in the
present progressive (-ing) form.

I am not
I don’t like
liking
him.him.
 A mother is meeting her son’s new

Practice 2 girlfriend. Use the non-action verbs in

the box to describe their first
impressions.

I prefer his
old girlfriend

I think her
hair color is
awful.

have own need prefer

know think agree disagree
 Non-Action
Non-Action Verbs
Verbs 33
Some non-action verbs can have different action and
non-action meanings.

He looks messy. He is looking at a tie.

 Explain the different
Practice 3 meanings of the verbs in the
pairs of sentences.

Example: The perfume smells nice.

She’s smelling the perfume.

1. a. The cake tastes delicious.

b. He’s tasting the cake right now.

2. a. I have some food.

b. I’m having breakfast.

3. a. He thinks the painting is ugly.

b. He’s thinking about buying a different painting.
 References
References

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education and

its licensors. All rights reserved.