STATE VERBS

- verbs that express a PERMANENT STATE rather than

an action
- DO NOT have continuous (-ing) forms

STATE VERBS: own, contain, love, want, hear (something

staying the same)
ACTIVITY VERBS: sing, go, walk, sleep (something
happening)
STATE VERBS:

1. VERBS OF THINKING
think, believe, understand, know, see (=understand),
recognize, suppose, remember, imagine, forget, mean,
realize
I think you’re right.
She knows a lot about astrology.
Do you believe in God?

2. VERBS OF FEELING
like, dislike, hate, love, prefer, want, wish
I like this music.
She prefers coffee to tea.
3. VERBS OF PERCEPTION
see, hear, smell, taste, feel
I can smell something burning.
This spaghetti tastes delicious.

4. OTHER VERBS
have (= possess), own, belong, include, need, cost, seem,
depend, appear, contain
Be careful. That bottle contains poison.
He owns a Rolls Royce.
 WORDS WITH DIFFERENT MEANINGS

Some state verbs have CONTINUOUS FORMS but there

is a DIFFERENCE IN MEANING:
state verbs activity verbs
(a permanent state) (a short period of time)

I think you’re right. (believe) I’m thinking about the problem.

(considering)
We have three cars. (own) We’re having lunch. (eating)

I come from Italy. (live) I’m coming from Italy (travelling)

I see your point. Jim is seeing a doctor. (visiting)

(understand)