agree / di sagree M o st stative or state verbs refer to a state rather than ac tion .

S tative
appear v erbs are verbs which we use in the P resen t S imp le, ev en if they are
happening now. E xample: Now, I know the answer!
bel ieve
Ho wever, in situations where they refer to an action which is taking p lac e
bel ong to at that moment, we use the Present Continuous tense.
can’t stand E xamples: I think that coffee is great (= have an opinion)
I’m thinking about my next holiday. (= have in my head)
cost
Certain stative verbs change their mean ing when they are used in the
di slike / like P resent Continuous.
doubt E xamples: I’m seeing Tom tomorrow. (= meet)
I see what you mean. (= understand)
enjoy
fancy S o metimes stative verbs are used in the present continuous to em phasiz e
c hange or development. This use is informal.
feel ( also have a n opinion) E xample: You are being very naughty, Tom! Behave yourself!
fi t
guess
hate T h ere are three main categories of stative verbs (feelings, t h ou gh t s
a nd senses) a nd two small categories (possession and m easurement).
have Com plete the charts below w ith the right stative verbs from the box
hear on t he left according to their categories.
hope
know
l ack
l ook (also = seem) _____________ _____________ _____________
l ove
_____________ _____________ _____________
m atter
m ean _____________ _____________ _____________
m easure ( = be long) _____________ _____________ _____________
(not) m ind
_____________ _____________ _____________
prefer
possess _____________ _____________ _____________
owe _____________ _____________ _____________
own
_____________ _____________ _____________
realise
rem ember _____________ _____________ _____________
see (meet / understand) _____________
seem
_____________
sm ell
____________
sound _____________ ____________ ____________
suppose _____________ ____________ ____________
taste
_____________ ____________
thi nk (=consider) ____________
_____________ ____________
touch ____________ ____________
understand _____________
want
_____________ a dore, astonish, bet (opinion),
wei gh
co ntain, concern, consist of, de ci d e , d e n y , d e se r v e ,
wi sh _____________
d e s ire, detest, ima gine, impre ss, include, involve, ple ase ,
wonder _____________ pr o mise, recognise, remain, require, rese mb le , sa ti sfy ,
s u r prise, suspect...
agree / di sagree Com plete the sentences with the verbs in brackets. Use the Pre se nt
appear S im ple or the Present Continuous. Decid e i f t h e ve r b r e fers t o a
s t ate or a n action.
bel ieve
bel ong to
can’t stand 1. We ______________________ of going on holiday next month.
cost Where ____________________ (you) we should go? (think)
di slike / like 2. Dad _____________________ the soup. I’m sure it _____________
doubt very good. (taste)
enjoy 3. He __________________ at the book now. It _________________
interesting. (look)
fancy
4. ________________________ (he) the tomatoes now? How much
feel ( also have a n opinion)
_________________________ (they)? (weigh)
fi t
5. Our friends ________________________ a new swimming pool.
guess
They _______________________ a pool party this Sunday. (have)
hate
have
hear Com plete the sente nce s w it h t h e c o rre ct fo rm o f t h e v e r bs i n
hope bra ckets. Use the Present Simple or Present Continuous.

know
l ack
1. Why ____________________________ (those boys / smile) at us?
l ook (also = seem)
________________________ (we / know) them?
l ove
2. I ___________________________ (enjoy) this summer holiday! I
m atter
_______________________ (not want) it to end.
m ean 3. On annual White Nights, many museums and lots of shops
m easure ( = be long) ____________________________ (stay) open all night.
(not) m ind 4. My parents _________________________ (let) me use the car
prefer tomorrow.
possess 5. How much ___________________________ (your dog / weigh)?

owe 6. Elizabeth __________________________ (know) where the new

cinema ___________________ (be).
own
7. A: __________________________ (this laptop / belong) to Jack?
realise
B: No, I _______________ (think) it __________________ (belong)
rem ember
to Debbie.
see (meet / understand) 8. A: Bill usually ________________________ (enjoy) his work.
seem B: Yes, but he ___________________________ (not enjoy) it now
sm ell because he’s got too much to do.
sound 9. A: Why _____________________________ (you / taste) the milk?
suppose B: Because it _______________________ (smell) rather strange.

taste ___________________________ (you / want) to taste it?

10. A: Susan _________________________ (talk) to her boyfriend on
thi nk (=consider)
the phone at the moment.
touch
B: I can tell. She _______________________ (look) very excited.
understand
11. David ________________________ (think) about getting the job.
want 12. Please be quiet. You __________________ (be) too much noisy!
wei gh 13. I _____________________________ (feel) that you are wrong.
wi sh 14. I ___________________________ (see) Anne this afternoon at 5.
wonder 15. We _____________________ (have) an interesting conversation!