Stative and Dynamic Verbs

STATIVE & DYNAMIC VERBS
Contenido
STATIVE VERBS ................................................................................................................................... 3
DYNAMIC VERBS ............................................................................................................................ 6
Activity Verbs ............................................................................................................................. 6
Process Verbs ............................................................................................................................. 6
Verbs of Bodily Sensation .......................................................................................................... 7
Transitional Event Verbs ............................................................................................................ 7
Momentary Verbs ...................................................................................................................... 7
STATIVE-DYNAMIC VERBS .................................................................................................................. 8
Be ............................................................................................................................................... 8
Think ........................................................................................................................................... 8
Have ........................................................................................................................................... 8
See .............................................................................................................................................. 9
Taste ........................................................................................................................................... 9
EXERCISE .......................................................................................................................................... 10
Decide whether each verb is normally stative or dynamic. ......................................................... 10
Choose the present simple or present continuous, these verbs are sometimes stative. ........... 11
Each sentence has four underlined sections. Identify the section with a grammar mistake. ..... 12
Choose “correct” or “incorrect”................................................................................................... 13
Choose the present simple or present continuous, these verbs are sometimes stative. ........... 14
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STATIVE VERBS
Some verbs are mostly used in simple tenses and aren’t used in continuous tenses.
These verbs are called stative or state verbs. These verbs are often about liking or
disliking something, or about a mental state, not about an action.
VERB CORRECT NOT CORRECT
AGREE Marta didn’t agree with you. Marta wasn’t agreeing with you.
APPEAR It appears to be raining. It’s appearing to be raining.
My father doesn’t believe the My father isn’t believing the
BELIEVE
news. news.
This watch belonged to my This watch was belonging to my
BELONG
grandfather. grandfather.
CONCERN This concerns you. This is concerning you.
The activity consists in writing a The activity is consisting in writing
CONSIST
short story. a short story.
CONTAIN This box contains a present. This box is containing a present.
DEPEND It depends on the weather. It’s depending on the weather.
DESERVE Pablo deserves a gift. Pablo is deserving a gift.
DISAGREE I disagree with Tomás. I’m disagreeing with Tomás.
I have disliked tomatoes for I have been disliking tomatoes for
DISLIKE
years. years.
DOUBT I doubt what you are doing. I am doubting what you are doing.
FEEL (have an
I don’t feel this is a good plan. I’m not feeling this is a good plan.
opinion)
FIT This dress fits me well. This dress is fitting me well.
HATE Carmen’s always hated cats. Carmen’s always been hating cats.
HEAR Do you hear my mother? Are you hearing my mother?
IMAGINE I imagine you must be sad. I’m imagining you must be sad.
IMPRESS He impressed me with his idea. He was impressing me with his
idea.
This cookbook includes a recipe This cookbook is including a
INCLUDE
for bread. recipe for bread.
The job is involving a lot of
INVOLVE The job involves a lot of money.
money.
I’ve been knowing Andrés for five
KNOW I’ve known Andrés for five years.
years.
LIKE I like reading history stories. I’m liking reading history stories.
LOVE I love bread. I’m loving bread.
MATTER It doesn’t matter. It isn’t mattering.
“Enourmous” is meaning “very
MEAN “Enourmous” means “very big”.
big”.
MEASURE (be
This door measures 180cm. This door is measuring 180cm.
long)
MIND Luisa doesn’t mind the noise. Luisa isn’t minding the noise.
At three o’clock yesterday I At three o’clock yesterday I was
NEED
needed a bus. needing a bus.
OWE Carlos owes me 50€. Carlos is owing me 50€.
OWN My father owns two flats. My father is owning two flats.
PREFER I prefer cheese. I’m preferring cheese.
I’m promising to help you
PROMISE I promise to help you tomorrow.
tomorrow.
REALISE I didn’t realise the problem. I’m realising the problem.
RECOGNISE I didn’t recognize my old friend. I wasn’t recognizing my old friend.
Mario didn’t remember her Mario wasn’t remembering her
REMEMBER
name. name.
The weather seems to be The weather is seeming to be
SEEM
improving. improving.
SOUND Carlos’ idea sounds great. Carlos’ idea is sounding great.
SUPPOSE I suppose Juan will be late. I’m supposing Juan will be late.
SURPRISE Your friend surprised me. Your friend was surprising me.
I’m not understanding this
UNDERSTAND I don’t understand this question.
question.
I want to go to the theatre I’m wanting to go to the theatre
WANT
tonight. tonight.
WEIGH (have
This box weighs 500g. This box’s weighing 500g.
weight)
WISH I wish I had a plane. I am wishing I had a plane.
DYNAMIC VERBS
Dynamic verbs can be used in the simple and perfect forms as well as the
continuous or progressive forms. There are many types of dynamic verbs, but most of
them describe activities or events which can begin and finish.
Activity Verbs
ABANDON EAT PLAY THROW

ASK HELP RAIN WHISPER
BEG LEARN READ WORK
CALL LISTEN SAY WRITE
DRINK LOOK AT SLICE
Identical in meaning to the simple tense form.
 I’m begging you.  I beg you.

 I was learning French.  I learn French.
 The will be playing upstairs.  They will play upstairs.
Process Verbs
CHANGE GROW SLOW DOWN

DETERIORATE MATURE WIDEN
 The corn is growing rapidly.  The corn grows rapidly.

 Traffic is slowing down.  Traffic slows down.
Verbs of Bodily Sensation
ACHE FEEL HURT ITCH
 I am feeling bad  I feel bad.
Transitional Event Verbs
ARRIVE FALL LEAVE

LOSE DIE LAND
Progressive forms indicate the beginning of an event, as opposed to the simple present
tense.
 María was falling out of the bed [when I caught her]  María falls out of
the bed every night.
Momentary Verbs
HIT KICK NOD

JUMP TAP KNOCK
Progressive forms indicate little duration and suggest repetition.
 Carla is hitting her brother.

 Marco is jumping around the house.
STATIVE-DYNAMIC VERBS
Be
This verb is usually a stative verb but, when it’s 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)
 I think that coffee is great  Have an opinion
Think (dynamic)
 What are you thinking about?  Have in my head
Have
Have (stative)
 I have a car  Own
Have (dynamic)
 I'm having a party  Part of an expression
See
See (stative)
 I see what you mean  See with your eyes / understand
See (dynamic)
 I've been seeing Ben for 4 years  Have a relationship with

 I'm seeing Robert tomorrow  Meet
Taste
Taste (stative)
 This soup tastes great  Has a certain taste
Taste (dynamic) =
 The chef is tasting the soup  The action of tasting
*Taste is the same as other similar verbs such as Smell.
EXERCISE
Decide whether each verb is normally stative or dynamic.
VERB STATIVE DYNAMIC
JUMP
READ
UNDERSTAND
REMEMBER
PAINT
SEEM
WANT
CHANGE
SMELL
BELIEVE
KNOW
PLAY
DRIVE
GROW
WRITE
Choose the present simple or present continuous, these verbs are
sometimes stative.
1. They ___________ (prefer) not to travel at night.

2. Tomás and Carlos ___________ (be) at the office right now.
3. I ___________ (see) that you are busy at the moment.
4. They ___________ (have) a coffee.
5. Now it ___________ (snow) outside.
6. I ___________ (think) that's not true.
7. Jose ___________ (be) silly again.
8. This bag ___________ (weigh) too much.
9. I ___________ (see) Pedro. We have a lot of fun together.
10. Your cooking ___________ (taste) great.
11. They ___________ (have) three kids.
12. We ___________ (taste) the cakes now.
13. The cats ___________ (bark) now.
14. I (think) about it at the moment.
15. Now these dresses ___________ (not fit).
Each sentence has four underlined sections. Identify the section with a
grammar mistake.
1. I play tennis every Monday. Last week, I was playing with Juan, a man I am knowing from
work, when a bird flew into the tennis net.
a. flew
b. am knowing
c. was playing
d. play
2. Marcos owns two different flats. He likes to live in his flat by the sea when the
weather is good, but in the winter he is preferring to live in the city.
a. likes
b. is
c. owns
d. is preferring
3. I don't understand stative and dynamic verbs. They seem very confusing. I am
hating them, because they are driving me crazy!
a. am hating
b. seem
c. are driving
d. don't understand
4. While Ramón was fixing the car, I was making the supper. By seven o'clock I had been
working for eight hours, so I was needing a good meal.
a. had been working
b. was fixing
c. was needing
d. was making
5. When I called Tania, she said she watched TV, so she didn't want to come out with me, so
I went to the pub alone.
a. called
b. went
c. watched
d. didn't want
Choose “correct” or “incorrect”.
1. Are they having a good time?

2. I am thinking your brother is a nice person.
3. It is tasting good.
4. You are looking great.
5. He's been working since this morning.
6. Carlos' having a huge house.
7. The cake tastes good.
8. They are looking at the photograph.
9. They are designing a web.
10. Marta is liking him very much.
Choose the present simple or present continuous, these verbs are
sometimes stative.
1. Actually, that ___________ (sound) wonderful.

2. Marta and I, we ___________ (cook) right now.
3. You ___________ (promise) to be back soon.
4. Carlos and his wife ___________ (disagree) on this matter.
5. Mateo ___________ (own) several large companies.
6. ___________ (you/hear) Roberto's voice now?
7. ___________ (you/study) at the moment?
8. They ___________ (mean) to hurt you.
9. ___________ (you/mind) taking out the garbage?
10. I seriously ___________ (doubt) it
11. _______________ (you / recognize) this painting now?
12. He _______________ (appear) a bit snobbish.
13. Carla______________ (not wash) the dishes now.
14. Really _______________ (it/matter) now?
15. Right now it ___________ (seem) cold outside.
16. I ______________ (suppose) we could do that, too.
17. Jaime_______________ (not realize) how much he loves Pedro.
18. _______________ (this dog/belong) to you?
19. It _______________ (rain) right now.
20. I _______________ (not know) the right answer right now.

Stative and Dynamic Verbs

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Stative and Dynamic Verbs

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STATIVE & DYNAMIC VERBS

VERB CORRECT NOT CORRECT

ABANDON EAT PLAY THROW

Identical in meaning to the simple tense form.

 I’m begging you.  I beg you.

CHANGE GROW SLOW DOWN

Identical in meaning to the simple tense form.

 The corn is growing rapidly.  The corn grows rapidly.

ACHE FEEL HURT ITCH

Identical in meaning to the simple tense form.

 I am feeling bad  I feel bad.

Transitional Event Verbs

ARRIVE FALL LEAVE

HIT KICK NOD

Progressive forms indicate little duration and suggest repetition.

 Carla is hitting her brother.

 You are stupid  It's part of your personality

 I think that coffee is great  Have an opinion

 What are you thinking about?  Have in my head

 I have a car  Own

 I'm having a party  Part of an expression

 I see what you mean  See with your eyes / understand

 I've been seeing Ben for 4 years  Have a relationship with

 This soup tastes great  Has a certain taste

 The chef is tasting the soup  The action of tasting

*Taste is the same as other similar verbs such as Smell.

Decide whether each verb is normally stative or dynamic.

VERB STATIVE DYNAMIC

1. They ___________ (prefer) not to travel at night.

1. Are they having a good time?

1. Actually, that ___________ (sound) wonderful.

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